Seduced The Unexpected Virgin - By Emily McKay Page 0,59
his standard baggy jeans and sweatshirt. He appeared to have just woken up, despite the fact that it was a school day. Ricky made a shushing gesture as he nodded toward what was obviously a back bedroom, then led him back to the kitchen where a box of cereal sat open beside an empty bowl.
Ricky slid the kitchen door closed and said, “Mi mamá is still sleeping. She got a job on the cleaning crew at the plant.”
“That’s great.”
Ricky gave a defeated shrug. “As long as the plant stays open.”
Ward didn’t want to say how unlikely he feared that would be. Instead, he asked, “Why aren’t you in school? I thought you said you wouldn’t skip anymore.”
“It’s a teacher work day.” Ricky held up his hands in a gesture of innocence. “I swear!” He poured some cereal into his bowl and shoveled a spoonful into his mouth. As an afterthought, he raised the box up in silent offer.
“No, thanks.” The sugar-coated, neon puffs barely resembled food.
“Why’re you slumming?” Ricky asked through a mouthful.
“I…” Now that it was time to explain, Ward choked. With a sigh, he turned around one of the kitchen chairs and sat on it with his arms braced over the back. “Next week, after the street fair, I’m leaving Vista del Mar for a while. I wanted to tell you myself.”
Ricky’s gaze dropped to his bowl. He shoveled in another spoonful of neon puffs, his face as expressionless as a placid cow as he chewed. Then he ate another bite before shrugging. “Okay.”
The boy’s studied lack of response said more about his emotional state than he probably knew.
“Ricky, I need you to know that this has nothing to do with you. I’ll make sure Ana finds you a great mentor to replace me. I’m sorry we only met a couple of times.”
“Naw, man.” He waved a negligent hand. “It’s okay. No big deal, right?”
“I wish I could stay, but I just can’t.”
“No, I get it.” In went another bite of food. “Who wants to hang around here and mentor some stupid kid, right? I mean, you probably have, like, concerts to plan and stuff.”
“It’s not that. You’re a great kid.” Ward reached out a hand and laid it on Ricky’s arm. “You’re smart and—”
“Stop it.” Ricky shook off Ward’s hand with annoyance.
“I mean it. I’ve enjoyed knowing you. You’re—”
“You don’t have to kiss my ass, okay? You can go back to your real life without feeling guilty.”
“I wasn’t trying to do that,” Ward explained, trying to keep his own frustration from his voice. “I was being honest.”
“Well, you sound like a sleazebag.”
Great. And now he was being criticized by a teenager. Just barely a teenager. “I was going for honest, but if that’s sleazy to you, so be it. You want the truth? We broke up. Ana dumped me. So I decided to leave. To make it easier on her. I’m—”
Ricky burst out laughing. “She dumped you?”
“Yes. She dumped me.” Ward waited for Ricky’s peals of laughter to die down. “But I’m glad you find my broken heart funny.”
Ricky just shook his head, clearly still amused, even though he was no longer laughing. “I just didn’t think you were the kind of guy to get dumped. I mean, dude, you’re rich.”
“Yeah, well, rich guys get dumped, too.”
“Did you really dig her?” Ricky asked quietly.
“Yeah, I did,” Ward said after a thoughtful moment. What would have been the point in lying?
“I saw you two at the party. She was into you. So why are you leaving?”
“She saw through all the smoke and mirrors.” Ricky just looked at him blankly. “You know, smoke and mirrors. From The Wizard of Oz? No?”
Ricky ignored the reference and asked, “You’re not even going to fight for her. What’s up with that?”
“She was pretty clear. She doesn’t want me.” And then, for reasons he didn’t quite understand, he found himself opening up to Ricky. “I can’t make her fall in love with me.”
Ricky smirked. “Can’t you just tell her how you feel? Write her a song or something.”
Ward sighed. If only it was that easy. ’Cause, sure. He could write her a song. He could pull out all the stops and charm the pants off her. But then he’d never really know if he’d won her back or if she’d just fallen in love with the musician.
That wasn’t something a kid like Ricky could understand.
Before he could attempt to explain it, Ricky finished chewing his bite and added, “Just make it a good