Reaching for Rebecca

Chapter 94

"I would never think you're stupid. I do have one request though." I smiled immediately and he chuckled. "The school fucked up and didn't schedule a bus for tonight so we have to drive down ourselves. Mason and I are already riding together so how about you and the girls hitch a ride with us and we can drop you off at a mall around there... it's almost three hours away and I'd feel better if you weren't staying around here by yourself." I was about to agree to his plan until Kate came skipping down the hall.

"We're going to ride with the guys okay?" I laughed and nodded. "Mason will pick you two up at quarter to four. I already told Bentley too." She sped away to talk to someone else quickly and Ryan chuckled beside me.

"Alright sweetheart, let's get going. I have to pack up my gear and should probably bring a few snacks along." He snagged my hand without a second thought and we walked out to the beat up old truck together where Alex was waiting.

"Hey, can I take the truck tonight?" Ryan nodded immediately and Alex turned his attention back to his phone – where I'm sure Hannah was texting him.

Ryan lifted me into the truck like I weighed nothing and climbed in behind me before driving us home in silence. Instead of going right upstairs when we got there, Ryan reset the alarm and went to the kitchen, coming back with a notepad and a pen. When I gave him a weird look he shook his head back and forth and gave me an explanation.

"I have to pack my bag, Mason will be here soon but I want you to write down a few things I need – if you could grab them for me while you're at the store."

"Uh, okay..."

"Great," we were now in his room and he was shuffling around grabbing random things, "I need whatever you have to get me for my costume tomorrow – I'm not sure so you grab what you think. If you could grab me two UnderArmour long sleeves for under my jersey that'd be awesome too and a few pairs of boxers." I blushed as I wrote that in his list and noticed he'd stopped packing to look at me.

"What?"

"Pick out some that you like." He smirked. "Do you know my size?" I rolled my eyes so hard that I thought they'd get stuck looking into my skull and Ryan burst out with laughter. "Alright, here." He handed me his debit card like he had the last time I went shopping.

"Ryan, I have my own money."

"I know you do babe but use this, please." I was about to argue again but he kissed me into silence. "Becs I don't even get to take you on dates like you deserve... just please use this okay? I know it's not the same thing but it will make me feel a little better." I knew his family had money, but Kate told me a while ago that Ryan's grandparents were loaded too and left a ton of money to the four boys. In fact, Mike and Matt paid for their college tuition and their apartment without even making a dent in their accounts. I couldn't even fathom how much that'd add up to but I felt somewhat better that I wouldn't be using all Ryan's money.

Mason honked downstairs while I was making an army supply of snacks and sandwiches so I quickly bagged them up and carried them out to his car with Ryan close behind me. Kate had left the front seat open for him but he motioned for her to climb up there so he could sit next to me. I was flattered but I'm sure he would be regretting that when we were two hours into the ride and his legs were cramping up from the lack of space in the back seat. Nonetheless, he put an arm around me and spoke quietly for almost the whole drive.

"Text me every once in a while alright? I can't check my phone during the game but I'll look when we get there, at half time, and when we're leaving." He was still worried about leaving us girls alone (more specifically leaving me without male protection) and even made me change out of his jersey before leaving home. He didn't want anything pointing to where I'm from or who I was here with just in case Kirk had people out looking for me.

"Yes Ryan, I promise I'll text you okay? Stop worrying so much."

"I can't help it babe. It stresses me out when I'm not there."

"Hey," I ran my hand along his stubble to sooth him. "You can't always be there but that doesn't mean you aren't watching out for me. It's just a different kind of keeping me safe." He smiled sadly and nuzzled my neck.

"I just think about the worst thing that could happen and that what stays on repeat in my head until I see you again."

"What's the worst thing that could happen hun?" I knew what he was going to say but I wanted him to say it. I wanted him to hear it out loud and hopefully realize how unrealistic it would sound, especially three hours from home.

"I can't." He closed his eyes until I urged him to open them again with a gentle peck on his lips. When they opened they were filled with love and sadness at the same time. "In my head, you get stolen away from me." He stopped to swallow. "Kirk takes you back and I can't find you, but I get nightmares about what he's doing to you." His eyes looked so pained that I felt my heart squeeze for him. My idea had the opposite effect – it doesn't sound that unrealistic now that I hear it out loud. "Promise me you'll keep an eye out Becs. I know it isn't likely for anything to happen so far from home but I'm going to be terrified with my thoughts until I hear from you or see you later okay? I'm sorry if that seems overbearing to you but I can't help it."

"No, it's not overbearing Ryan. I love you so much and I know you're worried about what could happen. I'll stay extra aware of what's going on around me okay?" He nodded and snuggled against me once again, staying that way until we got to a mall that was fifteen minutes away from the football field – per Ryan's request.

"I love you," he whispered and hugged me unbelievably tight. "Be safe and text me."

"I will. I love you too." We said goodbye and he strode back to the car looking like somebody had just killed his puppy.

"We'll watch out too Ryan," Bentley yelled.

Kate added: "Yeah, she'll be okay. Just focus on the game and get back to us after winning!" He smiled a little before disappearing into Mason's car. "He's such a sweetheart." Kate had known Ryan since kindergarten and always voiced how she loved his gentlemanly actions.

"Yeah, he's amazing Becca. Don't let him go," Bentley said quietly. She was close to silent the whole car ride and still seemed a bit cut off.

"Let's get some dinner first and chat. Sound good?" I offered and they agreed – we needed to get to the bottom of Bentley's somber mood.

RYAN'S POV

Mason tried to cheer me up and get my head in the game for the entire fifteen-minute ride to the stadium. I knew I had to concentrate or I'd throw the whole team off but my mind was already wandering with all the thing that could happen to Becca. I'd almost invited Landon to go shopping with them but I knew Becca would tear my head off for putting both Landon and Bentley in that position when they were still awkward with each other.

"Dude," Mason's hand grasping my shoulder made me jump, pulling me from my thoughts. "I know you're worried about Becca okay? But she'll be alright. Kate's giving me updates too just like I know you asked Becca to do and they're being really cautious alright?"

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize man. If I were in your position and Becca was Kate, I would be out of my fucking mind worrying about her. I understand how hard it would be to put that aside and I don't expect you to, but you have to get your head in this game and keep our stats up okay? This season is the best we've had so far and you might not rely on a scholarship Ryan, but I do." I nodded in understanding.

"You're right." There were other seniors on the team as well that were amazing players but if the quarterback sucked, the entire offense would suffer and that wasn't fair for them.

"Of course I'm right." He smiled and squeezed my shoulder before letting it go. "I'll be worried about the girls too but we have a game to play. Plus, if you get overwhelmed just think about hearing her voice at halftime alright?" I chuckled a bit and climbed out of the car, heading to the locker room.