Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
I stand up to get serving ware. “Well, this is perfect. Everyone, we have pumpkin pie, cheesecake, cookies, and now chocolate chess pie.”
Ryker and I serve up dessert to everyone, working side by side. I know we have a lot to talk about, but I don’t want to think about that now. I just want to enjoy being together because we don’t know what tomorrow may bring.
Hours later, Caroline has already left, and Ryker is about to leave and take his dad home. He hugs me. “I’m going to go home so you can spend time with Brock.”
I look up at him. I thought for sure he’d want to talk about earlier. “Okay.”
Ryker looks at Brock. “What time are you leaving for your dad’s?”
He shrugs. “After we open presents in the morning. You’re coming, right? I’m supposed to be at Dad’s for the rest of Christmas break.”
Ryker ruffles his hair. “Yep, I’ll be here in the morning.”
Brock rubs his belly. “Sounds good. I’m hungry. Mom, I’m getting another piece of pie. Want one?”
“No, thanks,” I tell him, and he disappears into the kitchen after telling Walter and Ryker bye.
I hug Walter, and he says he’ll wait in the car, leaving Ryker and me standing at the opened door.
“You okay?” he asks me.
I nod, but that’s not good enough. He hugs me. “He’ll be ten minutes away, and I know Brock. He’s still going to call you every day.”
He thinks I’m upset about Brock leaving, and yeah, I’m going to miss him, but more than anything, I want to fix this with Ryker, and the only way to do that is to tell him everything. “We should talk.”
He smiles softly at me. “We will. Let’s get through tomorrow and then we’ll talk about everything.”
Fear like I’ve never felt before consumes me. I can’t lose him. Not again. But Walter’s in the car, and Brock is in the other room. It’s Christmas, and now is not the right time. “Okay. I love you, Ryker.”
I’m looking him straight in the eye because I want him to know I mean it.
He brushes the hair off my face. “I love you too, Izzy.”
I close the door as he leaves and then lean against it. I still can’t believe that I told him I wanted him to leave earlier. Sadness overcomes me, and I wonder if I’ve already lost him.
CHAPTER 17
RYKER
“Merry Christmas,” I tell Brock as I hand him his present.
He takes it, but instead of opening it, he hugs me. “Thanks, Ryker.”
I hold the boy, patting him on the back. When he releases me, he tears into the package, and as soon as he sees what’s inside, he starts jumping up and down. “A new glove! You got me a new glove!”
I laugh and look over at a smiling Izzy. “Yeah, I asked your mom, and she said you’ve been wanting one.”
He puts the glove on his hand and starts banging his fist into it. “This is perfect. I love it.”
I lean forward. “I’m also putting up an indoor batting cage next to my house. It will be up in a few weeks.”
His eyes widen. He looks between his mom and me. “So you really are staying? In Whiskey Run?”
I nod my head. “Yeah, I’m really staying.”
Brock shrugs his shoulders. “I mean, I am really glad. I like having you around, but I’m going to be honest with you, if someone offered me fifty million dollars to hit a ball, I’d take it.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, I get it. But some things are more important than money.”
I get out my next present. I thought about what Izzy said about spending money on them, and I knew something from the heart would mean more to her than some expensive gift. It took me a while to figure it out, but I think I came up with the perfect present.
There’s a car horn outside, and Brock races to the window. “It’s Dad.”
Izzy stands up and hugs her son. It’s obvious she’s trying to be strong, but when I see a tear flow down her cheek, it breaks my heart.
Brock points at me. “Will you make sure she’s all right?”
I nod my head and promise. “I won’t leave her side.”
Brock hugs us both again, and then he’s walking out the door.
I hold on to Izzy, trying to soak up her sadness when she leans back. “We need to talk.”
I pull her to the couch and put her on my lap. Once we’re settled, I tell her, “I know.”
Her forehead creases. “You know what?”
“I know about your mom. I know you broke up with me because your mom was sick. I know you did it so I wouldn’t give up baseball.”
She tenses. “Ryker—” she starts.
I shake my head. “We can’t change the past, Izz. I wish I could go back. I wish I had fought harder for us. But I want you to know that I love you more than anything in this world. I’m not leaving. I’m done with baseball. And if you tell me that you want to take this slow or that you’re not sure about me or us, then I’m still not leaving. I’ll stay right here in Whiskey Run and find ways to prove to you that we’re meant to be together.”