Tate
“You wanna tell me why you look like you just saw a ghost?”
I shook my head and dropped my bag on the floor. “That was Ryker’s aunt?” I asked dumbly.
“That’s what he said. I have to admit, I was damn shocked when she said she was looking for Ryker. I figured she was a mom coming in to sign her kid up for classes.” Kellan leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the desk.
“She’s not sixty.”
Kellan eyed me up. “I know, dude. I was right here. Why the hell are you so shocked?”
“I guess I’m just surprised.” I didn’t want to tell Kellan about last night until I talked to Hadley about it. She obviously didn’t want anyone to know about us. Otherwise, she would have reacted completely different when she saw me.
“Hey!’ Molly called as she strolled through the front door. “Who was that walking with Ryker?” She set three paper bags on the counter and stepped around the desk to kiss Kellan.
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his lap. “That was Ryker’s aunt.”
Molly’s eyes bugged out, and her jaw dropped. “I thought you said she was old. That woman looked far from old.”
“Yeah, Cookie. We were just as shocked as you are. Hell, Tate still can’t believe it.”
I slightly shook my head. “Yeah, I guess we were way off on that one, hmm?” I grabbed one of the bags off the desk and started pulling out food.
“Jesus, Cookie, how much did you bring over?” Kellan asked as I pulled out four sandwiches from one bag, then chips and cookies from the other two bags.
Molly shrugged and reached up to grab a sandwich. “I figured Ryker would still be here, and I decided to take my break with you.” She handed Kellan a sandwich and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I didn’t think you would mind.”
“I get to spend more time with my girl? I don’t mind at all.” He grabbed the sandwich and pulled her to him, burying his face in her hair. She giggled and turned in his lap.
And this is where I got lost. I was happy Kellan had met someone, but I didn’t need to witness to their sappy shit.
I grabbed a sandwich and three cookies. “I’m gonna head home,” I called, picking up my bag.
“You’re not going to stay and eat?” Molly asked, turning to look at me.
“Nah, I got some shit to do at home. I’ll see you Monday, man. Bye, Molly.”
“Later,” Kellan called.
I pushed open the front door, hoping to see Hadley waiting for me, but I knew she high-tailed it out of here as fast as she could.
I beeped open the locks on the Range Rover and tossed my bag in the back. I loved this damn truck, and every time I slid into it, I felt like I had actually done something good with my life. All those years of being under Jim’s thumb led to me being a part owner in a kick ass dojo and driving the car of my dreams.
The engine purred to life, and I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I punched in Hadley’s address and headed towards her house. I hoped to see them walking home, but by the time I drove by her house, I didn’t see either of them. They only lived five minutes from the studio, and I slowly drove by.
It was a small house that couldn’t have been more than two bedrooms. From the outside, it was the shape of a simple square, with a door and a small porch on the front. The windows were all dark with curtains hanging in them, and the lawn was overgrown. It wasn’t anything to write home about.
There didn’t look to be anyone home, although since Hadley’s car had broken down, there weren't many places they could have gone.
It was only quarter after one, and I had more than five hours until I had to pick up Hadley. I had no idea what I was going to do when Ryker answered the door when I knocked later, but hopefully, by that point, Hadley will have talked to him.
If you really looked at it, it wasn’t a big deal that Hadley and I were dating, or doing whatever the hell it was we were doing. It was just a damn small world that she happened to be Ryker’s aunt.
I pulled away from the curb and headed to the other side of town.
I was going to stare at the clock, waiting ‘til I could see Hadley again. I just hoped that she still wanted to see me, too.
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