Chapter Six
Ryder
Sitting on the plane ride home I’ve had a lot of time to think about how empty my life really is. My mother wasn’t feeling well so I decided to take a few days off and fly down to see her. My brother, Wyatt, doesn’t live far from the house we grew up in, so he stopped in to check on mom as well. It was nice to be with family once in a while, but it also made me remember why I moved out of state in the first place. I'd always felt inferior to my brother’s success, and seeing him with his family made me realize how much I was missing out of life.
Being a bachelor and playing the field is getting pretty fucking old. I want more. So much more. I want to be a part of something important, something that only belongs to me.
I haven't even been with a woman in months. I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, but the minute I stepped foot in Madison's house and held that boy in my arms, I knew that was where I was supposed to be. Okay, so I may have been thrust into a hectic situation and was included in a kid's death defying stunt without any say in the matter, but I was glad I had been there at that very moment to save him from serious injury.
Madison was just icing on the cake. One look at her and I was ruined for every other woman from that moment on. I felt so comfortable in that short amount of time I was in her presence. Having kids was always in the foreseeable future, but being with a woman who already had children of her own was never written in the stars for me. It wasn't even a thought in my head to date a woman who had kids. Going out with a single mother was taking on a huge responsibility. Besides, I don't know what her situation with the boy’s father was like. Was she still married? Separated? Divorced? I have no idea. All I do know is I want to get to know her and her kids more. But how? I can’t just show up at her doorstep unannounced. If she were any other woman I would have, but this situation needs a tad more care and finesse. My gruff attitude toward the opposite sex won’t work with a woman like her.
You know, it may have been my imagination running wild, but I could have sworn she’d given me an open invitation to drop in on her. Maybe I should take her up on that offer. There was definitely chemistry between us, that’s for sure. My fingers itched to touch more than just her hand and I’d seen the same fire burning in her eyes reflecting back at me. I’d kill for the chance to sink my hands in her long golden hair as I pump into her hot mouth. The thought of her full lips around my hard cock and her looking up at me has me straining in my jeans. I adjust myself and try to think about something other than Madison, though everything else that comes to mind only lasts a few seconds before my thoughts flip back to the beautiful blonde.
The soft buzzing vibration in my pants pocket momentarily distracts me and I don’t know whether to be grateful or annoyed I was interrupted from my dirty thoughts. I glance at the phone to find Quito’s name blinking across the screen. “What’s up?”
“You on your way home?”
“Yeah, I’m on the plane now.”
“Do you need me to come pick you up?”
“Nah, I’m good. I’ll take a cab.”
“No you won’t. I’ll pick you up and we’ll stop by my mom’s for dinner. Mercedes came to visit for a few days and brought Raven with her so we can all catch up there.”
“Shit, you don’t have to ask me twice, I’m starving.” I was already salivating just thinking about the food I was going to consume. Quito’s mother makes the best Cuban food I’ve ever tasted in my life. I never turn down an invitation to eat at her house. She always makes me feel welcome and treats me like a son. Quito is the youngest of five boys and Mercedes, his little sister was the last to be born in the family. I grew up with with only two older brothers. I can only imagine what poor Mercedes had to go through growing up in a household full of boys, but seeing how close they all are I’m sure there were plenty of laughs to go around. Quito and I had become fast friends because we have so much in common. Over the years we’ve become more like brothers than friends.
“How long until you land?”
“About forty-five minutes.”
“Alright I’m getting ready to leave now.”
I hang up and lean my head back before slouching in the seat. I close my eyes doing the best to clear my mind of the images of Madison flashing behind my lids. I can’t escape her no matter how hard I try to. I need to have her soon before my desire drives me to the brink of insanity. Maybe if I fucked her once that would be enough to satiate me to where I’m able to think of something else besides her. I’ve never known this kind of yearning existed until I laid eyes on her. I’ve been with plenty of women who were forgettable, but Madison was burned into my mind and I haven’t even had sex with her yet. And I mean yet because I will have her no matter what it takes.
