Ryder's POV
"What? No!" she squealed, her face flushing red. She struggled, and I held her tightly to keep her from falling, but she refused my grip, forcing me to let her go.
She stuck her tongue out at me and ran away. Her hair streamed behind her as the wind caught it, her laughter echoing in my ears.
She was so… beautiful.
I watched in silence as she stopped and turned back to me, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"Elodie," I heard myself call. She tilted her head to the side. "Weren't you coming to me for something? What was it?"
She tapped her cheek thoughtfully, her eyes lighting up. "You sent me a letter and said you had a present for me. I wanted to ask what it was…"
"Oh, yes. The present. It completely slipped my mind," I replied, rubbing my temple. "Come with me."
"Okay!" she beamed, running toward me. "I wonder what it is," she muttered as she walked beside me.
