Song for the chapter: Somewhere I Belong, by Linkin Park

Ryker POV

I felt super sensitive to the sun beaming in through the windows this morning. Even with my eyes still closed, it felt like the sun was magnified by ten.

With pounding in my head, I groan as I turn my head away from the window and sit up. I feel the room spin and rub my temples.

I guess downing that whole bottle of tequila wasn't such a good idea after all.

I roll my neck, planting my feet on the floor. When my vision clears, I see a piece of paper folded on the night stand in front of a bottle of water and two pills.

Sober up.

My stomach drops. I already knew it was Maddison. Fuck. How could I have been such an idiot, stoop so low as to have done that to her? I was nothing more than her lowlife father last night.

What did I show her other than I'd run to a bottle and try to drown out my family's problems when they get too hard for me to handle? Way to fucking go, dumbass.

I took the pills she left me and go to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth before I jumped in the shower, washing away all of the reminders of yesterday. Well, all of which that weren't Maddison.

Like the way her eyes shined, her curvy body in that dress, and the way her curious yet bold tongue explored my mouth.

I needed to apologize. Right now.

I shut off the water and wrapped a towel around my waist. I walk towards my closet, casually pulling on a pair of black joggers and a matching hoodie. I quickly rubbed the towel through my hair, leaving it slightly damp and throwing it over the door.

I slipped my wallet in my pocket and held my phone in my hands as I walked down the stairs. I walked through the halls to head towards the garage, but paused. I took five steps back, turning my head towards the kitchen.

Long behold, I see Kyler sipping on a cup of coffee.

"Morning." He smirks at me.

Even though he was smirking, I can see the sadness in his eyes. The bags under his eyes were prominent and his hair disheveled, like he hadn't really slept at all. I raise a brow.

"When did you get here?"

"Last night," he sighs as he leans against the wall.

"How?"

"You're my brother," he snorts. "I know that you keep a spare key in that shack in the backyard."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, letting out a frustrated breath. I need to get to Maddison.

"I don't have time for your shit, Kyler."

"Maddison's right," Kyler sips. "You're stubborn as hell."

I glare at him. "What did you just say?"

Kyler walks, sitting his pampered ass on my couch. "Maddison? We had a lovely conversation last night when she called. Warned me about how stubborn you've become. Told me to be patient with you, before adding a cute, not so apologetic apology for busting Olivia's lip."

I clenched my fists. "What the fuck are you saying right now?"

"Relax, bro," Kyler lifts up his hands. "I'm honestly here to talk. One-on-one."

I don't move, which Kyler just lets out a long exhale and runs his hand through his hair.

"Why didn't you tell me Olivia was the college girlfriend?"

I watched him as he turned to me, his face completely changed. His eyes were full of sadness and confusion, his lips pulled downward. My brows pulled together seeing him like this.

"I thought she told you; honestly, I thought that you two were together for some sick revenge plot on me."

"You think I'd do that to you, brother? Really?"

I blink, but don't answer. Kyler let's out a shaky breath, tears filling his eyes. He lifts his hands to cover his mouth, shaking his head.

"Why do you think I'd do that to you, Ryker?" His voice cracks. "I love you."

"What do you expect, Kyler?" I scoff. "After all the shit you and dad have put me through?"

His eyes snapped at me. "You really have this shit backwards. I can't take it anymore." He stands to his feet. "I wanted to protect you, Ryker. But mom and dad had this fucking weird agreement that they never let me tell you. You're a grown ass adult and you need to know because I'm tired of this shit. Mom is the one who cheated on dad, not the other way around."

My brows knit together. "Don't fucking lie, Kyler."

"I'm not, Ryker." He shouts. "Dad wasn't around because he was always chasing mom around, trying to stop her from running around with whatever dude she was with. He begged her to stop, and she didn't. For a whole year, until he finally said that if she wanted to be divorced, he'd give it to her. Then she came back. And they let you believe that she was the innocent one. Fucked up shit, but she wasn't."

