AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Turns out the PR efforts to keep this whole thing under wraps?
Yeah. They’d failed.
Miserably.
???
Ryan arrived back at Jake and Amara’s around 11 p.m., after successfully dropping Hayes back off at White Oaks. To say he was exhausted would be an understatement, and he was really looking forward to a shower considering the copious amount of sex juices his body had acquired over the past few hours.
He didn’t hear JT crying as he made his way through the foyer. Peeking into the living room, he noticed he was asleep in his bassinet.
Thank the Lord. Maybe I’ll actually get some sleep.
No sooner than he’d had that thought, he rounded the corner into the kitchen and noticed Amara sitting on the floor next to the fridge. Her legs were bent, her arms wrapped around her knees, and she was crying.
Immediately at her side, he sat next to her and slid an arm around her shoulder as she leaned over and let herself fall against him. He wrapped his other arm around the front of her body and hugged her as she wept. “It’s OK. I’m here. I’m here, Mar.”
He held her, allowing her to cry for as long as she needed to. After a few minutes, she sat up and wiped her face, and he let her go. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. What’s the matter? What do you need?”
She shook her head. “I’m…fine.”
“Mar, you’re crying on the kitchen floor in fuzzy penguin pajamas. You’re the opposite of fine. What’s wrong?”
“I’m…Ryan, I’m fine.”
He got up off the floor. “I’m gonna go get Jake, OK?”
“No. Please don’t. Just…”
“Then talk to me, Amara.” He extended his hand and pulled her to her feet. As soon as she was standing, she fell forward into his arms again, and he wrapped his arms around her back. Guilt washed over him, as having her in his arms like this again caused his cock to take notice.
Oh, for fuck’s sake, dick. Will you calm the fuck down already? You came three times today and you’re gay.
“I…don’t know what to do anymore,” she murmured.
“What do you mean?” he asked, kissing the top of her head. “About what?”
She unloaded, pacing back and forth and raking her fingers through her hair. “I don’t think…I can do this. I made a huge mistake. I’m not…I can’t do this. I’m so shitty, Ryan. I’m such a shitty mother, girlfriend, friend. I can’t…it’s all just too much.”
Ryan took a deep breath. “So, I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but all of that is bullshit. You? Are an amazing mother. You’ve been sleeping next to that little boy on a couch for weeks to make sure you’re there the second he needs you. And you’re doing it so your boyfriend can get some sleep since he’s still working.
“And as for friends? You took me into your home without even a second thought, despite all of the shit we’ve been through. And there was quite a bit, if you recall. So Mar? I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but you’re killing it just about everywhere.”
She sat down at one of the kitchen island stools, resting her head in her hands, Ryan leaning onto the countertop across from her. “You…Mar, have you talked to Jake about how you’re feeling?”
She shook her head, not looking up. “He’s…busy with the business. I can’t bother him with this.”
“Um, he’s your boyfriend and the father of your child. You’re not bothering him with anything. Amara, you’re not…you’re not OK.”
“How’s Ty?” she asked, promptly changing the subject.
“He’s fine. He went for…a little walk, but he’s back there now. Also, um, maybe don’t drive the Wagoneer until I’ve had a chance to get it detailed, and I owe you another baby blanket and a pack of wipes. It’s, um, just better if you don’t ask.”
“Jesus, Ryan,” she laughed briefly, her smile fading. “And Ty. I haven’t been there for Ty at all. We haven’t even talked. Aside from a few pictures of JT I’ve sent him, we’ve barely spoken.”
“That might be because I told him not to bother you,” Ryan admitted. “I know you’ve been stressed and he needs to focus on his recovery right now. You two can rekindle your friendship later, but right now? You’ve both got enough on your own plates. You don’t need to worry about Ty. You know he’s a warrior. He’s killing it, too.”
