Page 119 of Sweet Redemption

“Well, damn,” Ryker says as he breaks up a few more fries for Bodhi. “How’d you leave it? Are you guys in a better place?”

“Yeah, we are,” I say and sign as I look at my son and shake my head as he ignores the pieces of fries Ryker’s given him and reaches for the chocolate shake I moved away earlier. “I left early this morning, so I could be home when Bodhi woke up, but we’re good.”

“You going to ask her to marry you again?” He grins, and I swear to God if he wasn’t my best friend, I’d knock his teeth out.

“One day.” I don’t elaborate because some things aren’t meant for anyone other than Serena.

The bitch smiles and hands Bodhi the chocolate shake I don’t want him to have. “I’m happy for you, Hen. You guys belong together.”

“Dude, you gotta lay off the book club. You’re starting to sound like the girls.” I throw a fry at his head. “And just remember, one day you’re going to have kids, and I’m gonna feed them so much shit, they’ll puke all over your car too, asshole.”

Bodhi giggles and looks right at me. “Asshole.”

“Dude . . .” Ryker cracks up. “At least he didn’t sign it too.”

“Why are we friends?” I ask as the waitress drops the check.

“Apparently, because you were using me so you could nail my cousin.”

“I fucking hate you, man,” I laugh and throw cash on the table for the bill, knowing I’m completely full of shit though. In some ways, I’m closer to Ryker than my own brothers.

We walk out of The Busy Bee with Bodhi’s hand in Ryker’s, thick as fucking thieves.

“Not my fault he likes me better,” Ryker laughs as I look over to Mom’s dance studio on the corner and consider stopping by.

“You don’t have to tell him no. He’d probably like Barney the goddamned dinosaur better than me right now because I told him no more chocolate milkshake.”

“No way. Right, little man?” Ryker squats down in front of him and smiles. “You want to go see Delaney with me?” He looks over at the flower shop Delaney runs, a sappy newlywed smile stretching from ear to ear.

“Things going well with you two?” I ask, after spending what felt like the entire lunch discussing me and Serena. “You know . . . after everything with the asshole detective?”

It’s still hard to believe the shit Delaney and Ryker have been dealing with. But who the hell am I to be shocked by anything at this point?

Ryker stands and runs a hand through Bodhi’s mop of sandy-blond curls. “Yeah, man. It’s good. Better than good.”

Damn, it’s good to see him happy. “I’m happy for you, Ryker. Don’t fuck it up.”

He opens his mouth to say something but instead, gives me Bodhi’s hand and jogs across the street in the next instant. I stand by and watch as he slams his hand against the window of a police car.

Shit. He’s yelling something I can’t hear before something catches my eye.

Flames lick up the siding of the flower shop as a pot comes crashing down. “Hendrix,” Ryker yells, not bothering to turn back. “Call 911.”

Fuck. I pick Bodhi up and rush across the street into Hart & Soul, Mom’s dance studio, as Bodhi cries. “Mom,” I call out and rush into her office where she sits behind her computer. “I need you to take him and call 911. The flower shop’s on fire, and I think Delaney might be inside.”

“Hendrix,” she gasps and reaches for me as I sit Bodhi in her lap. “Where are you going?”

“To help Ryker. Tell the police the two of us are over there.”

“Be careful,” she calls after me as I run outside and into the chaos. People spill into the street, their phones raised, probably taping the whole thing as I search for Ryker.

“Ryker,” I scream, not knowing if his hearing aids will catch it as I run toward him, and try to stop him before he runs into the building. I grab his arm, and he turns to swing, his eyes wild when they see me. “Stop, man. Don’t fight me,” I yell without signing and see the confusion and panic rising.

“Delaney’s in there,” he yells over the crowd. “Tell the cops Brooks was just here. And keep Bodhi away.”

“He’s with my mom. Safe. You can’t go in there.” I slow down and sign as I speak all at once, overemphasizing everything because he’s freaking the fuck out.

He stares at me for a split-second and snaps, shoving me back. “The fuck I can’t.”