Braylen
Sitting on my couch, I became antsy waiting for Kena to come home. Flipping through the channels, I couldn’t settle on any one show. Reality, comedy, drama . . . nothing. Even a Law & Order episode did nothing to hold my attention because my mind was elsewhere.
Looking down at my phone, I saw I didn’t have any new messages. I’d texted my sister earlier and told her I had something I wanted to discuss, and I wanted to do it sooner rather than later. After convincing her that it wasn’t anything terrible, she agreed to stop by the house and talk to me before she met up with Jagger. He had a fight later that evening, but I wasn’t going. Between late nights with Ryder and working crazy hours at the salon, I was utterly exhausted. And being boxed in at an overly crowded, loud and smelly room was the last place I wanted to spend my evening. Thankfully the next day was Sunday and I didn’t have work, so I could rest as much as I needed to.
Finally, at half past six in the evening, Kena strolled through the door, but Jagger and Ryder were hot on her heels.
They showed up outside, she signed. I can kick them out if you want. She smiled, but I knew she was serious. Kena would have no reservations about telling the guys to step back outside until we finished our conversation.
My sister looked tired, much how I felt, although she still had a rosy glow to her. Her dark hair was styled in a loose ponytail, and she was wearing her typical work attire, jeans and a T-shirt. Kena always looked nice, even wearing something so simple. Then again, there was no need for her to get all dressed up, because her job was taking care of the finances at our family’s restaurant. Her office was in the back of the building, so it wasn’t like she socialized a lot, not unless my parents were desperate for her to fill in for the waitstaff due to call offs.
Most of the customers were regulars so they were aware of her challenge, as we liked to refer to it. Disability or handicap didn’t fit, because nothing held my sister back from living a full life. Not since Jagger, anyway.
I was happy she had someone, and although he was a bit questionable in the beginning and hadn’t always earned my approval, he turned out to be a great guy. Loyal, fierce and protective.
Not that my disapproval would change Kena’s mind—she was head over heels for him, and he returned her love tenfold—but having her sister on board just made it easier.
“Why you gonna kick me out?” Jagger teased, pulling his woman in for a kiss as if they were the only ones in the room. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” He gave her two more pecks before releasing her, his eyes following her every movement. Then he finally looked my way and gave me a wink. “Are you kicking me out?”
“Who’s getting kicked out?” Ryder asked, moving to stand next to me.
“No one’s getting kicked out,” I rebuffed, my voice lower than normal. It appeared my energy was draining with each passing second.
“Are you okay? You look tired.” Ryder focused all his attention on me and completely forgot about the possibility of being asked to leave.
“I’m fine.”
“Uh-huh,” he grunted.
Deciding to ignore his grunted response because I had other pressing matters to attend to, I said, “You guys stay here while Kena and I talk.”
They took a seat on the couch and flipped through the channels while they waited.
As soon as we sat on the edge of my bed, side by side, I turned to Kena and blurted, “Ryder wants me to move in with him.” No point in beating around the bush. I waited for her reaction. Worry. Sadness. Confusion. These were some of the examples of emotions I’d expected, but I certainly didn’t anticipate that she’d be smiling. “What’s so funny?”
I thought you were going to tell me you’re pregnant.
“Oh my God! No!” I gasped, yelling louder than I meant to. “Don’t even say that.” I couldn’t even imagine if that was true. Instead of bringing bad karma my way, I redirected the conversation back to my original statement, but it took me several seconds to relax my face from a horrified expression.
“So how do you feel about me moving out?” I braced myself to deal with whatever happened. If she didn’t want me to leave, I wouldn’t.
Well, now that you brought it up, Jagger wants to move in here. We were waiting to tell you until we found the right time, but it looks like you found it for us.
“Oh, well, yeah. It looks like it’ll all work out for the best, then.” Why, after finding out that our situations were perfectly synced up, did I start crying?
Kena hugged me tightly before asking, Why are you upset?
There was no hesitation before I started rambling uncontrollably. “Because we won’t be living together anymore. Because we won’t be able to just hang out in our pajamas, stuff our faces with junk food and watch corny horror movies. Because—” I sniffed. “—I won’t have anywhere to go when Ryder drives me nuts.” We both laughed at my last reason, and although Kena never made a sound, the grin on her beautiful face was huge and her chest shook in amusement.
Then we’ll kick the men out when one of us has an argument and we’ll hang out. Sisters before misters. Kena often found ways to make me feel better, even though that was rightly my job because I was her big sis. Regardless, we hashed out a few minor details, like when the moving was all going to take place, what furniture would be staying and which pieces would be moved. Kena had to make room for Jagger’s things just like Ryder did for mine.
After about a half hour, we joined the men. They were in the same exact position, leaning back on the sofa with their legs spread. The typical way men sit.
As soon as Ryder saw me approach, his expression changed. Apparently, I looked drained. “Wait here,” he instructed, pushing me to sit down. Moments later he had my overnight bag in his hand.
“You stayin’ here?” he asked Jagger.
“Yeah, man.”
“Okay, we’re going home, then.”
Home. What a strange but wonderful thought that Ryder had not only accepted me in his life but that we were going to be living together. Apparently starting right away.
After throwing my bag on the back of his bike, he handed me a helmet. “I don’t think I can ride on that tonight.” I must’ve really been out of it since I’d never even heard him pull up. Normally I’d heard the roar of his engine a mile away.
“Yeah, what was I thinkin’? You look like hell.”
“Gee, thanks,” I said sarcastically. “You sure know how to kick a woman when she’s down.” I didn’t even possess enough energy to be angry at him.
“Sorry, that’s not what I meant at all. I just meant. . . .”
“Go get Jagger’s keys,” I instructed, halfheartedly pointing toward the house.
He jogged off, returning soon after and helping me into Jagger’s truck. A half hour later he was practically carrying me into his house, shooing Brutus out of the way so he didn’t trip over him.
As soon as Ryder undressed me and tucked me into bed, I closed my eyes, but before he could leave the room, I asked him to stay. “Please lie with me.”
A brief silence ensued before he asked, “What if I fall asleep?” At some point we had to try and sleep in the same bed again.
“Please stay.”
The bed dipped beside me as I drifted off to sleep.