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)
It’s amazing what one week can do for a person.
“I’m going to get some gas really quick,” I inform Aiden as I pull into a filling station.
“I’ll run in and get some snacks for later,” he says, hopping out of the car.
“Do you need cash?”
“Nah, I have some money.” He almost has a spring in his step as he walks inside.
When I’ve finished filling the gas tank, I pull into a parking space closer to the door to wait for my kid. It’s taking him longer than I would have thought, but maybe he’s agonizing over his snack choices. I can relate to that. Sometimes, it’s hard to decide what you want.
However, when it’s been more than ten minutes, I lock the car and walk inside, only to find my boy throwing a punch at another kid.
“Aiden!” With my heart in my throat, I run to him just as the boys turn in a circle, and the other kid’s elbow catches me in the chin, making me see stars and my teeth clack together.
Ouch.
“Holy fuck,” someone says as I fall on my ass.
“You son of a bitch,” I hear Aiden say, but I hold up my hand.
“Stop.” My voice is firm and leaves no room for arguments. “I mean it.”
“I’ve called the cops,” the person behind the counter says. “Should be here in a sec.”
Aiden helps me to my feet, and I scowl when I see that he already has a black eye.
“Baby,” I say, but he pulls out of my reach, and his brow furrows.
“Baby,” the kid taunts, and I glare at him.
“Enough,” I bark.
The cops have already pulled up outside. Where were they, down the street getting donuts for breakfast?
Quickly, I pull my phone out of my pocket and text Ryker, keeping one eye on the cops.
Me: Hey, running late. Got delayed at the gas station. Will be there ASAP.
He replies almost immediately.
Ryker: Just be safe. No rush.
I shove my phone in my pocket as the two officers walk inside, and they give my kid the stink eye.
All in all, it takes fifteen minutes for the officers to give the boys a firm talking-to and send us all on our way. The happy kid that I had in my car this morning is long gone, replaced by the broody, angry boy that I’ve become used to.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I tell him and wince when I see how swollen his eye is. “We’ll get some ice on that.”
“I’m fine.”
“What made you guys throw punches, anyway?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yeah, it does.”
He shakes his head and looks out the window. “Why can’t I just stay in the bunkhouse at the ranch, like Ryker suggested on the first day? It’ll be easier for you. That way, you don’t have to drive me and stuff.”
I frown at him, but he can’t see me, so I return my gaze to the road. My jaw hurts, and I’m going to need some ice myself.
“I like having you with me, buddy. I don’t want to just dump you out there and leave.”
The way my mom used to do to me when I was a kid. I loved the ranch so much, and I still do, but I also knew that my mom took me there because she didn’t want me around. It didn’t feel good.
He doesn’t say anything at all to that, so I leave him be, and the car is quiet as we drive the rest of the way out to the Triple Creek Ranch.
Ryker’s pacing on the porch when we pull in, and he hurries to my side of the car, opens my door, and pulls me to my feet. He immediately frames my face in his hands, his eyes skimming over my face, and he’s scowling.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I got in the line of fire and shouldn’t have stepped so close. Uppercuts are not fun.”
“What the fuck?” He tips my head to the side, searching for injuries. “You should have called me. I would have come to you.”
“We only talked to the cops for about fifteen minutes.”
He scowls before kissing my forehead, which sends a shiver all the way down my spine, and then he shifts his attention to Aiden.
“Whoa. For fuck’s sake. Come on, we’ll get you both some ice, and I want to hear everything.”
“I can go join the others at the bunkhouse,” Aiden says, but Ryker shakes his head.
“I said get inside,” he replies, and Aiden trudges in, his head hanging low.
Ry takes my hand, laces our fingers, and walks with me, surprising me. He doesn’t usually hold my hand. Certainly not like this.
But I’m not going to complain, because it feels damn good, and I’m still shaken up.
After he pulls out two ice packs from the freezer and passes them to us, Ryker folds his arms over his chest and leans his hip against the counter.