Chapter 30: The Studio

Ryder and I spent most of the day chatting in the kitchen and getting to know one another better. After telling him about my relationship with my parents, he seemed to have dropped his guard a little more, and the conversation was filled with fewer jokes and less sarcasm. Instead, it was replaced with more honesty and vulnerability.

I was just telling Ryder about the time Skylar had sabotaged my dress for a school dance by slashing the skirt, when Tyler appeared in the doorway, taking me by surprise.

I jumped off the chair I'd been perched on beside Ryder and stood there like I'd been caught in some compromising position.

Tyler chuckled and headed to the fridge. "Hey, guys. Sorry to interrupt," he apologized, taking a soda out and snapping it open.

Looking like a deer caught in the headlights, I went on to say, in a rather surprised and accusing tone, "What are you doing here? You aren't supposed to be here."

"It's kind of my house..." he reminded me with a chuckle.

"But you sai