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“Not on my watch, sweets.” I bend to press a kiss to her forehead and dart off to make my rounds.
I check the back door, turn off all the lights, and move to the bedroom. I grab a pair of my sweats and a hoodie, shoving them into a backpack. She packed her own stuff, but I want to make sure she’s warm and comfortable. With the cast, it will be easier for her to wear my clothes as layers. Besides, there is just something about your girl wearing your clothes. Luckily for me, we’re rooming with Archer and Scarlett, and they're still in the honeymoon phase. They’ll be too busy at night to worry about what we are or are not doing.
At least, that’s what I’m going to tell Jordyn.
When I make it back to the living room, she’s no longer on the couch and her walker is gone. I turn my head and see her standing at the door in the kitchen that leads to the garage. There are two steps there. Steps I never thought much about until my girl’s leg was in a cast.
“I got you.” With the backpack slung over my arm, I lift her bridal style and carry her down the steps and to the passenger side of my truck. She pulls open the door, and I set her gently inside. Leaning over, I buckle her seat belt.
“Ryder.” She sighs.
“I know what you’re going to say. You can buckle your own seat belt. I know you can, sweets, but I can do it for you too. I want to spoil you, Jordyn. You’ve been through so much, not just with the accident but in life, and I want to show you every single day that you are loved beyond measure. I’m never going to stop doing these things for you. Not as long as there is breath in my lungs.”
Her eyes shimmer with tears. She lifts her hands to cup my cheeks. “There are not enough words in the English language to tell you what you mean to me, Ryder. I feel helpless with this bum leg and your family watching over me. I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re family, Jordyn. Not a burden. This is what it means to be a part of a family. A group of people who love you unconditionally and will drop what they’re doing to help you. You have that now, baby. I know it’s going to take you some time to get used to it.”
“Thank you for your help.” She smiles sweetly, and I grin back at her.
“There you go.” I drop a kiss to her lips. “Let me go lock up and grab your scooter.” Back in the house, I do just that before loading her scooter into the back seat, and we’re on the road.
“Wow, it’s beautiful here,” Jordyn says as I carry her into the living room of our cabin. Archer is right behind me with her scooter. “Thank you both. I’m sorry you have to wait on me like this.”
“Pfft.” Scarlett waves her off as she takes a seat next to her on the couch. “Let them use those muscles for good. You heard the Blakely arm porn story, right?”
“Yes!” Jordyn laughs. “That girl is something else.”
“She gets it honest,” Scarlett replies.
I hand Jordyn her phone, a bottle of water, and kiss her sweet lips. “You good for a few minutes?”
“I’m fine, babe.”
My heart trips over in my chest at the term of endearment.
“She’s got me,” Scarlett speaks up.
“Thank you.” I nod to my newest sister-in-law. “We’re going to go start gathering firewood for the weekend.”
“What can I do?” Jordyn immediately asks.
“Nothing. We already decided the Kincaid ladies and the kids get a relaxing weekend while us guys handle the rest,” Archer answers before I can.
“I can cook or something,” Jordyn offers.
“Nope. You two sit there looking pretty, and let us do our thing.” Archer bends to kiss his wife.
“I was warned on the way here that this is how the weekend was going to go,” Scarlett tells Jordyn. “Since the guys are making the new tradition, they decided they get to make all the rules.” She playfully rolls her eyes.
Jordyn’s eyes find mine. “What are we supposed to do all weekend?”
“Nothing. Talk, nap, read a book, whatever you feel like. Camping is all about slowing down.”
“Go on.” Scarlett waves us off. “We have girl talk to start.”
“Love you, sweets.” I kiss my girl one more time, while my brother kisses his wife, and we head outside to start gathering firewood.
I want to capture every second of this night and brand it in my mind. Just as I knew they would, my family has welcomed Jordyn into the fold, as if she’s always been a part of us. My girl hasn’t stopped smiling since we got here.
