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Ryder sprays his soda everywhere, slamming a hand against his chest. “Jesus, Ricky. You can’t be saying shit like that to her. I told you about me, Styx, and Kat because I thought I could trust you.”
“I didn’t tell them the whole story.” Guilt glitters in his eyes. “But can you imagine if I had two—”
“So Ricky, you excited about eighth grade?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Oh yeah, real excited.” He rolls his eyes. “I’d rather be in Red Ridge with Ryder. I could prospect at the club and—”
“Fuck no. Mom and Dad would kill me so don’t be getting ideas into your head. You’re a smart kid, Rick. You stay in school and keep your nose out of trouble, you hear me.”
“But, Ry, come on, I’d totally rock a leather cut. Tell him, Kat. You think I’d look cool, right?”
“Definitely, but your brother is right, Rick, school is important.”
“School sucks,” he grumbles, and Ryder frowns.
“Someone giving you shit? I thought you said those little punks had stopped with the name calling.”
“They have.” Ricky shrugs, not meeting his brother’s gaze.
“Ricky…”
“Ryder…”
Jesus, they are like a mirror image of one another.
Styx catches my eye, amusement in his gaze.
“Do I need to pay the school a visit again? Because you know I will. Mom and Dad can—”
“No, no. I can handle it. Besides, everyone knows who my brother is after that stunt you pulled.”
“Stunt?” My brow quirks up and Ryder has the decency to look guilty.
“I may have gone down to the high school and pulled the big brother card.”
“Oh, he did more than that,” Ricky chuckles. “He grabbed one of the assholes who likes to give me a hard time and told him if he ever talked shit about me again, he’d make sure nobody knew where to find his body.”
“Ryder!” I gasp.
“What? He’s been picking on Ricky for years. Little punk deserved it.”
“You could get into trouble—”
“Nah, little shit practically pissed himself. He won’t tell anyone.”
“Maybe you can come and stay with us over the summer,” I suggest. “We can hang out at the clubhouse and you can meet the rest of the guys.”
“For real?” Ricky’s entire face lights up.
“I mean, yeah. If your parents say it’s okay. I’d like to spend more time with you and I know Ryder would like it.”
I glance back at the man in question and his eyes soften with emotion.
I’ve been desperate to meet Ricky, to finally get to know the most important person in Ryder’s life beyond me and Styx.
His relationship with his parents might be strained, but Ryder would do anything for his brother, and I hope we get to spend more time with him.
Because he’s family.