Her scent, fuck, it seems to follow me wherever I go. The aroma of sweet peaches still clings to the sensitive tissues of my nose. I involuntarily lick my lips and wonder if she tastes as good as she smells. I imagine she does, but there’s only one way to know for sure.
An hour later and I’m sitting in the passenger seat of Quito’s car staring at the trees whizzing by on the highway. The vision of Madison’s face distracts from me from the babbling in the background coming from Quito in the driver’s seat. She’s consumed every thought in my head in the last few weeks. But, it’s not only her I think about. I also think about those two little boys of hers, especially Aiden. I could see the pain in his eyes when he spoke to Tyler about his mother, even if it was only in a passing glance. I have an unexplainable dire need to make them happy. I plan to make it my mission to put a smile on their faces every single day if I have the chance to do so.
“Hey!”
“What?! Damn it Qui, are you trying to give me a fucking heart attack? Shit!”
“Didn’t you hear a word I said? What’s wrong with you? You’ve been acting all kinds of weird for the last few weeks. Who has your panties in a twist?”
“First of all, I’m not wearing panties. I’m going commando.”
“Dude. That is the kind of information you can keep to yourself.”
“Then mind your business.”
“It is my business when you’re in my car and I don’t like your funky attitude.”
I laugh. No matter how much he tries to hide it, Quito’s accent always finds a way to come to the surface, so when his ‘funky’ comes out sounding like ‘fucky’, I can’t keep a straight face.
“What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you making fun of the way I talk?”
I clear my throat and press my lips together. “No.”
He shoots me an annoyed glance. “Mentiroso.”
“I may be a lot of things, but I am not a liar.”
“I guess, but that still doesn’t explain why you haven’t been yourself lately man. What’s going on? Is your mom okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. Wyatt took her to the doctor the other day. She has a cold. She should be feeling better by next week.”
“Good. Well, if it isn’t your mother then what is it?”
“Like I said, mind your damn business.”
“Look, either you tell me now or I’m gonna have to force it out of you one way or another. It’s a woman isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“Having second thoughts about Nora?”
“God no.”
“Well? Who is it? Anyone I know?”
“No, I met her during my route.”
He waggles his brow at me. “Made a special delivery, did you?
“No. She’s not like that at all. She has two little boys…”
“Hold on. Time out. I know you’re not getting all gooey eyed over a woman who’s got kids. Since when did you become the serious type?”
“I haven’t.”
“Into the MILF thing are we?” He turns to wink in my direction. “My man.”
“No, I don’t want to fuck her. Okay, that’s not completely true, I do, but I’m not going to take advantage of her. She seems so, I don’t know, different than any other woman I’ve been interested in. She’s…wholesome.”
He bursts out laughing. “Wholesome?”
“Yes, wholesome. What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.”
“No, please let me in on the joke.”
“I’ve known you for years and ‘wholesome’ is not a word I would use to describe the girls you go out with.”
“Well maybe I’m looking for a change.”
“Or a challenge.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you like the thrill of the hunt. I mean what man doesn’t right? You want something you can never have and that makes her desirable to you.”
I turn to face him fully. “You’re talking out of your ass.”
“And you’re too busy thinking with your dick because if you were thinking with your head you’d realize a ‘wholesome’ woman would never be interested in your type.”
“And what type is that?”
“The type that fucks women and leaves them once the chase is over. You’ll do the same thing to whoever this chick is, I put money on it. She’s just a phase and once you have her, you’ll get bored just as you have with all the other women in your life.”
“You should not be talking my friend. You are just as bad as I am.”
“Which is why I’m not the one in denial trying to seduce a mother of two children just to satisfy my sexual needs.”
“That is not what I’m doing. Besides, I’m not even seeing her.”
“But you want to and I know you well enough that you won’t rest until you get what you want.”
I angrily face forward and cross my arms over my chest. It irks me in the worst way that Quito and I are so much alike that he can tell what I’m going to do before I do it. Well, he couldn’t be more wrong about me this time. “Just drive.”
The thirty-minute ride from the airport to Quito’s mother’s house was the longest ride ever. I refused to talk to him the rest of the way because he pegged me for everything I am and I had nothing else to come back at him with.
