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Ryder made an uninterested sound and shrugged. “I don’t know if I’d say celebrity.”
Wanting the interaction to be over, I gestured towards the flowers. “Can you help with the flowers, Ryder? I have an Uber coming.”
“Jake and Seb?” He eased the flowers away from Matt and grinned. “The bastards won’t just let me have it, will they?”
Matt looked between us and his frown deepened. “If you’re busy, I could give Fi a ride home.”
Ryder’s eyes locked on Matt and for the first time, I saw them harden. He was rumored to have a temper in the kitchen, at least that’s what the tabloids said, but he’d always been so friendly and happy with me that I hadn’t believed it. Seeing him right then, though, I could see that he had a darker side. “I’m never too busy for my angel.”
Once again, my body reacted to his possessiveness with a powerful throb between my thighs. I stepped into Ryder’s chest and smiled up at him, hoping to distract him from staring daggers at Matt. “Come on. Walk me to my ride.”
He softened the moment he looked back at me. “I’m your ride. I’ll pay the driver for their lost business.”
I nodded and smiled back at Matt. “See you, Matt. Thank you for helping me carry the flowers out.”
He shrugged. “It wasn’t a huge deal. They weren’t all that big.”
I eased Ryder towards his truck, hoping he didn’t pick up on the slight. I couldn’t believe Matt was being a dick to Ryder. He hadn’t been any more interested in me than I was in him just the day before. It made me angry that he was being unkind but if Ryder hadn’t picked up on it, I wasn’t going to call attention to it. He didn’t deserve Matt’s attitude.
Ryder made a big deal out of buckling the flowers into the backseat of the truck, a sly smile on his face the entire time. After the third one was safely buckled in, he wagged his brows at me. “I didn’t even point out that he was struggling to hold them.”
I groaned into my hands. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know why he was being mean to you. You didn’t deserve that.”
He shut the door on his side and came around to stand in front of me. He cupped my face in his hand and ran his thumb over my lips. “You’re so fucking sweet. Are you worried his little comments hurt my feelings?”
Laughing, I shrugged. “I guess I am.”
“I’m guessing he’s the ex-hook-up?” Seeing my face, he nodded. “It makes sense that he didn’t like me then. If I lost you I’d be pretty pissy, too. He handled that better than I would’ve, actually. I would’ve hit me.”
“We were never a thing. Whatever we were doing ended months ago, before the retreat. I don’t know why he’s acting like that now.” I turned my face into his hand and rubbed against it. “He shouldn’t have been rude to you.”
“It’s cute that you’re protective over me.” Ryder glanced up as a car parked behind his truck with an Uber sticker in the window. “I’ll get rid of them. You get inside and buckle up. Have things progressed in child safety now? Is there a special seat belt for pregnant women?”
I shrugged. “I made it through carrying Avery without a special seat belt.”
“I’ll be googling later. I don’t want you just to make it through.”
I just rolled my eyes and climbed into the truck. Somehow, my life had changed so drastically in such a short amount of time that I suddenly had a celebrity, whether he would call himself that or not, googling things for how to keep me safe. I hadn’t even been able to get Avery’s father to acknowledge my existence.
Ryder stepped into the truck and shook his head as he looked at me. “No more Uber. That guy was a fucking creep.”
“That’s fine. I normally just take the bus.”
He shot me a glare. “No. Just…no.”
I leaned back in the seat and smiled. I couldn’t wait for him to see my neighborhood and have the same freak out that Jake did. If they kept it up, I thought I might have to strike up a deal with Dog Guy to always be around to reassure them.
18
***Fiona***
Itook the bus to my first appointment with Dr. Ruth. She’d delivered Avery and I would never go to anyone else. She’d been so comforting while I was panicking my whole pregnancy. I’d planned on going alone and finding out about the paternity test but when I got off at the bus stop and approached the office, I saw three imposing figures standing next to a massive black SUV.
I felt a mixture of emotions all at once. I had only mentioned the date of the appointment once to the guys and yet, there they were, ready to go to the doctor with me. That level of support was so different from what I’d experienced while pregnant with Avery. It filled my heart with joy that they were such sweet men. The idea of taking the three men who might be the father into my appointment with me had my stomach tensing, though. I was sure the optics weren't great.
Sebastian saw me first and his expression was full brood when he saw me walking. He stalked towards me with his gaze narrowed. “Did you take the bus here?”
I considered fibbing for a few seconds before giving up and nodding. “I did.”
