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“All the best things happen when you least expect them to. Just know that I am not above that throat punch if he does anything stupid.”
We laugh, and she sits on the bed beside me. “I just want that smile to remain there.” She touches my lips.
“I do too.” I wrap my arms around her, thankful to have Marcy in my life.
“We should get going,” she says, swiping at a tear.
Marcy drives us to the game and when I spot Ryder on the court, I can’t help but grin. He looks even hotter in his colors. His eyes scan the stands and when he spots me, he waves in greeting, making my stomach flip.
ChapterFourteen
RYDER
We won! We fucking won! And seeing her up in the stands makes my dick hard. She didn’t tell me she’d be here; I know this isn’t her scene.
The crowd goes wild, and when I spot my father, all the excitement dissipates. Why he’d show his face here puzzles me. I walk up to him, and he’s clapping and cheering like he hasn’t missed every game of mine. “You were great out there.”
“Thanks,” I try to keep the bitterness out of my tone.
“So, Maria says you’re having a party tonight. I take it you want me out of the way.” With my mom still in rehab, he’s been hanging around the house a lot, officially playing Dad.
“Yeah, whatever,” I say.
“You know Ryder, it wouldn’t kill you to show some respect.”
“The day you start respecting Mom, we can have this conversation again.”
I wish he hadn’t shown up and hadn’t messed up my life, my mom’s, and his own. I take a minute to realize that isn’t the man I want to be. I don’t want to miss all the awkward little things because I’m too fucking afraid.
Ash rushes over, and I take her in my arms and press my lips to hers, right there not giving a shit what my asshole father thinks. A clearing of a throat has her breaking away, and when she notices my father, her face reddens.
“I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure,” my father says, his hands outstretched. “I’m Coben Rothwell, Ryder’s father, and you are?”
The shade of red on her cheeks deepens and I want to punch him for putting her on the spot.
“Oh, hi, Mr. Rothwell. I’m Asher Hawthorne.” She shakes his hand and glares up at me.
“Hawthorne? Felicity’s niece?”
“Uhm…yeah, you know my aunt?”
“Indeed, I do.” The smug way my father says it makes me wonder what he’s up to.
“Anyway, we should head out,” I tell Ash.
She nods, “It was nice to meet you.” My father’s eyes roam over her in a way that makes me want to gut him.
When we’re far enough away from him, I press Ash against a wall and capture her mouth, hungrily.
She melts against me, fits in my arms perfectly, and gives as much as she takes. “I think I’m falling in love with you.” My words put a smile on her face that I want to record and replay repeatedly.
“Oh yeah?”
I nod. “I think I want to take my girl on a date, discover all there is to know about you.”
“I think I knew I’d fall for you the first time I set eyes on you.”
“Let’s get out of here,” I whisper against her ear. I take my girl by the hand and lead her away from the crowd cheering and calling my name. I don’t know what the future holds, but I think I’m ready to face it dead on, but right now I need to be balls deep inside Ash.
