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“Ryder, this is Rhett…” she pauses looking up at our son. “Your dad.”

Ryder still has his backpack on one shoulder and he hefts it up.

“Hey, Ryder, it’s nice to meet you,” I say the only thing I can think of at the moment.

“Hey,” my son responds and gives a chin lift. He stares at me and looks me over, probably sizing me up.

The silence treads on as we take each other in and I realize how much I’ve missed of his life.

“Why don’t you go put your stuff down in your room and then we can talk. I’ll order us some pizzas,” Remi offers, breaking the mute air.

“I like meat lovers,” Brass calls out, clearly eavesdropping. I’ve never wanted to choke him out more than I do right now.

Ryder doesn’t say anything as he walks around us and heads off to his room. He stops and I feel my body tense and my fight instinct kicks in when he stops to talk with Bulldog before disappearing behind a door.

“He’ll come around once he warms up to you. Then you’ll want the silence,” Remi jokes. “Remember, you were this mythical being for his entire life and he’s only heard stories of you. Give him a minute to connect the two.”

I nod, not saying anything and take a seat at the table in the kitchen. I’m not sure what I expected to happen. We’re complete strangers, only he’s known about me for thirteen years and I’ve only had but a few hours. It’s not like I have all the time in the world; in a few days we are headed to a rally before packing up and going back home to Texas. How am I supposed to leave my son in a different state after I just found him and Remi?

Thirty minutes later everyone joins me at the table and we’re eating pizza. I’ve got Remi on my left side and Ryder is sitting next to her with Brass next to him, Stone is on my right with Bulldog and then Hawk.

“So, Ryder, we hear you play sports,” Stone tries to kick off a conversation and I’m grateful for it. Never had a problem with sitting in silence before but now I want to hear my son and Remi fill the dead air. I want to know what I’ve missed over the last fourteen years.

He looks over to his mom and she tilts her head waiting for him to respond.

“Yeah, I play football and baseball,” he replies, swiping another piece of pepperoni pizza which happens to be my favorite too.

“That’s pretty cool,” Brass says. “You know I heard your dad was pretty awesome in those two sports.”

I give Brass a lot of shit because the guy makes a joke out of everything but he always comes through for his brothers.

“That’s what Mom tells me,” Ryder says, looking over at me.

I clear my throat, trying to not sound like a complete chump, when I feel Remi kick me from under the table with her foot.

“What positions do you play?” I ask and take a large gulp of my water to help with my dry mouth.

“In football I’m the quarterback,” he shrugs like it isn’t a big deal and the entire game isn’t on his shoulders. “I pitch and play first in baseball.”

I feel so damn proud but also like I’ve been donkey kicked to the chest. Those were my positions. I make a mental note to ask Remi if she pushed for him to go after those spots or if he chose them for himself.

Ryder turns towards the other end of the table and looks at Bulldog. “Are you still able to come tomorrow to my game?”

A piece of cheese from the pizza gets caught in my throat as I hear my son ask for someone else to come to his game. Stone’s large paw beats at my back as I cough and swallow the clump of cheese. I place my fist on the table and take a deep breath to bite back my comments running through my head for Bulldog.

“Of course, Ry. Got all my gear already in the truck,” Bulldog divulges.

“If you guys aren’t too busy tomorrow, Ryder’s team is having a family day to end the season. They’ll have food and drinks and all the dads play a game against the boys,” Remi discloses, then looks over at me.

“Sounds like fun. Something we’d love to come and watch, right Reap, I mean Rhett?” Stone chimes in. “Mine and Havoc’s wives, along with our sons, will want to come if that’s okay.”

“Of course. Everyone just has to bring their own meat they want to eat. All the sides are provided,” Remi tells the table. “In fact, Ryder and I need to head to the store to pick out what we want to bring.”

“Mind if I go with you?” I find myself asking, and hear a grunt from Bulldog’s direction.

“Oh, umm sure, if you want. Is there anything specific y’all would want to have for tomorrow that I can pick up?” Remi asks Stone.

“Don’t worry about us, Darlin’, we’ll take care of our group,” he offers. “’Preciate you offering though.” I have a feeling the entire Texas Chapter will be showing up tomorrow once word gets out. Especially, if Raegan and Sutton bring the babies.