I take a small sip of my latte. “Oh, yeah? What about?”
His head lolls to the side. He’s smiling, but it’s strained. “I wanted to formally apologize to you over the arrest. I already spoke with Dominic, reprimanding him. You’re a respected member of the community, and the entire matter could’ve been handleddifferently.”
I don’t like the idea of Ryker reprimanding Dominic. I may not agree with the whole arrest situation, but Dominic followed the law—that much I know. “I appreciate the apology, but it’s completely unnecessary. I had a warrant out and Dominic was just doing his job. It’s water under the bridge now.”
Ryker shakes his head with a light chuckle. “Can’t help but defend him, can you?”
“I’m not defending him,” I say, sounding very much defensive.
His smile turns knowing. “Whatever you say. We all know it’s only a matter of time.”
Before I can respond, his phone rings. He answers, only giving a few ‘mm-hmms’ in response before rushing to stand. “Morales,” he calls out. “We’ve got a call.”
Morales nods immediately, slapping a twenty on the counter as the barista hands her a drink.
On his way out, Ryker tosses me a wave, shooting me an apologetic smile.
“That man is going to be such a DILF,” Ariana says quietly, checking out Ryker as he and Morales jog across the street to a cruiser.
I whip my head at her, shocked little miss innocent would say such a thing. “Ariana! He’s married.”
“What?” She laughs. “I can still look. It’s not like I would actually act on anything.”
My head cocks as I stare at her wide-eyed. “He’s too old for you. You shouldn’t even be looking at guys his age.”
Ariana is only twenty-two, a child if you ask me.
Her face twists. “He’s only a little older than you, and like I said, I’m not actually going to do anything. It’s like having a celebrity crush.”
She busies herself, setting scones in the display case, avoiding looking at me. Ariana has never brought a guy homebefore, and I worry about all the creeps out there, just chomping at the bit to take advantage of her naivety. The fact she admitted Ryker is attractive has my head spinning, worried she’s setting her sights on unavailable men to avoid anything real.
It’s not that I disagree. Ryker is handsome, in an—American-apple-pie-could-run-for-president—kind of way. Blond hair, cut high and tight, blue eyes, and he clearly puts in a lot of time at the gym. He’s classically good-looking and rarely lacked for company when he was single. But I’ve never seen him as anything more than a friend.
I’m not sure why my stomach is souring. It’s not as if he would ever leave Claire, and Ariana is way too shy to act on a crush, inappropriate or not.
“Just stick to guys your own age. We both know Layla is probably going to show up one day with a guy three times her age, and Dad will lose his shit. You have to be the good one.”
She spins to face me, rolling her eyes, looking like the child she is. “I know. I’m always the good one.”
PSA Dad’s birthday is coming up. We need to start brainstorming gift ideas.
SHANE
Easy. Boys trip to Vegas
LAYLA
Just because you want a free trip to Vegas doesn’t mean that’s what Dadwants. You’re dumb.
GAVIN
Gift card?
ETHAN
I second the gift card idea.
A gift card isn’t a present.
