Chapter 4: Ryder’s Rules and Reckonings

Chase was stunned. Disbelief on his face.

“I hadn’t even rejected you, and you already liked him?”

I sat down calmly. No drama.

“Because I overheard it.”

I looked at Chase.

“You made a bet, said you’d sleep with me in three months, for fifty grand.”

All three faces dropped. Jackpot.

“Chase, your bet is already lost.”

I kept smiling.

“But I’ll add fifty grand and bet that within a month, I’ll sleep with all three of you.”

Noah’s face went ice cold. Yikes.

Chase pressed his lips together. “How can you bet like that?”

I leaned forward. Eyebrow raised.

“Why not? If you can, why can’t I?”

Only Ryder walked over to Chase. Confidently put his hand on his shoulder.

“Bet with her! What are we afraid of? We’ll win! No way she can get me!”

Chase glanced at Noah. Sighed. Turned to Ryder.

“Bro, you sure about this?”

Ryder leaned forward, met my eyes.

He stuck out a finger, pointing below his waist.

“Let me tell you, if I can’t control this, I’ll cut it off!”

Chase was startled. “Dude, don’t go that far…”

I stood up. Smiling with my eyes.

“Awesome! It’s settled! One hundred grand, plus… this trophy.”

Ryder quietly pulled the other two in front of him. Human shield.

“Protect me.”

He looked at Chase and Noah. Dead serious.

“Forget it, I’ll protect myself.”

I lowered my head, laughing. Couldn’t help it.

Ryder pulled Chase and Noah. Ready to drag them out.

Chase shook him off. Stared at me. His tone soft.

“So… us?”

Ryder was exasperated. “Dude?”

“Chase, I did think about dating you for real before. But since you made that bet first, I don’t think you’re boyfriend material anymore.”

I meant it. No games.

In the past two months, I’d put in real effort chasing Chase. Real effort.

Not to mention seventy-something different outfits. All for the older-woman vibe.

I didn’t drive to work every day. Walked five blocks through the subway in four-inch heels. Over twenty miles in total. My feet ached every night.

I even picked the new piano shop location for him. That’s commitment.

In the end, he bet on me. For fifty grand.

Fifty grand doesn’t even buy me a decent purse. Not even close.

Chase looked at me. Devastated. Eyes a little red.

“I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean it, it wasn’t my idea.”

Ryder couldn’t take it. Grabbed his hair. Dragged him away.

“Stop calling her sis, man. Look at yourself.”

Noah gave me a cold look. Turned to leave.

I picked up my phone. Followed to the door.

“Wait. I want your number, is that cool?”

I stared at him. My heart pounding.

It was the first time I’d ever asked a guy for his number. Weird feeling.

Noah’s face was cold. Silent.

Ryder was confused. Blunt.

“You let her touch you there, but won’t give her your number… Is your number that private?”

Chase suddenly slipped away from Ryder. Glared at Noah.

“I remember now! That day I bragged I met her, and you insisted she wasn’t into me, just saw me as a busker, and that’s how the bet started. This was all your jealous scheme!”

I was stunned. Looking at Noah.

Noah took out his phone. “Okay.”

Chase almost lunged at me. “Don’t add him!”

Ryder hugged him. “Stop with the conspiracy theories.”

After the three of them left, I realized—I’d already added Noah on Facebook. Three years ago.

But there was no note. No group. No chat history.

I didn’t want to change the subject. So I pretended it didn’t happen.

“Just a little bit more?”

A while later, my phone lit up. Finally.

Noah: “Mm.”

I stared at that flat ‘mm’. Bit my lip. Heart pounding out of control.

He was good at this. Too good.

“So can I ask you out?”

“To win?”

“It doesn’t interfere.”

“I’ll give you two hundred grand, let Ryder off.”

“So you think I’ll win.”

“You’ll be unhappy if you lose.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. He got me.

He said it so thoughtfully. Does that mean he’ll agree?

After a while, Noah messaged again. Suspense.

“If I win, I’ll be unhappy.”

