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Inside he found the newspaper clipping he’d cut out of the local paper advertising a position with Haddon Builders in Rummer, a town five hours away. Apprentices wanted. Memories filled his head of the excitement he’d felt seeing it. It would be his ticket out of Ryker, and at the time that was all he’d thought about. Getting away from there and his life. When his mother refused to let him apply, he’d got his ticket out all right, to military school.
His school ring was now too small, and the earring he’d bought in a fit of painful rebellion after piercing it himself wouldn’t fit either, as the hole in his ear had long closed.
Closing the box, he relocked it, then replaced it on the shelf. He didn’t need memories, or to go back to the innocent, angry boy he’d been. He was an adult now and past all that. His life was exactly where he wanted it to be. Dylan was here to see his father and his family, then leave. There would be no loving family reunion; that wasn’t how the Howards worked. Too much water under the bridge to even try. He would leave Ryker in a few days knowing he’d at least seen his family. Should anything happen to them, he wouldn’t be riddled with guilt.
Finding clean clothes in his bag, he headed for the shower.
“Hey, Ava.”
“Good morning, Dylan,” she said politely.
She’d clearly just woken. Her cheek had a crease down one side, and her hair stood off her head like a halo of messy curls. Her eyes were a little unfocused, and he briefly saw the little sister he’d left behind, and it made his stomach do a flip.
Ava had often come to him in the morning and climbed into his bed so he could read her stories.
She walked by him into her room and closed the door. They had nothing anymore... no relationship or even friendship, and he’d wanted it that way.
Dylan showered and dressed. Bracing his hands on the vanity, he looked through the steam at his face.
He was here to see Dad, not mend fences with a family he didn’t know. That wasn’t his thing, bonding and confiding. Sure, his emotions were going to be tugged about, but he just needed to stay on task, then he could leave and go back to his life and forget about Ryker Falls again.
Piper Trainer slipped inside his head. Would he run into her again while he was here? Part of him hoped so just so he’d see those eyes fire up at him. The kiss had rocked them both, so maybe she was right and they should keep their distance from each other.
“That’s enough of that shit.” He was not here to track down a brunette so he could... what? Was the only role of a woman in his life to get her into bed? Disgusted with himself, he left the room.
Dylan took the stairs he’d walked, run, jumped a thousand times in his youth. He found Ava and some guy in the kitchen. Dressed in jeans and a pale blue shirt, she shot him a look, then a nod, before returning to look at the pot the guy was stirring.
This must be Zander, the mechanic boyfriend. His hair was short and dark, and he was tall. Ava came to his shoulder. Dressed in jeans and black sweatshirt, he looked pretty comfortable in the Howards’ kitchen stirring oatmeal.
“Hi, I’m Dylan.” He decided to go for friendly. Walking forward he held out his hand. After all, he’d lost his rights long ago to give a damn about his sister’s boyfriend.
“Zander.”
Points for the handshake. It was firm, and the small smile on his face genuine.
“That oatmeal?” Dylan nodded to the pot Zander had gone back to stirring.
“Yes. If you want some, the bowls are in there.” Ava pointed to a cupboard.
He didn’t but he got one down anyway.
“So what are you up to now? Last I heard you were studying law, Ava?” Dylan asked. She was his little sister; he should know what she was up to.
“No.” She was still looking inside the pot.
“No, you’re no longer studying law, or you’re finished studying law?”
She turned to look at him.
“Why are you interested?”
She hadn’t yelled or put any emotion into that question; she was just curious.
“You’re my sister, I’m interested.” Dylan absolutely refused to feel guilty. He’d tried to friend her on Facebook, but she’d never accepted. Plus he’d rung home occasionally, and she’d never wanted to speak to him.
“I was twenty-two years old last year and twenty two years before that. Why do you want to know now?”
“That cuts both ways, Ava,” Dylan said, wishing he’d kept his questions to himself. “You were never interested in me.”
