I'll Come out Fighting

Chapter 8

Ryder

After spending a few more hours in the pub with Jayne. I knew I had made the right decision in not running away after she told me.  We chatted about almost everything but not bringing up her history with Max.  She told me more about her parents and her brothers and their kids.  She didn’t once sound or act like she was nervous about sharing things with me.

The bar started to get a little busier and I was getting hungry, so I decided to leave and head home for some food.  Jayne agreed to call or text once she figured out what night we could meet up for our date. Not sure where we will go but I will figure something out.

I’ve never really done the dating thing really, obviously I have taken women out for meals and stuff but that was my normal way of telling them I wasn’t wanting anything serious. Take them to dinner have the its not you its me conversation, at least when you are in a public place you can leave whenever you want, or they can leave.

Once I get back to my apartment, I decided to call for a takeaway just as my phone rings with a call from Jamie.

“Hey Jamie, what’s up?”  I answer it

“You asked Jayne out?” ok, wasn’t expecting that call so soon. I only left her forty minutes ago.

“Yeah, I asked her out last night. Is it a problem?” I ask, I know exactly what he is going to say. I’m just not sure what Jayne has all told him.

“I’m on my way to your place. We will talk when I get there”  he hangs up.  He didn’t sound mad, he sounded weird.

About twenty minutes later, Jamie arrives. He walks in and straight to the sofa in the lounge, he sits forward with his elbows on his knees, running his hand over his face.

“What’s up?” I ask him as I take my seat opposite him

“I have no issue with you asking Jayne out. I knew you had a thing for her after last night. You just need to know that she has had a s**t time…” I interrupt him

“She told me everything.” I state and he looks up shocked.

“What? Everything?” he says with eyebrows raised

“Yeah about Max, her operation and her recovery” I tell him briefly. Not sure how he will react

“And?  You are ok with that?”

“I mean, obviously what happened is shocking and upsetting but it does not in any way effect what I feel for her” I tell him honestly. There is clearly no secrets in this family so I might as well be honest with him.

“Since I saw her a week ago at Antonio’s after my first day in the office. I have not been able to stop thinking about her. And then on Friday night when she practically ignored me the whole night. But then on last night was amazing. Sitting in her office with the two of you just felt so natural. I’m not saying we are perfect for each other or anything like that, but I felt a connection and even after spending a few hours today with her after she told me everything. It just made me realise I want to know her more. A lot more” there I said it. Maybe I should have told Jayne all that first, I will eventually though.

“Really. Wow. I seriously didn’t expect that.  Obviously after everything that happened last year with Max, she took it really hard. At one point we didn’t think she would make it.  I have always felt guilty about what happened.”  He tells me

“Why would you feel guilty? From what Jayne told me he had never been like that before with her?”

“I introduced them to each other. I knew Max from the gym and was on a night out with him when Jayne came in with her friends and they were inseparable from then. If I had any idea he would have done something like that I would have not let him get anywhere near her. I just don’t want to see her hurt again.”  he sounds so stressed out

“Listen, Jamie. You can’t blame yourself for any of this. Jayne certainly doesn’t. I will never ever hurt your sister.  I mean, we haven’t even been on a date yet, so I have no idea how it is going to go.” I chuckle.  I hope it goes great, but you just never know.

Jamie ended up staying and we ordered food to be delivered. We sat and talked about everything just like I did with Jayne earlier. This though, was different. Jamie was opening up about not only just his parents and Jayne but the relationship he let go because he wanted to be here for Jayne. I can definitely say that Jayne has the best brother sitting right here. He has put everything in his life on hold for her, he is an amazing guy.

Jamie had nipped to the bathroom just as I got a text from Jayne.

‘I hope Jamie isn’t threatening you?’

‘not at all. We have had a really good chat.’ I reply

‘really? Is he ok?’  she asks

‘yeah, he is. You got a day for our date yet?’ I ask, I’m so desperate to take her out. Wine and dine her like she should be

‘Friday night I am all yours but will need to come to the club before closing’  she says. That put a big smile on my face just as Jamie returned.

“What got you smiling like that?”  he asks as he flops onto the sofa

“Jayne. Date on Friday night” I tell him , putting my phone away.  He nods his head and goes quiet.

“You still ok with me taking her out?” I asked. His silence has me worried.

“Yeah. Just.. I don’t know. With you knowing her history makes me worry that you might treat her different”  he goes to say

“I will treat like I would any other potential girlfriend Jamie. As I said earlier, I have never dated or been into having the full relationship thing, but Jayne is different. I have no idea why.  Like I feel bad she went through all that, I really am. And not to sound horrible but that was way before I came on the scene. It is up to her how far this whole thing goes. I will not force it to happen or pursue if she does not want me to.”  He nods his head and soon changes the subject.

Jayne

After Ryder left the bar, Jeff came in for a few hours. The bar was surprisingly busy for a Sunday but then I remembered it was a bank holiday tomorrow.  As always when me and Jeff are the only ones in at the moment our banter goes of the chart.  He was telling me about the older woman he took home last night, and she didn’t leave his place until an hour ago, that’s when he showered and came here.

