9. Ryker
RYKER
I'm happy. Really happy. I haven’t felt this feeling this way in a very long time.
But as I look over at Isabel, I can feel how tense she is. “Can I get you something from the concessions?"
She puts a hand to her belly. “Ry, you got me a double bacon cheeseburger, fries, and Blaze apple cinnamon cake from Red's Diner. I can't eat another thing."
She looks around the gymnasium and leans into me. “Everyone is looking at us."
I lean back. “I'm pretty sure they're talking about us too."
She tenses, and I nudge her with my shoulder. “Hey, are you okay? I can move if this is too much, too fast. I'm not in any rush..."
I hold my breath waiting for her to make a decision. She blinks at me. “Ry, are you okay knowing all these people are talking about you?"
I brush a stray hair off her face and tuck it behind her ear. The basketball game goes on in front of us, and the crowd is loud, but this is too important to just put off. "They're saying that I'm the luckiest man here to be sitting with you."
She doesn't even smile. If anything, her frown deepens. “No, they're trying to figure out why you'd want to be sitting here with me."
I reach over and put a hand on her thigh. “Stop. You're beautiful, Izzy. If we were alone, I would show you just how beautiful I think you are.” I lean in and whisper into her ear, “There’s no hiding it. Even right now, just sitting beside you affects me in ways I can’t hide."
Her eyes widen, and she glances down to my lap. Even my denim jeans don't hide the growing bulge between my legs. Isabel's cheeks flush a pretty pink, and she taps her hand on my leg. “No, it's probably best if you stay seated."
She looks out to the court. “Brock is in.”
We watch the game, but I can't stop glancing at Isabel. So much time has passed, and we've missed out on so much, but I'm determined that nothing is going to come between us again.
She may not have chosen me twenty years ago, but I'm not giving her an option this time. I have no doubt we're meant to be together.
A man walking up the bleachers catches my eye. It’s the same man that sat next to Izzy at the last ballgame. I was across the court then, but now that I’m right next to her, I’m not going to just sit here and let him think he has a chance because he doesn’t.
He passes in front of us and then sits down next to Isabel.
She tenses but still greets the man. “Hi, Carter."
The man smiles at Isabel. My Izzy. He's obviously interested in her and makes me wonder if the man has a death wish. I lean across Izzy and hold my hand out to him. “Hey there, Carter. I'm Ryker Kirby, it's nice to meet you," I lie.
He doesn't want to, but he puts his hand in mine and shakes it. "Carter," he answers tersely.
I keep a smile on my face. I want to tell him she's mine and to back the fuck up, but I know Izzy wouldn't appreciate me making a scene, so I keep it pleasant.
“It's nice to meet you, Carter. I just moved back to Whiskey Run and am going to be around a lot, so any friend of Izzy's is a friend of mine. "
Izzy puts a hand on my arm. I'm not sure if she's trying to stop me or what because I'm staring down Carter, making sure he gets my drift. Izzy's hand tightens on my arm. “He scored. Brock scored."
We both stand up, cheering, and when we sit back down, Izzy, slowly slides her hand down my arm and then holds my hand. I search her face, and she smiles at me. Fuck that smile undoes me.
I move our hands to my lap and keep them there the rest of the game.
This just feels right. Sitting here with Izzy by my side, watching Brock play, driving them home after the game—it just all feels like I’m in the exact place I’m supposed to be.
When the game is over and Brock's team won, Izzy and I descend the bleachers hand in hand. I keep waiting for her to let go, but she doesn't.
Not even when the other parents all openly stare at us.
I learn as I'm standing here that parents of the older boys that drive leave after the game. But the parents of the kids that don't drive stick around and chat while they wait for the boys.
A few of the fathers talk to me, and we get into a conversation about baseball. I keep a hold of Izzy, but she seems okay with it. When Brock and his buddies come out of the locker room, I see the instant that Brock sees me holding his mom's hand.
I fist-bump the boys, congratulating them on their win.
On the way home, I listen to mother and son talk about school and the game. I stop and pick up a burger for Brock, and he waits for me to give him the okay for him to eat in my car. When we get to their house, Brock asks me, “Ryker, can I talk to you for a minute?"
