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They all filed out and found the others sitting around an outdoor heater on Tex and Annabelle’s deck. Pizza and beer were littered before them. Ryan snagged a piece.
Declan O’Donnell and Jake’s dad, Patrick McBride, who was drinking from a water bottle and wearing the pale pink hat his kids had given him, were here. Plus the other Texan, Brad, and Joe Trainer and Fin Hudson from Ryker Falls.
“Go long!” Ryan looked up in time to see the ball coming his way. He jogged back, cramming the pizza in his mouth, and jumped.
“Nice. Seems living the pampered life in LA hasn’t spoiled you any,” Jake said.
Ryan ignored that dig and choked down his pizza. Heading back to the table, he pulled out a chair. “You lot going to test me the entire time I’m here?”
“It’s our job. You’ve been gone so long, we need to do some fine-tuning to get you back into Howler mode,” Newman said.
“We have a mode now?” Ryan asked, wondering why he was enjoying this so much. Them accepting him and treating him like one of them.
“You know the rules, bud,” Brad said. “We had to learn them.”
“Humility, kindness, have each other’s back, and play any sport on the table well without showing fear or pain,” Tex said.
“Ah, those rules.” Ryan grabbed another slice of pizza. “Gotcha.”
“You’re getting there,” Buster said.
They ate, talked, and annoyed each other. Patrick and Declan refereed. Ryan loved it. The freedom to be himself. These people knew him from before the fame and success. They had early memories, and he enjoyed digging back into those.
“How’s Faith?” Buster asked Noah.
“She’s at his house, ask him.”
He wanted her to stay the night with him. Wanted it badly, just like he wanted her. He couldn’t go a minute with thinking about her. She was sassy, beautiful, intelligent, and so much more. He wanted her, end of story. Love. Ryan felt his lips tug into a smile. It felt good.
“She was good when I left her but needed some space from you guys all smothering her.”
“It’s called concern,” Noah snapped. “She’s improving but still gets headaches.”
“That’s to be expected,” Jake said. “Could go on for a while. She needs to take things easy.”
“You know my sister, right?”
“You need to make her listen to reason,” Ryan said before he could stop himself. “I mean, if anyone can, you can.”
All eyes turned to face him, even the Ryker boys.
“What?”
“You and my sister. What’s the deal there?” Noah said calmly. He didn’t look angry, just intrigued.
“No deal.” He wasn’t about to get into this with them when he’d only just told Faith he loved her.
His response produced howls of laughter.
“What?” Ryan glared.
“I can’t stand near either of you when you’re together without getting singed,” Buster said.
“I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Tsk tsk, bud, have you learned nothing?” Brad said. “Denial will merely make them push harder.”
“I’m not in denial!”