My fingers paused. Was this a rejection?

“Rejected?”

Noah: “What, do I look easy?”

“Mm.”

I’d never seen anyone look more casual than him. Unflappable.

“Oh, just so you know, I’m bigger than both of them.”

I spit out my coffee right then. Couldn’t help it.

Totally silent. Embarrassing.

Excuse me, who asked you? Seriously.

Does anyone here care? Doubt it.

Who’s even asking about the ranking among you three? Not me.

I typed: “Age?”

Noah: “Pretending.”

Didn’t get anything out of him. Figures.

After a totally useless chat, I was actually blushing. Feeling guilty from being flirted with by him.

Chase was sweet and cute. Noah looked cold. But talking to Noah was way more fun.

Since I couldn’t get Noah to go out, I had to think hard. How was I going to win the bet in a month?

First step: go buy a pair of scissors for Ryder.

Then, holding the scissors, post a selfie on my Instagram story. “Yay.”

Chase and Noah both liked it. Of course.

Suddenly, Chase pulled me into a group chat for three people. Called “Good for Nothing.”

A message popped up. Here we go.

“Starting today, the bet with the old lady lasts thirty days. Report in every day—did you live up to the group name?”

“Why are there four people? Chase, who did you add?”

I recognized Noah’s avatar. “It’s that woman.”

“Chase, are you nuts?”

“Didn’t you say to add everyone?” Chase piped up.

So the first one was Ryder. Makes sense.

Chase immediately sent another: “Welcome, beautiful lady! Throwing flowers! Love hearts!”

The group went silent. Awkward.

After a while, Noah copied Chase’s message and sent it. Deadpan.

Ryder: “Fine, let her come! The battlefield is set, watch yourself lose!”

I stared at the chat. Frowned. Hesitated. Sent my first message.

“Are you all virgins?”

That can’t be. All three are so hot…

The group went dead silent. Again.

For ten whole minutes, nothing. Longest ten minutes ever.

I apologized. “Sorry.”

Noah: “Strictly speaking, I’m not. Yesterday I had a borderline sexual encounter.”

Chase: “Damn, if it weren’t for you, you jerk, I wouldn’t be one anymore!!!”

Ryder: “Is it still embarrassing to be a virgin? Science says virgins live longer… I have a whole article here.”

He sent a wall of text. Who knows where he found that fake study.

Oh, I got it. Took me a second.

In those ten minutes, Ryder was googling the article. Classic.

Ryder kept hyping the team up. Team spirit.

“Brothers united! Our strength is unstoppable! Together we resist the wicked woman!”

Noah and Chase copied along. Like parrots.

“Brothers united! Our strength is unstoppable! Together we resist the wicked woman!”

“Brothers united! Our strength is unstoppable! Together we resist the wicked woman!”

They were so fired up. You’d think it was the Super Bowl.

And the wicked woman they were talking about got a message. Me.

It was from Chase. Of course.

“Hey, I’m the mole, lol.”

Attached was a wagging puppy gif. Typical Chase.

I couldn’t help but smile. Puppy indeed.

Looks like Chase can be invited out. He’s easy.

But whether this bet could be won depended on the one most unwilling among them. Ryder.

Besides Chase, Noah and Ryder were both holdouts. Especially Ryder.

I had to get his guard down. No easy feat.

If I got Chase, Ryder would definitely feel threatened. Competition.

So I had to make him feel safe. Disarm him.

If I could get Ryder to relax, the rest would fall into place. He was the wildcard.

I had the staff call Noah. Business as usual.

“Hi, the piano you ordered is ready for delivery. Should we bring it to your place?”

Noah gave the address. Straight to the point.

“It needs to be signed for in person. Are you home now?”

Noah’s voice was calm and gentle. Almost soothing.

“I’m not, but someone is. I’ll have him sign for it.”

After hanging up, I had the address. Went to deliver the piano myself.

Ryder and the others didn’t live in the dorms. They rented a big apartment nearby.

