“Good to meet you too,” Ben replies, shaking it.
“What can I get you both to drink?”
“I’ll have a red wine,” I tell him.
“And I’ll have a Coke. I’m driving. Thanks, man.”
“Coming right up.”
Ryder slides a Coke over to Ben and pours a generous glass of red wine for me.
“I’m so glad Taylor’s going to be okay,” he says as he hands me my drink.
“God, me too,” I reply. “I just hope it’s not much longer before she can come home. Seb’s dying to get her out of there.”
“We’ve all missed her. This place hasn’t been the same without her the last few weeks.”
Ben tries to pay for the drinks, but Ryder shakes his head.
“On the house. Have a good night, you two.”
“Thanks, Ryder. And seriously, thank you for everything you’ve done while Seb’s been at the hospital.”
He waves it off. “Just doing my job.”
It’s definitely more than that and he knows it. Eden would have struggled without Ryder holding it together. He moves down the bar to serve someone else, but before he’s out of sight, he looks back and winks. He definitely deserves a big raise when Seb gets back.
“Let’s grab a table,” Ben whispers in my ear, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine.
“Okay.”
I take his hand and lead him to a booth a little farther from the bar. Sliding in, Ben sits next to me and places his hand on my leg.
“What are you doing tomorrow night?” I ask, taking a sip of my wine.
“No plans. Why?”
I bite my bottom lip, hesitating. Tomorrow is Thursday, which means it’s dinner at my parents’ place. We haven’t had our usual Thursday roast since Taylor’s accident, and while Cade and Sophie probably won’t be there, what with Sophie just getting home with baby Hunter, I want to invite Ben. My parents met him once at the hospital, but I’d like them to meet him properly. I’m not sure if Nash and Seb will be coming, but Ben’s right; I can’t avoid my brothers forever.
“We have a family meal every Thursday at my parents’ house. It’s a bit hit and miss who comes, especially with Nash and Paisley working shifts and Wyatt being away, but I’d like you to meet my parents if you’re free and you want to come.”
He’s silent for a few seconds.
“If it’s too soon, you don’t–”
“No. It’s not too soon. I just wasn’t expecting to meet everyone yet.”
“Well, it probably won’t be everyone. It might only be my parents if Nash and Paisley are working. You know you already met everyone on Christmas Eve, right?”
He squeezes my leg. “Yeah, but I wasn’t your boyfriend then.”
My eyes widen and my heart races. “Boyfriend?”
He chuckles. “Yes,girlfriend.” He leans over and kisses me softly. “Is that okay?” he whispers against my lips.
I nod. “It’s more than okay.”
“Good.”
