The Wannabes Read Free Page A

head. Her look seemed to work because he
made his way back to her.
    “Cock blocker,” he said aloud with a huge grin. He tipped
his beer up and gulped it down. Alex jabbed him in the stomach just as he took
a huge drink, making him spit beer everywhere.
    “That sweet move should turn your new fan club away,” Alex
said standing. She grinned.
    “You are such a bitch,” Ryder laughed as he wiped his chin.
    “You know it.” Alex exited the bar and Ryder followed.
    “Do you have any food at your place? I’m starving.”
    “You are always starving,” Alex replied. She stopped walking
and turned to Ryder. “I am glad you are here.”
    “Don’t get all mushy, sis.” Ryder mussed up her hair.
    “I’m serious, that bike accident almost took you away.” She
thought back to him lying in the hospital bed. Tubes and wires had him hooked
up to a bunch of machines, and his face. It was so bruised, he was barely
recognizable. As if reading her mind, Ryder wrapped his arm around her shoulder
and gave her a squeeze.
    “Stop it.” He shook her playfully. “I need food, woman!” he
added in caveman like tone. Alex couldn’t help but laugh.
    “You are so stupid,” she managed between laughs. Ryder gave
her another squeeze.
     

     
    CORBIN LAY ON her bed, tears pouring
down her face. What if the rumors were true? She had been hearing them too. Her
heart ached in her chest and her stomach churned. She loved Rob with every
fiber in her body. When they first started dating in high school, everything
was great. He was very attentive to her needs and wanted to spend as much time
as possible with her. Now, it was nothing but a chasing game. She, wanting to
see him on a daily basis and he wanted to hang out with his friends. She wiped her
eyes picked up her cell phone and plugged in Rob’s name. Taking a deep breath
she typed,
    We need to talk. She hit send.
    About???? Was his response.
    Us. A single tear slipped down her cheek.
    I will try to stop by later.
    Corbin shook her head. She threw her phone down on the bed.
She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. She told herself that she was done with
him, as she did most every weekend. She was so tired of trying. She looked at
the small diamond ring on her finger and thought back to the day Rob gave it to
her. It was her 21 st birthday. He had shown up to the apartment
drunk. He shoved the box in her face and vowed his undying love for her and
made a promise to marry her. Nowtwo years later that promise remained
unfulfilled. Corbin twisted the ring and then slid it off. Tears welled up in
her eyes. She placed the ring in her jewelry box and shut the lid. The ring was
a heart breaking lie that she no longer wanted to be a part of. She lay back on
her bed and stared at the ceiling. Her thoughts then drifted to her Mom. Her
Alzheimer’s had gotten much worse and now when Corbin visited her, she had to
explain who she was. It saddened Corbin deeply because her Mom had always been
her rock. Corbin yearned for the days when they would sit and talk for hours. Feeling
tears again, she quickly wiped them away.
    “Honey, I’m home,” she heard Ryder announce. Her mind
shifted from Rob and her Mom to the image of Ryder in his boxers and the way
his hair was messed up. She began twirling her hair and let her mind drift off
to naughty places. A knock on her door interrupted her fantasy.
    “Entrez.”
    Alex peeked in. “I am going to Royce’s to pick up some stuff
for tacos. Do you need anything?”
    Corbin shook her head. “’Kay. I’ll be back in a few.” Alex
closed her door. Corbin waited to hear the front door shut and then stood and
opened her door. She crossed the living room and into the kitchen. She opened
the fridge and began scanning the items inside. Beer, a half-gallon of milk,
and some cheese sat on the shelves. She pulled out a beer and popped the top.
    “Alex, are you out there?” Ryder called from the bathroom.
Corbin paused mid sip.
    “She went to the store,”