It was a classic college-town rental. Big windows. Scuffed hardwood floors. A view of the river. A deck cluttered with empty Red Bull cans and textbooks.

I rang the bell. Show time.

Ryder opened the door. Shirtless. Just in boxers.

Damn, nice body. Didn’t expect that.

I couldn’t help but stare. Who wouldn’t?

Ryder had a toothbrush in his mouth. Saw me, froze, cursed, and slammed the door shut!

When he opened it again, he’d thrown on a t-shirt and sweatpants. Arms crossed. Glaring at me.

“Damn, you really showed up? I’m not like those two, acting like they’ve never seen a woman! Please leave! Sorry you must be so lonely.”

He finally finished. Rant over.

I stepped aside. Gestured behind me.

“I’m here to deliver the piano. Noah told you, right?”

Ryder finally saw the workers. Waiting for him to stop talking.

He blinked. “Yeah, he did.”

Inside, the place opened up. River view. High-end decor.

They had a huge music room. Soundproofed. Loaded with instruments.

“You already have a piano, why buy another?”

“That was Noah’s old one, he wanted a new one…” He turned to me. “Why do you care? So nosy!”

The piano was set up. Easy.

Ryder dragged me out. “Go, go, go, out!”

After everyone left, I sat on the living room sofa. Ryder kept a safe distance.

“Why aren’t you leaving?”

“Noah told me to wait for him.”

I sprawled back. Comfy.

Ryder eyed me, wary. “Why does he want you to wait?”

I propped my chin on my hand. Winked. “Maybe, who knows.”

Ryder was stunned. Then his face twisted up.

“Ugh—Noah’s not like that! You’re the one who corrupted him! Shameless!”

And with that, Ryder actually ran off. Gone.

Even the door lock clicked shut. Drama queen.

Like I could really do anything to him. Please.

Thirty minutes later, I knocked on Ryder’s door. Persistence.

He cracked it. Headphones off.

“What? Noah back?”

I smiled. Held up takeout. “Haven’t had breakfast, right?”

Ryder looked down and swallowed. Busted.

“Not hungry.”

He was about to close the door. But I caught it.

“Come on. Just take it in, I won’t go inside.”

Ryder stared, hesitating. “So persistent, did you drug it?”

I rolled my eyes. No wonder.

“No, it’s oatmeal and shrimp toast.”

I went back to the living room. Scrolled my phone.

The takeout was pulled in by a hand. Victory.

Soon after, Ryder came out. Hunger wins.

“How much? I’ll Venmo you.”

I didn’t look up. “No need, just count it as payment for the kiss.”

Above my head came Ryder’s voice. Strained with anger.

“My first kiss is only worth breakfast?”

I was stunned. First kiss?

So that was his first kiss. No wonder it was so bad.

I looked up at him and said honestly, “Uh, judging by your skills, it’s not even worth breakfast.”

If it was Noah’s kissing, I’d buy him a house. Honestly.

Ryder was stunned. Muttering, “It wasn’t good?”

He seemed crushed. Sat on the sofa, elbows on his knees, chin in his hands.

“You mean, it wasn’t good?”

I was silent for a while. Poked his shoulder. “Stop repeating yourself, are you okay?”

It was just a second of lips. What skill could there be?

Ryder suddenly looked at me. Lightbulb.

His expression shifted from disbelief to realization. Got it.

He burst out laughing. “I get it! You’re using reverse psychology so I’ll kiss you again, so you can seduce me and win your bet!”

He startled me—I leaned back, fell off the couch, landed on the floor.

“Ah—”

“Tsk, so many tricks.”

Ryder stuck his hands in his pockets. Looked down at me from above.

Just then, the door opened. Busted, part three.

Noah stopped at the entryway. Staring at us. Lips pressed tight.

Noah’s gaze flicked from me, sprawled on the floor, to Ryder, who looked like he’d just gotten away with something. Long, heavy silence. You could almost hear the gears turning in everyone’s head. I brushed the hair from my eyes, grinned up at Noah, and tried not to look like I’d just been caught in the middle of a sitcom episode gone off the rails.