Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Ry shakes his head and then sighs as he rubs his hand over the back of his neck. “Fine. He’ll be done by around six every day.”
I nod, and I want to reach out and hug my boy, but I know he won’t allow that to happen, so I just pat him on the arm.
“I love you, buddy. You’ve always loved the ranch. You’ll enjoy working out here.”
“Right.”
He hasn’t said I love you too in years. It shouldn’t hurt me anymore.
But it does.
“I’ll see you this evening.”
He nods, and I turn to Ryker.
“Thank you. Call me if you need me.”
“That’s my line.” He grabs my hand and pulls me in for a hug, and then he plants his lips on my forehead and kisses me so tenderly, it almost brings tears to my eyes. “He’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
“Don’t you know?” I laugh as I pull away and saunter to the car. “Worry is my middle name. Willow Worry. It has a ring to it.”
I’m shocked to see that Aiden looks like he wants to smile, but then it’s gone.
“Drive safe,” Ry says.
“Have fun,” I reply, and leave the ranch.
I really hope this works. I want my happy kid back.
Chapter Six
Ryker
Goddamn it, I want her to stay. I hate that she’s driving back and forth, and I have a project going in the house as we speak that will make it possible for her to work here. But it’s her choice. I won’t force her.
When Willow’s car fades from view, I turn to look at Aiden, who’s suddenly taken a keen interest in the ground at his feet. His hands are in the pockets of his baggy jeans, and he shuffles back and forth on his sneaker-clad feet.
I see a lot of myself in him when I was that age.
Attitude.
Chip on his shoulder.
Ready to tell everyone to go fuck themselves.
But he scared Willow today, and that’s never going to happen again. Christ, just seeing her shaken up an hour after it happened has me rattled, and this kid is standing there, looking like he doesn’t give a shit.
And that pisses me the hell off.
“I haven’t seen you much the past few years,” I say, mirroring his stance by putting my hands in my own pockets. “You kept to yourself last weekend when Wills brought you out. I have a question.”
He glances up and lifts his eyebrows.
“Why didn’t you come to Ray’s funeral?”
He shrugs, clenches his jaw. “I was busy.”
“Nah, man. I don’t buy that. Your Aunt Willow could have used you there, you know. It was a hard day for her.”
He shakes his head. “She doesn’t need me. She had you and Gideon.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Let’s walk to the barn. Come on.”
He falls into step next to me.
“So why’d you punch that wall today?”
He lets out a sigh. “She’s always on my case. So what if I stayed out all night with my friends? Who the fuck cares?”
“She cares. Are you fucking some girl?”
His gaze snaps up to mine, surprised, and I gesture to the hickey on his neck.
He shrugs again. That seems to be his go-to mode of communication.
“So you were out all night, doing things you probably shouldn’t with some girl, and you came home this morning and got pissed that Willow had plans for you today.”
“I’m tired,” he says, his voice hard with defiance.
“Tell me you’re using protection. Don’t get that girl pregnant.”
He lets out a gusty breath, and his cheeks darken. “I didn’t fuck her. We just fooled around.”
My stomach loosens with that admission.
“Here’s the thing,” I tell him as we step inside the barn. The other guys are still at the bunkhouse, having breakfast. “Your aunt is one of my favorite people in the world. One of two, now that my dad’s gone. Three, if we count you, but you’re pissing me off today.”
His lips twitch like he wants to laugh, but then he schools his features back into his signature scowl.
“You don’t get to bully her.”
“I wasn’t—”
“Yeah, you were. You thought you could intimidate her into getting your way. Don’t bullshit me—I’ve been you before. Shit, I was worse than you. But today’s the last day you treat her like that.”
“Sometimes, I just get so mad.”
“It happens. Come yell at me or use my gym. Hell, I’ll hang a punching bag out here, and you can go to town on it. But you won’t take your shit out on the one person in this world who has stuck up for you and taken care of you. She loves you.”
He blinks rapidly and turns away from me.
“Deal?”
“Yeah. I won’t do it again.”
“Great.” I clap him on the shoulder. “I have some grass for you to mow today. Did you get some breakfast?”
“No, there wasn’t enough time.”
“Let’s get you some food, and then on a mower. It’s going to be a long fucking day.”