"I don't believe you." I shake my head.

"Ask her yourself, man."

I turn on my heel, heading for my car. I open the door, seeing Kyler opening the other side.

"Like hell I'm not seeing this shit go down finally."

I roll my eyes, roaring the engine to life. I pull out of the driveway and head down to my childhood house. I was stunned, unsure of what was about to unfold. Kyler could be lying, but what did he have to gain? Especially telling me to prove it.

When we got to the house, I marched up the stairs and banged on the doors. Kyler waited a few feet behind me as I put my hands on my hips.

The door opened, my mom smiling at me. "Chamaco, what a lovely surprise!" She looks at Kyler. "What's the occasion?"

"Is it true?"

Her eyes look up at mine again. "Is what true?"

"Tell me it's not."

"Go on, mom. Tell him how his beloved mamá has been lying to him most his life. Go on."

Her eyes widened, giving me all I needed to know. I closed my eyes, clenched my fists.

"Ryker, amor, it's—"

"The fuck it's not." I cut her off. "Tell me why you lied to me."

When I look at her, she has hurt written all across her face. But mines etched in my heart. My mother, the woman I loved most, betrayed me.

"I-I don't have a good excuse, hijo. I saw how quickly Kyler ran and defended his father, not even loving me anymore. And I just...wanted you to choose me."

"Mom." Kyler looked at her. "That's not true."

"Isn't it?" A tear rolled down her cheek. "You didn't want anything to do with me anymore. So I was selfish with Ryker."

"And that gave you the okay to lie to me?" I ask, low.

"Or to push the company on him?" Kyler adds.

I look at him, then to mom. "Tell me he's joking."

She looks down, wipes her face and looks back up. "I didn't want you to end up like me, Ryker. Being good at something that made you nothing. I just wanted you to know the family business so, if God forbid, something went south, you'd have something to fall back on."

My jaw is clenched so tight, I can feel my temple throbbing. I lick my lips and sigh.

"All this time, I thought you had my back." I look at her. "But you've just been stabbing me in it."

"Ryker—"

"This family is a joke," I laugh bitterly. "I don't even know who to trust anymore. Honestly?" I lift my shoulders. "That hurts like hell."

"Hijo,"

I lift my hand to silence her as I turn my back and walk away. I feel the emptiness in my heart, hitting like a wrecking ball. But at this moment, I never craved Maddison's presence more in my life.

"I'm sorry, bro." Kyler says as he climbs in the seat beside me.

I scoff as I turn the key, bringing the car to life. He looks at me as I put the car in drive, but don't move my foot off the brake.

"I really am sorry. I wanted to tell you so many times. Through all this shit storm, you're my brother. Nothings gonna change that."

My eyes are fixed on the dash, hands tightly gripping the wheel, trying to make any kind of sense of this information. But I can't. Because everything I've ever known has been a lie.

"If you wanna scream, you can. I know you're angry."

Why did hearing that just make me wanna slap his head against the car?

"Hell yeah I'm angry, Kyler!" I shout. "How would you feel if you just found out that your family's been lying to you your whole life for the sake of...I don't even know what! Selfishness? Because it sure as shit wasn't to protect me!"

I throw the car in park and slam the door open so hard, I was half afraid it would've messed up. But I knew he was gonna follow me.

"You made me believe that mom was the innocent one here and she wasn't."

"I didn't make you do anything. You did that on your own. But you're right: mom's selfish intentions kept me from telling you the truth. To spare you from this. Because I know you, bro. You act all big and bad, but you're all mush on the inside. Even Maddison said it."

I give him a warning look. "Keep her out of this."

"I'm just saying, dude. I've always loved you. You, somehow, got it twisted up in your own head that I never did. Even when you wanted to study writing and English, left for college, and ventured on your own, who do you think kept telling mom to suck it up and give you a chance?"

