Wilde Ride by Maegan Lynn Moores Page B

confusion on his face. Oh God, were they not
from him?
    “What do you mean Ryder? The flowers and the
card, they are so beautiful,” I say.
    “Babe, what flowers?” he asks.
    “The roses you sent me,” I state.
    “What are you talking about?” he asks again,
still looking confused.
    “You sent flowers with a card that say ‘I
love you’ to the school for me. Well, I thought they were from
you.” I fall out of his arms and turn my face away from him.
    “Babe, you know I don’t do flowers,” he
reminds me.
    “I know, but I thought after last night you
might have.”
    “No babe, like I said, I don’t do
flowers.”
    “Okay,” I push myself away from him, so I can
go and wallow in my stupidity.
    “Babe, who sent you the flowers?”
    “I don’t know. That is why I figured they
were from you. It said I love you so…” I let that trail off
    “Are you fuckin’ kidding me?”
    “No.”
    “Ella, like I said before. I. Don’t. Do.
Flowers. So they’re not from me.”
    “Um, I have to get back to work. I’ll talk to
you later Ryder,” I say, urgently trying to leave. I can feel the
anger radiating off of his body.
    “Who would send them, Ella? I bet it was that
fuckin’ Brent. That goddamn douchebag!” he roars. “I thought I
taught him a lesson, but I guess he needs some tutoring on that
lesson.”
    “No. Ryder. I don’t think it was him. He
hasn’t been around since you paid him your little visit. No one has
seen him. The new substitute is temporarily taking his place. I
heard some of the teachers say his name was Mark or something like
that.”
    “Well, who else could it be then?”
    “I don’t know, but I have to go Ryder. I’m
going to be late.” I finally get out of his arms and make my way
towards the door.
    “We need to talk about what you said, Ella.
Supper at home,” he demands.
    I make it to my car with tears in my eyes. He
never said it back. Oh God, he doesn’t feel the same as I do. I
know the card wasn’t from him, but I thought after I told him how I
felt that he still might say it because he felt it too. I am such
an idiot. Why would a smoking hot, badass biker like Ryder love a
mousy, scarred up, freak like me? Of course he doesn’t love me.
    I make my way back to work and slowly go
through the rest of my day doing the bare minimum. I think my kids
notice something is up because they keep very quiet, looking at me
with concern on their faces. The bell rings and everyone rushes out
of the room to go home for the day.
    “Ms. Scott, are you ok?” Ashley asks.
    “I’m fine, thank you for asking,” I say.
    “Are you sure? You look really sad. You
shouldn’t look like that after your sexy ass man sent you those
flowers,” she says.
    “I know, but I found out that he never sent
them. I am fine though, just tired that’s all.”
    “Who sent them to you?” she asks.
    “Um… I don’t know, but they’re not from
Ryder.”
    “Well, you don’t look too impressed. Do you
want me to get rid of them for you?” she offers.
    “Yes, please.”
    “Okay,” she says grabbing the flowers and
heading towards the door. “Hope your day gets better Ms. Scott. See
you tomorrow.”
    “See you tomorrow, Ashley,” I say, exhaling
with relief knowing the flowers are gone. I turn back to my desk to
finish grading papers and to think about things.
    God! How stupid could I be, to think someone
like Ryder could ever love me? I made the biggest fool of myself.
Who does that? Who runs into his bar and jumps in his arms, telling
him you love him? I am so cheesy. I was acting like one of those
bimbos in a romantic movie. I laugh to myself, wondering what world
I live in. I mean it’s me, Ella Scott. I don’t get that kind of
sweet. A knock comes at the door
    “Hey, Ella,” Sandra says, she’s one of the
high school’s mathematic teachers.
    “Oh, hi Sandra, How are you?” I ask.
    “I’m good, how are you?” she returns.
    “Good. Just trying to get these papers
graded,” I