We park in front of a quaint little yellow house complete with white shutters and white picket fence. I can already smell the faint aroma of what Mrs. Perez is cooking inside wafting through the open windows. My stomach bubbles at the anticipation of consuming some of the best food I’ve ever tasted in my life. My ire mood is instantly doused and a smile is now splayed across my face. I look over at Quito as he rounds the front of the car and his face is lit up as well. Several cars line the driveway and laughter fills the air as Quito’s brothers are playing some kind of sport in the backyard; most likely soccer.
Both Quito and I make our way up the walkway and the front door swings open. His younger sister Mercedes jumps off the porch, not bothering with the few stairs and rushes over to us. Quito picks her up in a tight hug and spins her around, her long, curly, dirty blonde hair flowing through the air.
When he puts her down she throws her arms around my neck and I embrace her in a tight hug of my own. “Hey! When did you get here?”
“I flew in last night after my last class. I’ll be on break for a week, so I figured I’d come see my favorite guy in the world.” She winks at me and pokes me in the stomach.
“Yeah, me.” Quito responds playfully.
Mercedes places her hand on her hip and rolls her eyes at her brother. “You wish!” She threads her arm through mine as we walk back to the house. “How’s your mom? I heard she wasn’t feeling well.”
“She’s good. She just has a cold. She’ll be better in no time. Now, tell me how Juilliard is. How are all of your classes going?”
“Great. I can’t wait to get back. Though my busy schedule doesn’t leave much for love life.”
Quito interrupts us. “What do you mean love life? What love life are you having? Don’t make me fly to New York and kick some asses.”
I laugh, staring down at Mercedes. “Yeah, me too. You better be behaving yourself.”
She scoffs. “Please, I do behave myself. Even if I didn’t, what are you two going to do about it? You both are a bunch of punks.”
She puts us both in a headlock and squeezes our necks, causing Quito’s head to hit mine. We can escape her grasp with ease, but we always let her have her fun. She does a strong grip though. Between working out for dancing and having five older brothers, I’m sure she can take care of herself in a hairy situation.
She crushes us to her body even tighter. “What’s my name?”
Both Quito and I yell, “Mercy!”
After releasing us, she holds out her hand and blows on her nails before rubbing them on her shirt. “That’s what I thought.”
Brushing my now messy hair back, I turn to Quito. “I feel bad for the man who has to put up with her on a daily basis.”
He laughs. “Agreed.”
We walk through the front door and Quito is practically tackled by Mercedes’ best friend Raven. He wraps his arms around her, kissing the top of her head. “Now, this is a face I have been missing. How is my favorite little sister?”
Mercedes punches Quito in the arm. “Hey!”
Raven laughs. “I’m fine.” Her dark green eyes sparkle from the sun streaming into the doorway. She flips her long black hair over her shoulder before giving me a quick hug. “Hi Ryder.”
“And how is school going for you? Mercedes keeping you up all night with her incessant gabbing and one-woman talent shows?”
Mercedes reaches over and punches me in the arm now. “Hey!”
I rub my arm, pretending to be in pain. “You know I love you babes, but you know it’s true.”
She laughs as both she and Quito walk toward the kitchen. “I’m not talking to any of you for the rest of day.”
Raven shakes her head and smiles. “That girl is exhausting.”
I laugh. “True. So, Quito said you have a new job in Seattle. How’s that going?”
“Perfect. I’ll be there for the next three months so I can save enough money for next semester at Juilliard. The owners of Decadent Property Management are really nice. After next semester is over I can go back to work for them and I don’t have to go looking around for another job. Their afterschool program needs to have a nurse on call, so I’ll be there semi-permanently. When I have to attend school they’ll hire a temporary nurse until I get back.”
“Sounds like a sweet deal to me.”
“It is. And I couldn’t have asked for better people to work for. Anyway, I have to get ready to leave. I’m going to the airport right after dinner.”
“So soon?”
“Yeah, I have to fly out to Seattle tonight, but I’ll be back before winter break, so I’ll see you then.”
“We definitely have to catch up some more. I’m dying to know what kind of shenanigans you and Mercedes have been up to.”
