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The joy in his voice is unmistakable. “I miss you just as much,” I confess.
“Are you going to call me tonight?” he asks.
“Of course, I am,” I breathe. Our nightly phone conversations—some of which have turned very X-rated are the only thing that keeps me going.
“Are you going to do it while you're wearing my jersey?” he asks, his tone lowering seductively.
“Yes,” I tell him, blushing. I turn away to hide how affected I am. Just thinking about it has me warm all over.
“That's my girl,” he says. “I miss you, Buttons.”
“I miss you too,” I tell him once more, softer this time.
“I better go. There's a team meeting, and I'm already running late.”
“Okay, honey.” I hate hanging up the phone. It means the ache will be back. The one that reminds me he's not just at his parent's house—he’s in Texas and I can’t get to him easily.
“Fuck, I love it when you call me honey,” he groans.
I can't help but grin. “Talk to you tonight.”
“Tonight.”
I hang up, turning back around to see his brothers watching me. The moment felt too personal to share, but it's already done, and I miss him even more.
“You are really happy,” Tucker says, catching me off guard.
“Yeah,” I admit. “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m still worried Ryder is going to break my heart, but I love him,” I admit.
“My brother is an asshole, but he wouldn't make false promises. He cares about you,” Tucker says, shoving his hands in his pockets. “If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't have stepped aside so easily.”
My cheeks burn with embarrassment, hating that I might have hurt him. “I didn't know you thought of me that way, Tucker.”
“That's my mistake, Tillie.” He says it so earnestly it makes me sad because I can tell he’s hurt. “I hate it, but the truth is, you've always loved my brother.”
I nod, not knowing what to say. I don't want to hurt Tucker more, but he's right.
“If you had tried to be with me, it would've made both of us miserable,” he finally says with a shrug. “I want a woman who chooses me the way you chose Ryder. Not someone who's with me because she doesn’t want to hurt me.”
I lean over the counter, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’ll find her.”
He gives me a sad smile. “At least I'll have the prettiest sister-in-law in Wyoming.”
“Whoa, don't get carried away, Tucker. This thing with Ryder is new, and he sure hasn't ever mentioned marriage.”
Both Tucker and Dakota laugh. “It's coming,” they say in unison, making my face heat.
Dakota says with a nod. "Ryder has always wanted a marriage like our parents and grandparents. He's got a wedding on his mind when he looks at you. We don't doubt it a bit.”
I stare at them both in shock. My eyes go round, and my heart practically stops beating. I cough, clearing my throat. “Um... how about we change the subject and talk about what you brought over for lunch instead. What'd you bring me?"
I pretend to listen as they tell me, but I'm praying they're right. I know Ryder Monroe is all I've ever wanted in life, and I really,reallywant to be the same to him.
Ryder
Waiting at the airport, I can't be any more impatient. The closer to when her plane lands, the harder my heart races. My foot bounces against the floor, my leg shaking as I realize yet again that when it comes to Tillie, patience is not a virtue. I check my phone for the hundredth time—something I will do again soon, because I seem to be checking it every freaking minute.
My torture is over though, and I stand as my entire body grows still, because I see her.
