I lift a brow. “Didn’t realize you were such a gossip, Ryder.”
He huffs a sharp laugh. “Just curious. She deserves someone good.”
I stiffen. “Why? You interested?”
He pauses his fork halfway to his mouth. “Fucking kidding me, right?”
“Fair question,” I fire back.
It is. I’ve been gone. Ryder is here. She’s close to his family and Laiken is gorgeous. He may be an asshole, but he’s not blind.
“Get that look off your face, Parker.” He wipes his mouth with a napkin. “I don’t want your girl. Been done with that kind of shit for a long time. You can relax.”
I scrub a hand down my face. “Sorry, man.”
He shakes his head. “This is exactly why I stay holed up in that cabin you talk shit about. No woman, no trouble. Learned that the hard way.”
Part of me feels for Ryder. He went through some shit with Hadley, and I don’t blame him. Don’t blame him for handing out his trust sparingly.
“You playing poker tonight?” I ask, opting to change the subject. “Apparently, I’m hosting.”
He raises a plaid-covered shoulder. “Might play a few rounds. Steal Cooper’s money.”
I chuckle at that. Cooper is terrible at poker. His face gives him away every time.
I’m about to take the last bite of my brisket when movement at the side of the house catches my eye. I don’t wait; I move. I can tell by the look on her face that something is verywrong.
Chapter sixteen
Laiken
Dusting my hands off on my faded jeans, I smile at Ivy and Dakota. Both are busy serving baked beans to the ranch hands, so I motion my head toward the house, then point to the phone in my hand that won’t quit buzzing. It’s not the almost hourly updates my mother keeps sending me from their vacation escapades. It’s theunknownnumber that won’t quit. Usually, Rhodes gives up pretty easily, but today he’s resilient, and I’m sick of it.
“This needs to stop, Rhodes,” I say into the phone the second I answer it.
“Hello to you too, Laiken. How is the mother of my child?”
I roll my eyes at his playful tone. I’m shocked he’s not already drunk. Which is what usually spurs the outbursts. He appears sober, which is even more alarming.
“What do you want?” I sigh. “I told you to stop calling.”
“I can’t call to check on my own son?” he counters.
“You mean the son you wanted nothing to do with?” I mock.
“I had other obligations, Laiken,” he scoffs.
“Right, it was so inconvenient for you.” I keep walking, scaling the hill next to the farmhouse. The oak trees are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. “I understand neither of us planned for him, but I gave you the choice because it was the right thing to do.”
Which was against my better judgment. And the judgment of my brothers. But if Trace grew up and found out that I had purposely kept him from his dad, he’d never forgive me. I don’t think I’ve even forgiven myself yet for the colossal decision to leave the bar that night with Rhodes. It was careless and stupid. I can’t for the life of me remember why I even did it. But at the end of the day, my whole world changed after that night, and as ugly as it was, the most beautiful gift came out of it.
“Look. You didn’t want parental rights. You didn’t want to pay child support. We agreed I’d raise him. It’s been six years. Why do you continue to pop back up every couple of years and cause trouble?”
“Trouble? The only trouble is you constantly shoving me aside,” he gripes. “You know how many women wish they had my child? I offered youme. But you rejected me.”
I roll my eyes again. Here we go.
“Don’t make me get the law involved,” I warn.