“I’ll keep all the juicy gossip saved up for you.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
The heavenly aroma of roast pork fills the air and I follow my nose in its quest to find the delectable meal awaiting me. Mercedes picks up a serving dish and walks toward the back door. I watch her trying to balance the heavy platter as she lifts her foot to the doorknob, doing her best to spin it so the door opens.
Mrs. Perez takes the dish from her daughter before I do and shakes her head. “Ay mija. Damelo. Give it to me so you can open the door first. Why are you so stubborn? You don’t have to do everything yourself.”
Mercedes tries to take the dish back from her mother. “Ma, I said I got it.”
I shake my head and laugh at the two of them. Both of these women are very independent, and Mrs. Perez is just as stubborn as her daughter is, but I certainly would never say that out loud, so I just offer them my services and take the food out of Mrs. Perez’s hands. “Why don’t I take this and both of you can go sit down.”
She places a kiss on my cheek. “Mijo! When did you get here?”
“A few minutes ago. Quito picked me up at the airport.”
“And how’s your mother?”
“Better.” I say with a smile.
“Good. Dinner's almost ready. Tienes hombre?
“I’m always hungry for your food.”
She laughs. “Okay. Go sit with everyone outside and I’ll bring out the rest of the food.”
“Do you need me to take anything else?”
“No. Go have fun. And don’t let Mercedes beat you boys up.”
I laugh. “We won’t.”
Several plates later, not one of us can move from the picnic table we’re all sitting at. Quito is sitting across from me with his brothers and I’m sitting in between Mercedes and her mother and Raven is seated at the end. This family is important to me since my mother and brothers live so far away. This has become my home away from home and they have always welcomed me with open arms. Quito’s father died a few years ago from a heart attack and they all were devastated since they were all so close. Hell, even I was shocked by his sudden death. He was an ox of a man, who seemed to be in good health. I guess sometimes the powers that be have other things in mind.
Mrs. Perez wipes her mouth with a napkin and turns to me. “Que pasa mijo? You have been quiet all day.”
I shrug my shoulders, picking up the glass in front of me and take a sip of water. “Nothing. I’m fine” But there is something I’ve been thinking about, or rather someone I’ve been thinking about. Someone I did not feel like discussing at the table with everyone now staring at me.
Quito bites off a big piece of bread, chews a few times, and talks with his mouth still full, smirking at me the entire time. “Maybe he was thinking about his new girlfriend.”
I kick him under the table to quiet him. What or who I was thinking about is none of his business and it’s definitely not anyone else’s either. “Why don’t you shut up Quito!”
Mercedes drops her fork and spins on her seat to face me. “Ooo you have a girlfriend! Okay brother, spill it! Who is she? What’s her name? Is she pretty? What does she look like?” She scrunches up her nose, giving me a disgusted look. “It isn’t Nora is it? God I hate her. You deserve so much better.”
Raven swats Mercedes in the arm. “Dee stop!”
Mercedes rubs her arm. “Ow, why did you hit me?”
“Because you’re being nosey. Maybe he doesn’t want to talk about his girlfriend. Maybe she’s a secret girlfriend.”
“Then why does Quito know about her and I don’t?”
“Girls please.” Mrs. Perez glances up at the sky, clasping her hands together. “Ayudame.”
I shake my head at Quito and glare at him. He laughs and takes another bite of bread, chewing with that fucking smirk still on his face. I just want to punch him right now. “She is not my girlfriend!”
Mercedes’ eyes widen. “Sooo, there is a girl then?”
I stand. “That’s it, I’m leaving.”
Mercedes grabs my arm and pulls me back down. “Okay, okay. Don’t go. But I want first dibs on the details.”
“There will be no details to be told.”
When everyone leaves the table to clean up, I throw a piece of bread at Quito. “Thanks a lot!”
He laughs, wiping the crumbs off his shirt. “What did I do?”
“Why did you have to go run your mouth off about Madison?”
“Ohhh, Madison is it? I knew I’d get you to tell me about her one way or another.”
“You’re fucking annoying.”
“Yeah, but you love me anyway.”
“Fuck you.”