I nod even though Izzy tenses next to me. I give her a look, letting her know it's okay.
I get out of the car and first walk Izzy to the door. “I’ll talk to you soon?”
I frame it as a question, but I have no doubt that I’m going to talk to her soon. I’m not backing down from this.
She nods her head. “Yeah, thank you so much for the ride, getting me dinner, and fixing my car and?—”
I put my hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to thank me, Izz. If anything, I should be thanking you.”
Her eyes widen. “Thanking me?”
I nod. “Yeah, spending time with you and Brock… well, it’s been great.”
Even though I want to kiss her, I point over my shoulder. “I should probably go. It looks like I’m about to have a talk, man to man.”
“Ry…”
I squeeze her shoulder. “It will be okay, Izz. I promise. This is all going to work out.”
She looks doubtful, and I hate seeing that look on her face. If anything, Izzy has always been the one that sees the possibilities in everything, so I don’t like that her spirit has been hurt like this.
“Goodnight, sweetie.”
She sighs softly. “Night, Ry.”
I walk over to where Brock is standing next to my SUV. He’s set down his school bag and the bag holding his dinner and has his arms crossed over his chest. He’s a kid that smiles a lot, so I’m a little worried to see the pensive look on his face. “What's on your mind?"
He moves his hands to the pouch in the front of his sweatshirt. "So, uh, a lot of people have talked about you being in town."
"Yeah," I answer, wondering where he's going with this. Whatever it is, I need to be upfront and honest with him because I know Izzy. If her son doesn't want us together, she won't be with me.
"There's a lot of rumors going around, and well, I've heard you're going to rehab, that you've lost your mind…"
When he pauses, I tilt my head to look at him. "What do you think?"
"Well, you don't seem like you're on drugs."
I nod my head. "I'm not."
He continues. “And well, for the crazy part, maybe because they say you're giving up twenty-seven million a year."
I run my hand through the scruff of my chin and nod again. He might as well know. “I don't think I'm crazy, but yes, I am turning down twenty-seven million next year."
Shocked, he looks at me incredulously. "Why? I don’t get it. I’ve watched you play. You love baseball."
I lean against my car so I'm not towering over him. "Because I found out your mom is single."
He doesn't seem too surprised by my admission, so I’m sure he’s heard more about Izzy and my past. He clears his throat. “Uh, so if you dated in high school, and now you’re back, I guess you're planning on dating my mom?"
“I am… You okay with that?"
He tilts his head and looks at me. "My dad wasn't good to her. She's been hurt... a lot."
My hands automatically tighten into fists. I'm getting a really clear picture of what kind of husband and father Allen was.
Brock clears his throat. “I just want my mom happy. I can tell she's different with you."
I start to relax. This is going way better than I had imagined it would. “I want your mom happy, too. I won't hurt her."
He lets out a loud sigh, his relief evident.
I shift my stance. “Anything else you wanna talk about?"
He nods and seems hesitant now, but when he starts to talk, it comes out in a rush and one big breath.
"My friend Ollie, his mom just got remarried, and well, his step-dad doesn't want Ollie around.
I just want you to know I'm a pretty easy kid.
You're good to my mom, I won't be any problem.
And in three years, I'll be going to college and?—"
I cut him off. Fuck, I knew I would love Izzy's son just because he's a part of her. But I didn't think I'd like him as much as I do. “Please don't finish that sentence. Don't say you'll be out of our hair. Your mom loves you, Brock. I'm just asking to be a part of your lives... if you'll let me."
He seems surprised but nods his head. “I'd like that."
He points to the door. “All right, well, I better go. I still have homework."
He turns to go, and I call his name. “Hey, Brock."
He stops at his front door. "Yeah?"
I have my keys in my hand, and I jingle them at my side. “Maybe sometime, me, you, and Ollie can go do something... I mean if your mom is okay with it."
A big smile lights up his face. “That would be amazing, Ryker."
I nod and wave as he walks into his house.
As I drive home, I catch myself smiling. I thought being with Izzy was my endgame, but now I’m discovering that Izzy and Brock are what’s going to bring me complete happiness.