My chest heaved as I looked at him. I could feel my lungs constricting, fighting to get air in them. I hated that my damn asthma was triggered by my emotions, but fuck. Everything right now wasn't making since.

Kyler sighs, opening the door and reaching in the glove box. He reaches for my inhaler and walks around the car, handing it to me. I take it from him, shaking it.

"I remember us staying up at night, when we were kids," Kyler leaned against the hood. "You'd read these passages from books you loved and that you said meant a lot to you." He smiles. "When did that change?"

When I take my second pump and release a breath, I can feel my lungs expanding. I take a breath to relax my nerves, shaking my head.

"I don't know, Kyler. This whole thing is fucked."

He snorts. "Tell me about it."

"I never knew why dad pushed the stupid company so hard on me." I sigh, looking up.

"Mom was a nobody in her family. When she met dad, got married, she got the title and the money. Why do you think she changed her mind so fast when dad offered her a divorce?"

I snapped my head towards him. He can't really be implying what I think he is...can he?

"Not that she doesn't love him. I'm sure she does. But she does love the social status and money. And like she said, she didn't want the same for us. Well, you, mostly. I actually didn't mind taking over the family business."

"Why?"

He shrugs. "I never really had my own dream like you. This just made sense."

I felt a frown form as he sighs. "Do you mind taking me home? Kinda need a ride. Maddison's the one who got her friend to come get me and drop me off."

"Uh. Yeah, sure."

When we get back in the car, it's awkwardly quiet. We weren't throwing low blows at each other. We weren't trying to tear each other's heads off. We were just...civil. It was awkward as hell, because we haven't been this way in years.

As I pulled up to Kyler's apartment, he didn't move to get out. I stare at him until I hear his shaky breath.

"I think I loved her, bro." He mutters quietly. "I think I loved her, and she wasn't even with me for me. She was with me for you."

Olivia. I let out a breath through my nose as I pat his shoulder.

"I hate that she used you, Kyler. I thought you knew."

He looks at me, tears brimming his eyes. "I'd never do that to you, Ryker."

I nod slowly. "I know that."

In an unexpected turn of events, Kyler leans forward and wraps his arms around me. I hear him sniffle, probably letting some tears fall. I close my eyes, letting him. I put an arm around him, accepting his silent apology.

I know that he wouldn't have been with her if he knew the real story. I also know that he, for some odd reason, actually really liked her. And now that he knew the truth—probably because of Maddison, he's heartbroken.

"Do you wanna stay at my place for a few days?"

He moves back, wiping his face with the back of his hand.

"No, I don't wanna imp—"

"Kyler. Get your shit. Stay with me for a few days."

He gives me a small smile before he nods, heading up to his apartment. I wait about ten minutes before he heads back down with a duffle bag. We drive back to my house in silence, which doesn't bother me.

But when I don't kill the engine, he raises a brow.

"Where're you going?" One pointed look makes a smirk grow across his lips. "Right. Well, tell Maddison I say hello."

"Fat chance in hell."

He chuckles before he slams the door and I take off. All I wanted to do today was apologize for being such a complete dick last night. Now, all I want her to do is run her delicate fingers over my skin on my arms, listening to me like she always does, and assure me that she's never going to leave me.

I can't handle it if she leaves me.

I'm pulling up in front of her apartment complex before I know it. Suddenly nervous, I swallow and take my keys out of the ignition. I walk down the corridor and over to her door. I inhale before knocking and wait.

When the door opens, I can literally feel my heart leap against my chest and the butterflies erupt in my stomach. I smile as I take in her messy bun, makeup free face. She's wearing light colored skinny jeans and a yellow shirt—that was new.

I felt, as if for a second, everything in my world was right again. Because she's my world; she's mine, she's where I belong.

"Maddison."

A/N

Babies 🥺

Thanks for reading, lovelies! Don't forget to vote, comment, etc!! <3