I have not yet told him about my date with Ryder, not quite sure how he will react but, I know he will support me with whatever I decide.  I had texted Jamie to tell him and his reply was a bit weird. Said he was ok with Ryder but wanted to speak with him before he would support it.  Overprotective big brother right there. I just know he will give Ryder the third degree and I’m slightly worried.

Not only has Ryder became a good friend to Jamie but he is also his boss. If Jamie was do to anything stupid it could affect his career. That is the last thing I want to happen. 

“So, Jeff. Do you think I can have Friday night off?” I blurt out.   He looks at me weirdly. I have not had a night off, apart from Mondays since we opened.

“Why?” he asks folding his arms across his chest.  I give him my sweetest smile

“I have a date” I say and walk away to serve a customer.   Jeff stands where I left him, his jaw hanging and his eyes wide. He clearly was shocked at that news.

“Really?!  Who?”  he asks

“Ryder”  again he stands jaw hanging and his eyes wide.  I shake my head and continue working.

“Wow. Did not see that coming. I wondered why he was hanging about last night.”

I tell Jeff everything that happened and what was said. I really value his opinion and he seems to think Ryder is being genuine. He thinks I should give him a chance. Which I will, just need to see how he behaves when it’s just the two of us.

I just hope that I have not made a mistake in agreeing to go out with him. If anything we can be just friends, but with how sweet and flirty he was this afternoon I am not sure just friends is something he could handle. Which would them make things awkward for Jamie and Jay at work, hoping it won’t but I just have no idea.

The week has went by pretty quick and tomorrow I have my date with Ryder. We have been in contact all week, he popped into the pub after work on Tuesday for a quick beer with Jamie. I’m glad they are getting on I just hope it stays that way.

Flashback

I was in my office catching up on paperwork that neither Jeff nor I could be bothered doing yesterday. When Ryder came in.  We sat and chatted about his work for a little bit before heading down to the bar.

He was being a little flirty and that was making me blush like crazy which made him tease me even more.  I think it is save to say that I was enjoying my time with him and I am looking forward to Friday.

Just before we got to the bottom of the stairs he stop right in front of me with a smirk on his face. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled my body against his. I rest my hands on his chest, which feels amazing under my fingers.

“I can’t wait for Friday” he whispers into my hair.

“Yeah, where you taking me?” I ask, he hasn’t given me a clue yet to where we are going,

“Not sure yet but it will be my first date in forever so, I will have to get my brain in gear to make it the best first date we have both ever had”  I chuckle.  We stand and stare at each other.  He lets out a sigh and goes to pull away, but I tighten my hold on his arm

“What?” I ask, I hope he is not having second thoughts.

“I really want to kiss you” he says as he pulls away again.  I can’t help but giggle.

“So do I”  I say as I pull him by his shirt collar and crash my lips to his.  I think I shocked him there, as his whole body froze.  He eventually did relax and started kissing back. The kiss was getting heated as he pushes my against the wall of the stairwell, luckily it is out of view of the bar.

Not sure how long we were kissing for, but we break away from each other panting and I could feel his arousal in his pants.

“Wow, that was unexpected, but I am not complaining.” He chuckles as he rest his forehead against mine.  I  hum in response as he adjusts himself. 

“I will need to go soon, I have a meeting early tomorrow.” He says as we reluctantly pull away from each other, walking down the remainder of the stairs, Ryder placing his hand around my waist as he escorts me to the bar.

I soon get my focus back and start working again.  Jamie giving me funny looks as he can see Ryder staring at me with a clear expression of lust.  Maybe our kiss affected him more than I thought. About an hour later Ryder tells me he has to go, or he will sleep in for that meeting.  Ryder says bye to Jamie and Jeff and pecks my lips before leaving, making Jeff and Jamie whistle at us.

End of Flashback

Just as the last of the punters leave the club, me Jeff and Bobby get the place tidied up quicker than ever. We must have all been desperate to get out of there tonight.  I managed to get home just after 2am which is a first.

Once I’m settled in bed my mind travels to my date with Ryder tomorrow. If I can be completely honest I am shitting myself. Its been well over two years since I have dated anyone. Been over a year since I have had s*x or been touched in anyway. I’m not counting the kiss from the other day, even though it was bloody amazing, and I can most certainly not wait until I get a hold of those lips again.

I woke up around half two in the afternoon with my phone ringing.  I reach over to grab it, but it went to answer phone.  I groan as I try wake myself up more.  Checking my phone to see it was Jamie that called. Of course it was Jamie.  Just after I put the phone down it rings again. Not checking the caller ID knowing it will be Jamie.

“You know you don’t have to call everyday”  I say to the caller.

“It’s Ryder.”  He chuckles

“s**t sorry I thought it was Jamie. He phones the same time every day” I sit up straighter

“I know. He panicked when you didn’t answer and made me phone you. Not that I really needed an excuse to hear your voice”   I hear Jamie curse in the background. And shout “that’s my sister dude. Quit it”  I laughed

“Good to hear. Well, you can tell Jamie I am fine.”  Ryder relays the message and I hear Jamie say to Ryder to behave himself with me.   Ryder chuckles down the line

We ended up talking on the phone for nearly an hour and if you were to ask what we were talking about for that long I would have to be honest and say I have no clue.  The conversation just flowed, I just hope that we don’t end up being silent tonight on our date.