Chapter 19 #2
“Not forever, like…” I calculated it in my head. “Maybe six months.” I watched Ryker take the seat next to me.
“Still, that’s forever for you.” With a snicker, Tex dunked a slice of bread into his stew.
Eli sat in the empty chair at the head of the table. “It doesn’t matter how long they’ve been together. What matters is how much they love each other.” Placing his hands under his chin, he fluttered his lashes at me.
“Fuck you guys.” With a harsh laugh, my attention drew to Ryker, smiling and eating. “Don’t listen to them.”
“I like it when they give you shit.” He opened a Gatorade that was set on the table. “But I have good news. My mom got a job at a dental office. Her interview was today, and they hired her on the spot.”
“So, does that mean you’ll be our new roommate sooner rather than later?” Eli sent Ryker a warm grin.
“If you all will have me sooner. I could probably move in before Christmas.” He grabbed my hand resting on the table. “I can watch the place while you all travel.”
“Oh, hell yes.” Eli took a bite of bread. “And help me cook on the weekends?”
“Of course.” He squeezed my hand. “My mom is worried about my sleeping on the couch.”
As warmth crept through my insides, I said, “Ryker, I can’t wait for you to move in.” Finally, I’d wake up next to him every morning I was in town. Pulling him toward me, I pressed a lingering kiss on his mouth.
After dinner, we decided to FaceTime my parents from the privacy of my bedroom—soon to be ours. I crawled onto my bed, rested my back against the pillows at my headboard and then patted the space next to me. “Come on up.”
He stood next to the bed, peering at me. “Are you sure we should call your parents from your bed?”
“Why not? It’s not like we’re naked.” Though I’d sure like to get him naked when this call ended. Too bad we both had to get up early. “We don’t even have our shirts off.”
“If we did, I’d tell you we need to put them back on.” With a scoff, he climbed in next to me. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Grabbing his face, I planted a hard kiss on his mouth. “They’re pretty easygoing. You’ll see.”
“But your dad’s a lawyer…” He bit at the nail on his index finger.
“He’s easygoing. He helped your mom, remember? So, he already knows your story.” Though hadn’t I been just as nervous to meet his mother? I held the phone to my face and called Mom.
The call connected after a few rings, revealing Mom’s image, her blonde hair flowing alongside her face. “Hey, Mom. I’ve got Ryker here with me.”
“Oh, shoot. Let me get your father.” The screen spun with furniture and wall hangings flying past while she walked, and then her face reemerged, the background blurring. “Sorry, Ryker. Hello.” She waved through the phone. “I’m Casey’s mother, Joy.”
“Hi, Joy. I’m pleased to meet you.” As his cheeks took on a reddish hue, he waved into the phone.
“Oh, here he is. Mike, it’s Casey. He has his boyfriend for us to meet.” The background of Dad’s office came into view, bookshelves inside rich wood paneling with knick-knacks, photos in frames and leather-bound books.
As Mom held the phone in front of them, Dad appeared on the left, his dark glasses falling to the end of his nose. “Hi, Ryker. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“What about me, Dad?” I chuckled. I knew they’d make Ryker feel welcome.
Dad’s face came closer to the screen. “I talk to you all the time.” His gaze shifted. “And you can call me Mike, Ryker.”
“Sure. It’s great to meet you. Thank you for what you did for my family.” Ryker threaded his fingers into my free hand.
“I only made a phone call or two, but you’re welcome. How’s your mother doing? Is she released yet?” Dad wrinkled his brows.
“Yes, they released her last Saturday, and she already found a job.” Ryker took a deep breath. “The lawyer you found, he was such a nice guy.”
“Yes, well, his father and I were in the same fraternity.” Dad huffed a chuckle. “It seems the only way he can keep his son working in his firm is to allow him to do the pro bono work on the side. He looks for cases like yours, so it worked out well.”
“Ryker, honey, how is your brother after my son put him through the wringer all summer?” Mom’s brows lifted.
With a soft snort, Ryker said, “He’s great. He’s the first-string varsity quarterback for his high school team this year, and he admires Casey so much.” Glancing at me, he kissed my knuckles. “I’m so happy your son’s car broke down in front of my shop.”
“You’re lucky he let you work on it.” Mom smirked. “I’m sure he thought you were hot, so then he—”
“Mom.” I scoffed. “Don’t give away all my secrets.” But it was true.
