Page 61 of Shy Girls Can't Date Rockstars
I scoff in offense. “You forbid me?”
“Yes.” He steps closer to the kitchen island, his dark eyes fixed on my camera. “That idiot Jasper can deal with his own problems. You’re not handing over your property to fix his stupidity.”
“I broke the school’s camera. I should replace it,” I argue, though my voice lacks conviction. “It’s not my property to keep.”
Ryder leans in, examining the camera without touching it. “How is this not yours to keep?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It absolutely matters.” His voice has that same edge as yesterday. Protective but frustrated. “Why do you even have something this expensive if you don’t want to use it?”
The question hits exactly where it hurts, but I don’t let myself react. “I just... I don’t.”
I reach for the camera to put it back in my bag, but Ryder’s hand gets there first, sliding it across the countertop and away from me.
“Either way, you’re not handing over your property to Ashworth Academy.”
“It’s not your decision to make.”
“Alice, look at me.”
I keep my eyes on the shiny, smooth surface.
“Alice.” Firmer this time. “Eyes up.”
Swallowing my fear, I reluctantly meet his eyes.
“You only brought two suitcases when you moved in,” he says quietly. “Whatever you brought with you has to be important. This means something to you.”
“It doesn’t mean anything.” The lie comes out flat and unfeeling. “I never want to use it again.”
“Then why do you have it? Why didn’t you just leave it behind at your parents’ house?”
“Because I...”
The question hangs between us.
“Because someone important gave it to you,” Ryder says, and there’s an understanding in his voice that I don’t want to hear.
I force myself to keep burying the emotion that’s trying to break free.
“Look, I don’t care if you never want to take another picture in your life,” he continued in a gentler tone. “But you’re not giving away something valuable just to satisfy some prep school jagoff. He’s too stupid to function. He shouldn’t have had his tripod sitting in the middle of the hallway.”
“Miranda wants this problem resolved.”
“This isn’t your only solution.”
“The school will expect me to replace it.”
“Let them expect it. That doesn’t mean you have to comply.” He slides the camera back toward me, careful not to touch it directly. “Put this away. Jasper created his own problem. Don’t let him bully you just because he doesn’t want his daddy finding out the pricey camera got totalled.”
I stare down at the camera case.
“Are you okay?”
The question makes me look up. Ryder’s watching me with an expression I can’t read.
“I’m fine.”
