CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

RYDER

My first week at running the company didn’t go as planned. I’ve been distracted and off my game. By the third day, I had a rhythm down and was in the middle of a phone call when my father walks in. He’s still here just as much as he used to be; it just doesn’t look like it on paper.

“What did we decide to do with Hahn’s property on Fifth Avenue?” he asks.

I end my call and sit up in my chair. “A hotel.”

“Cancel it,” he orders.

I arch my brow. “Why?”

I know I was pissed at my dad when I found out about Maggie. But all that went away when he sat in Rosie’s living room telling me how his wife had an affair with his best friend, got pregnant, and then refused to keep the child. I had never felt so much respect for this man. Rosie has her salon, and I know she is set for life, but my father helps her out financially with Maggie. He said his best friend would have wanted that.

“I have other plans for that space,” he answers.

“Okay. What is it?”

“I’ll let you know when I get more details,” he says, starting to walk out of my office. “Oh hey, Ryder?”

“Yeah?” I ask, looking back up at him.

“Is your mother still calling you?”

I frown at his question but shake my head. “I think she got the hint.” I’ve learned a lot about my mother over the past couple of weeks, and I’ve concluded I don’t want anything to do with her.

“Don’t be so sure. Maybe she just plans to confront you in person.”

I snort. “I won’t be seeing her anytime soon.”

“Yes, you will. Your cousin’s wedding is next weekend.” Then he walks out.

“Shit!”

Later that night, we lie in bed eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch out of the box. I got home later than she did and met her at her apartment. We decided to just stay here for the night since she hasn’t officially moved in with me yet. Too much has been going on. We were too exhausted to cook or even order carryout. So we cuddled up in her bed, watched some TV, and she grabbed the cereal box out of the kitchen.

She’s lying on top of my arm resting her body against my side when her cat jumps up on the bed meowing. He makes his way up my leg and over my stomach. He sits down on my chest, and she reaches up with her left hand to pet him. “I’ve always been a fan of the shaved pussy, but I must say this is the ugliest shaved pussy I have ever seen,” I state, making her laugh.

“Oh, yeah? Have a lot to compare it to?” she asks, still laughing.

“I’m just saying.” The ugly thing looks right at me with those big glowing green eyes and overly large ears. I woke up this morning when it was still dark outside, and he scared the shit out of me when I found him sitting on the bathroom counter when I turned on the light. I swear he does shit like that on purpose. The rat remembers our first meeting, and he’s paying me back. “He looks like an old man’s set of balls,” I say with a frown.

I look over his little shirt she has him dressed in. It’s the same color of his gray skin that makes him look like he has tattoos. The one on his chest says I love my momma. And one on his back that says this pussy won’t bite. “You dress him every day?” I ask.

“Yes. I order him shirts and sweaters online.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want him to be cold,” she says like I should have known that.

“It’s summertime in New York.”

“But he still gets cold,” she argues as if the alien speaks to her.

I turn onto my side, and the cat takes off meowing at me. I look at her and smile. “What?” she asks as she eyes me skeptically.

“What are you doing next weekend?”

“Nothing that I know of. Why?”

“Good! We have a wedding to attend.”

She laughs. “Oh, we do? And you’re just telling me now?”

“I forgot,” I say, “until my father reminded me today.”

“Where is it?” she asks.

“The Hamptons.” She smiles. Then I drop the bomb. “My mom will be there...” Her smile falls. “And Vicki.”

“I’m not going,” she states, shaking her head.

“Yes, you are!” She goes to argue when I add, “You’re going, and that’s that.”

“When did you become so bossy?”

I lean and kiss her lips. “Since I got a girlfriend who wants to argue about everything.”

I place my hand on her chest and pull it away when I feel crumbs on her skin. “What is on you?”She looks down at it and touches it. “I think it’s the cinnamon from the Cinnamon Toast Crunch,” she says with a laugh.

I lean in and run my tongue along her chest bone. “Hmmm. Cinnamon tits,” I say, running my tongue along her nipple. “Best idea ever.” I push her down onto the bed, and she giggles as I lick her clean.

ASHLYN

The rest of the week flew by. I was busy at work going on like I wasn’t about to lose it. But Thomas and I couldn’t hide the fact we knew the end was coming fast. We both made call after call, trying to get interviews anywhere, but we couldn’t find anyone who was hiring. I had a few moments of panic but talked myself out of it by reminding myself that I had Ryder, the man I love, and that I was in New York. How bad can it be? I wouldn’t stop looking for a job, but I also wasn’t going to let it ruin me. And the thought of running back to Seattle was long gone. Ryder and Becca both needed me here.

Instead of worrying about my job, I’ve been trying to be the best girlfriend I can be. Which is very hard. Because in order to play the girlfriend part, the boyfriend needs to be around. He has been pretty MIA all week with work. Tuesday, he had to fly to California for the day and ended up having to stay the night. I went down to my apartment to spend the night with Becca like old times, but she was at Jaycent’s. It’s so weird how much things can change in a matter of a couple of months. And how much more they are gonna change next week when I’m jobless.