“Oh, so it wasn’t my BMW certification that got your business?” He arched a brow at me.
“It was both, okay?” I bumped his shoulder with mine.
“Anyway, I’m having Thanksgiving at his place this year, and then we have our last regular season game the next day.
” Eli, Tex and Malik would have to suffer without me.
“And then he’s moving in before Christmas. ” My gaze swept to his. “Right, babe?”
“Right.” He gave me a bright smile.
“So, Ryker, will you be leaving Arizona with Casey in the summer?” Dad lifted his brows.
Fuck, he had to ask that. Why did everyone have to push us for answers about our future when we weren’t even sure about it? “Dad, we don’t know where I’ll be yet, so we’ll see how things pan out.” I squeezed Ryker’s hand. “But I want him with me.”
“I want to be with you too.” Ryker’s throat dipped and then he focused on the screen. “But I have to see how the situation unfolds with my family.”
“Well, that’s understandable.” Mom gave us a quick grin. “You’re a wonderful son, Ryker, stepping into your mother’s shoes while she was away.” She bit her lip. “I’m sure it gave your mother some comfort while she was, uh…”
“Incarcerated, Mom.” I ticked my head. “You can say it.” She was stepping around it and didn’t need to. We all knew what had happened.
“Anyway, it was commendable of you.” Mom nodded, and then a sly smile played on her lips. “Casey would never—”
“I would too.” I tsked. “My mom’s a little nutty sometimes.”
“Casey, I am not, and for the love of God, change my ringtone.” She mock-glared at me.
“Ringtone?” Ryker hooked a brow.
“When my mom calls, the phone plays Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne.” I chuckled. Shit, I’d never told him that?
“Casey, you’re still doing that?” Dad choked out a laugh. “Keep it. It’s fitting.”
“Mike.” Mom pushed Dad’s shoulder. “Okay, I see this conversation is going downhill.” Mom smiled into the phone. “I’m so happy to finally meet you, Ryker, and please visit us when you get a chance.”
“We’ll see you in person at Casey’s graduation. Maybe we can meet your mother and Wes?” Dad asked.
“Sure, we’ll set something up when the time comes.” Ryker beamed into the phone.
“Okay, love you both, and I’ll talk to you soon.” It was time to end the call and give my boyfriend a goodnight kiss he’d never forget.
“Love you.” Mom and Dad said in unison.
“Bye, Joy and Mike.” Ryker waved into the screen, and it went black.
“Holy shit, Casey. You have some great parents.” Ryker shook his head. “Now I know where you get your sunny outlook on life. You’re a lot like your mom.”
“Am not.” I turned toward him and dug my fingers into his sides. Was he ticklish? He’d pay for that remark.
Giggling, he jerked and twisted. “Shit, stop.”
I dug my fingers in deeper, and as he shifted down on the bed, I crawled on top of him. “Take that back.”
“No, I won’t. It’s true.” He squirmed under me, laughing and clutching my hands.
Pounding reverberated in the room, and Malik’s voice blasted through the door. “Keep it down in there. We don’t need to hear you fucking.”
I halted. “We’re not…” Oh, who the hell cared what they thought. “Fine.” With a snigger, I climbed off Ryker and raked my fingers through my bangs.
He sat up and shimmied to the end of the bed. “Damn it. I wish I had more time, but I have to wake up early.”
“I know. And so do I.” I stepped from the bed and pulled him up. “But soon, we’ll have almost every night together.” Grabbing his face, I claimed his mouth, slipping my tongue between his lips as they parted and pressing my tingling cock against his.
As the kiss broke, he said in a rasp, “The next time we can properly fuck, it’s gonna be so damn good.”
“I’m thinking it’ll be this weekend.” I ticked my brows at him. I had a home game. “Can you meet me here after the game and spend the night?”
“Hell yes.” Seizing my ass and pulling me in, he ground his half-hard cock on mine and placed a heated kiss on my lips.
I swooned as pleasure knotted in my gut. Holy fuck, I wanted him now. I parted from him, panting. “Love you, babe.”
“Love you too.” Slapping my ass, he said, “Walk me out before we give in and neither of us gets any sleep.”
“If I have to.” Licking the corner of my mouth, I grasped his hand and led him from my room. We had nothing but smooth sailing ahead.