Chapter Twenty-Three
Emerson left to go to her grandparents after dinner. As much as I wanted her, I didn't want to rush it. Things had just begun, and I wanted them to continue. We headed home early in the morning, and after a quick run, we started working around the property.
“I like the way she looks on you,” Ryan smirked as we loaded two end tables into the back of the truck.
I smiled. “It feels really good,” I admitted. I had thought I’d known what it felt like to be serious about someone, but after my last relationship, I’d closed off my heart; I just hadn’t realized it. Emmy had a way of making me feel again, and I wasn't disappointed.
“I just like that you aren't a grumpy ass all the time,” Ryan said.
“I wasn't that bad.”
Ryan laughed in my face and shook his head. “Bad is an understatement. But seriously, it's good to see you like this. I can only imagine what you are thinking about when you get all doe-eyed and smiley like a chick, but it’s good anyway.” He walked around the truck and sat on the tailgate.
“So what was the deal with Chris?”
I knew this line of question had been coming. He had walked away with Emerson and hadn't heard the rest of what was said.
“Pretty much what you already know. He said he has been with her and couldn't wait until the next time. And he said it in the most disrespectful way; that’s what lit me up more than anything.”
“I see.” He looked up at me. “Did you believe him?”
“She said she’s never been with him, and that’s good enough for me.”
“I wouldn't worry too much about him. If he had ever dated her, I think she would have been a little friendlier with him.”
“I know.” I shrugged. I didn't want to spend my afternoon thinking about Chris, and Ryan picked up on it.
“When’s she due home?” Ryan asked.
“In a few hours.”
“I'll text her and see if she wants to cook out.” I watched him type away on his phone and then smile when he got a reply. He typed again and then laughed.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“She likes my steaks better than your chicken.”
“I cooked them both.” I pointed out before reaching over his shoulder and grabbed the phone from his hands, reading the conversation. Then, I typed my own message.
I cooked all the food
Luke, btw
Well I like steak better than chicken, and I don't have to diet like you do.
E
I’ve got something better for tonight
Luke
I bet you do. ;)
E
I handed the phone back to Ryan and headed to the house. I grabbed my keys off the counter and walked back out, climbing into the truck.
“You coming?” I asked Ryan who was still seated on the tailgate.
“Yeah.” He shut the tailgate and then hopped in the passenger door. I waited until he clipped his seatbelt and then took off down the driveway.
***
“Can we get these?” Ryan asked as he dropped cookies in the cart I was pushing.
“You’re an adult with your own money. I’m not buying you cookies.” I picked up some shrimp and pineapple then a gallon of milk and ingredients to make slaw then pushed the cart toward the checkout.
“Minimalist much?” Ryan complained as I pushed past the snack foods. He dropped a bunch of junk in the cart and ignored me when I told him he didn’t need it. It was a battle not worth fighting. The only time he ate healthy was when I cooked.
He ate half a box of cookies between the grocery store and home. It was depressing and infuriating.
When we got back, I set about prepping dinner and making slaw. I set it to the side and went about putting the kabobs together. I was adding the pineapple, and Ryan laughed.
“Who the hell puts fruit on a grill?” He picked a piece up from the plate and popped it in his mouth. I watched him closely. They had been rolled in a hot pepper paste, and he didn’t know it.
“HOLY SHIT!” Ryan yelled and spit the pineapple in his hand. “What the hell?” He looked over his shoulder as he ran water from the sink into his mouth. He swished the water, then spit it in the sink. “Are you trying to kill me?” He complained then walked across the kitchen and opened the fridge pulling out the milk and drinking directly from the container.
“Dude,” I complained as he downed what was left of the milk. “Use a glass. Savage.”
“There wasn't that much left. Why the hell is that pineapple so hot?”
“It's a spin on Bang Bang shrimp. I make it all the time.” I smiled at him. It really wasn't that hot, but it was spicy. “Maybe if you kept your fingers to yourself, you wouldn't have fire mouth right now.”
“Yeah, yeah, the grill is ready, by the way.”
I gathered the food and took it out to the back porch and started the kabobs. They were nearly done when I felt hands travel around my middle while I was facing the grill.
“Hey, handsome.”
I turned and looked down at my girl. I smiled at the thought of calling her mine.
“Hey, beautiful.” I kissed her softly. “I kinda missed you.”
“I just saw you yesterday.”
“Yeah, but you’re usually on your porch when I come home from my run, and you didn’t scream at me at two in the morning.” I smiled and leaned in, kissing her again.
“Well, you are a little annoying.” She smiled.
“Maybe if you slept in the same bed, you would both stay there longer,” Ryan piped in from his seat. “Heyyyyyy, Emmy.” He smiled.
“Hey, Ryan.” She leaned her head back and smiled at him. “I’m going to go grab my stuff. I just wanted to say hi. It smells amazing.” I watched her walk away. She high-fived Ryan as she passed by him.
“You are one lucky mother fucker, and you're welcome,” Ryan said softly. He didn't look at me; he was still looking toward Emmy. “Be glad I love ya, brother. That girl is a keeper.”
“Thanks.” I smirked. “Really, thank you.”
He grunted back, and I laughed. “It's a good thing I don't mind being a third wheel.” He stretched his arms over his head then stood, walking over to me. I handed him the plate of cooked kabobs, and he turned, walking into the house. I turned the grill off and followed him. He was already covering his plate with slaw and reached over and grabbed a couple of the kabobs.
“Is smells wonderful in here,” Emerson said as she came from the front door.
“Don't let it fool you.” Ryan sat down at the table.
She took the plate I handed her, and I watched her eat and smiled to myself every time she rolled her eyes back enjoying the shrimp.
“God this is so good!” Her bright smile made my lips pull up at the edges.
“He’s a pretty good cook. It's why I've been his friend forever. Wait till you taste his gravy. You could cover a flip flop with it, and it would be delicious,” Ryan deadpanned. We all broke out in giggles.
She pushed away from the table and went about cleaning up the kitchen.
“I can get that,” I told her.
“You cook, I clean. It was the way Rachel and I always did it.” She dipped the empty slaw bowl under the stream of water and then added a little soap.
“There's a dishwasher.” I pointed behind her.
She shook her head and continued to hand wash the few dishes that were around the sink. “I can wash them as fast as I can load them.” She smiled over her shoulder and lifted the water nozzle discreetly and sprayed Ryan as he walked by to grab a beer from the fridge.
“That was totally uncalled for.” Ryan stood with the water dripping off his face.
“That was payback for tickling me.”
“Are we even now?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Don't do it,” I said as Ryan walked up behind her shaking his beer. When he popped the top, the cold liquid spewed over the back of her neck and shoulders. She shrieked and ran toward the door laughing.
I stood, hip against the counter, as I watched him chase her out onto the porch shaking beer in her direction. The friendship they shared was special, and I knew it was because Ryan liked her. Not in a sexual way but just liked her for who she was. It was definitely not something he did often.
I handed her a towel when she walked back in the kitchen grinning from ear to ear. I pulled her to me. Our eyes met, and her smile widened. I covered her lips with mine, and she wrapped her arms around my neck. The kiss was deeper than I had intended, but with her, it was an all-in, all the time kind of thing. When I pulled away, we were both breathing a little heavier. I kissed her nose and looked up to see Ryan watching us. He saluted me then turned and walked toward the back porch.