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“Shoot.”
“I’d hate to keep walking out on you and coming over here, so I just wondered if you would be okay if I gave Elias your address so he could come hang out a time or two before our time is up.”
Ryker contemplates the question, seconds turning into minutes before he gives me a small smile and nods. “If it’s something that would make you feel better, then that’s fine with me. You deserve to have an outlet when needed.”
My eyebrows jump in surprise. I had expected a fight, some sort of attitude, but he’s immediately allowing it.
“Thank you,” I say. “I really appreciate it.”
I pull us inside, feeling a little lighter now that my question has been answered, and come to a stop right inside the door. My mother is swaying off-beat to the music blaring through the speaker, so Ryker and I stand silently while watching her movements.
Ryker chuckles, the sound low and traveling straight through me as he shakes his head. “She seems cool.”
“Definitely, you would’ve loved her if we knew each other years ago,” I say. “She was considered the cool parent, and all my friends wanted to hang out over here because my mother loved being involved with everything.”
As if sensing our presence, my mom spins around and beckons me over to join her.
I shake my head, amusement shining in her eyes, and Ryker nudges me gently. “Wouldn’t want to disappoint her.”
I roll my eyes, then grab hold of his hand and take him with me. “If I’m joining, so are you, Rockstar.”
For a moment, everything fades in the background as we all shake to the beat of the music in the middle of the large kitchen. Mom has a wooden spoon clutched in her hand, positioned in front of her lips like she’s going to sing into it, and I take it with a bright smile.
When I glance at Ryker, he’s got this odd expression on his face that I’ve never seen before, but it disappears as soon as he catches my eyes on him.
The back door slams shut behind us, forcing our movements to come to a screeching halt. Mom quickly leans over the counter to silence the music. When I turn around, my dad and brother are standing in the doorway with frowns on their faces.
“That was quick,” I say.
My brother scoffs. “Yeah, well, I told Dad we could toss the bales out first thing tomorrow morning.”
He saunters into the room, levels Ryker with a glare like he has been all day, and then looks at me accusingly. “Having fun, sis?”
I’m about to answer, but my dad claps his hands and waves a hand at the empty table in front of us while looking at Ryker. “Why don’t you have a seat?”
Ryker blinks in surprise but nods and makes his way over to it. I’m feeling uneasy about this, and it doesn’t help that Elias is smiling at the two of them.
I lean closer to my brother with a frown, not taking my eyes off the two men at the table, and ask, “What the hell are you up to?”
Elias shrugs and winks at me. “Just thought Ryker could get the third degree, you know?”
“So, Ryker,” my dad says, leaning forward. “You close with your family? Wren’s a big family person, you know.”
Ryker clears his throat and sighs. “Not at the moment, no, but Wren has recently convinced me that I should give them a call. Things have been rocky since I got into the band, and I want to try mending that relationship.”
It’s not often that Walter Grace nods in understanding, especially when he’s already got an opinion about you, and when he does this to Ryker, I glance up at Elias with a smile on my face. “Are you sure he’s the one who’s going to be hurt by this, Eli?”
“Do you have any other plans for your future, aside from the band?”
“I’ve always loved the idea of teaching music,” Ryker says honestly.
He leans forward and smiles. “I remember being young and learning the guitar, it felt good when I accomplished what I set out to do. Providing this experience to other kids would be amazing.”
“Dammit,” Elias mutters beside me, then he shakes his head and decides to help mom set the table like I’d planned to do with Ryker.
It’s not my fault they decided to ambush him with twenty questions, though.
My mom bumps her shoulder into me and glances at Ryker with a smile. “He seems nice.”