But finally, it’s the weekend, and this morning, we woke up, had sex, ate breakfast, and then did it again in the shower. I could tell Ryder was tense just from the night before. He tossed and turned all night long, and I knew it had to do with finding out about Maggie.

“Where is she?” Becca asks as tears run down her face while we all sit in Rosie’s living room.

“The nanny took her to the park. I didn’t want it to be too much for her. She will be back here soon for you to meet her,” Rosie tells her, her face also wet.

Becca nods as she sits on the couch next to her father. I sit over on the loveseat alone. Ryder and Jaycent both stand over by the fireplace. Ryder’s face is clear of emotion while Jaycent’s is beet red in anger. “You’re letting a nanny raise her?” Jaycent snaps.

“I didn’t want one.” Her eyes slide to Timothy’s for the briefest moment, and I feel like the nanny was non-negotiable. “But she does come in handy for things like this,” she adds softly.

“How could you keep this from your family for five years?” he demands, looking at his sister.

“I didn’t have a choice,” she tells him. “There are legal documents. Documents that Gwenda and I signed. If I said anything, I could lose her.”

“Who the fuck cares!” he shouts. “She didn’t even want her!”

She narrows her eyes at him, and her lips thin. “I care!” she snaps. “At any second, she could have changed her mind,” she argues. “You see it all the time in the news. Mother gets child back after x so many years …”

“You should have told me no matter what!” he shouts.

“Don’t you dare yell at me,” she shouts back at him. “You haven’t been here.”

“And whose fault is that?” he snaps back.

I watch as this family becomes divided by lies and secrets. And all I can think of is how did no one know Gwenda had a baby? I know Jaycent, Ryder, and Rosie were already adults and out of the house. But how did Becca not know? Or Timothy? Did he know the entire pregnancy that it wasn’t his kid? Maybe he thought it was his?

She sighs heavily, and her shoulders start to shake as tears run down her face. “Why would I tell you?” she asks. “Were you going to help me?” He opens his mouth, and she raises her hand to stop him. “I never see you.”

“I talk to you all the time,” he argues.

“But we never see one another. I’m busy with work …”

“Apparently, you’re busy with a lot of things.” He growls, looking over at her boyfriend. That I just found out minutes ago no one knew about. But supposedly, they’ve been together for two years. I don’t know much about Rosie except that she is a very private person. And given her circumstances, I can see why.

“Arguing isn’t going to solve anything,” her boyfriend defends her. “Now you all know.”

“And that makes it better?” Jaycent snaps.

“Babe, please …” Becca begs as she stands from the couch. “Just stop,” she cries.

He looks over at her and then at his sister. He then tosses his hands up in the air and storms out of the living room. Moments later, we hear the front door slam.

“I’ll go talk to him,” Ryder says softly.

“No!” his father says as he too stands from the couch. “I’ll do it.”

Rosie turns to Ryder and Becca. “You have to understand. My hands were tied,” she says as fresh tears run down her face. “And I couldn’t lose her …” She sniffs. “I just couldn’t …” She bows her head and places her face in her hands.

“It’s okay,” Becca cries, running to her. “It’s gonna be okay,” she assures her, and I look over at Ryder as he watches them together. A look of worry all over his face. When his eyes meet mine, I can tell he doesn’t share Becca’s confidence.

**

I hang the last piece of clothing up in Ryder’s, now our, closet and turn to see him standing at the door, staring at me. He wears a white t-shirt with a pair of blue jeans and running shoes. He looks just as good casual as he does in a suit. “You okay?” I ask.

The meeting at Rosie’s didn’t go as planned. Jaycent ended up leaving. I don’t know what Timothy said to him, but it either pissed him off or scared him. And although I wanted to meet Maggie, Rosie felt that things needed to calm down before we got that chance. We all agreed.

He nods and leans his shoulder up against the doorframe. “So much is happening.”

I give him a soft smile. “I know it seems like a lot, but they’re all good things.” He is taking over the company. He has a sister, and I’ve moved in with him.

“Are they?” he asks softly before his eyes look around his closet at all my clothes on the right side—my side.

The smile drops off my face. “If it’s too much right now, I understand,” I tell him as my chest tightens at my words.

He looks back at me and frowns. I gesture to my clothes. “Me moving in. I understand if you want to put it off now—”

“No!” he interrupts me and pushes off the doorframe. He walks over to me. “You are exactly what I need right now. We are where I’ve wanted us to be.”

My smile returns. “Tell me what you want me to do?” I urge. “What can I do to make it better?”

He releases a sigh as he lifts his hand and runs it through my hair. “Love me forever.” It breaks my heart that he feels so alone in this world. He has friends and family who love him, but right now, they are all so disconnected from one another.

I place my hands on his chest, and I feel his heart pounding. “Not loving you isn’t an option,” I tease him, trying to lighten the mood.

And it works. He gives me a smile as his eyes search mine. “Going to Panama was the best decision I ever made.”

“Mine too,” I agree.