Chapter Seven
ALEX
I was completely head-over-heels, make-an-ass-of-myself in love with Ryder.
The way he found the strength and courage to be true to himself and state his needs in the face of his parents’ scorn astounded me.
Even after our conversation last night, I don’t think I fully understood what this experience would be like for him.
His parents’ disapproving glares were palpable, making me feel like a small child who’d colored on the wall.
The need to apologize and hang my head in shame hit hard, and I wasn’t even the man on the receiving end of their shock and outrage.
Yet Ryder remained steadfast in his decision.
I admired the hell out of him.
My father fucked off years ago, and my mom received a medical diagnosis that required care and limited her ability to function without assistance.
Through no fault of her own, I had to take on a caregiver role from an early age.
She never breathed over my shoulder, tried to control my life, or even knew about most of my daily activities.
She focused on making it through each day the best she could.
I knew she loved me, but I’d been raising myself for more than a decade.
Familial pressure, or even oversight, was foreign to me, but Ryder couldn’t say the same.
His parents would hand him a detailed script for his day-to-day life if they could.
“You ungrateful…” His father sprang to his feet in an unstable leap that had his mother reaching out to steady him.
He swatted her anxious hands away, then reached for one handle of his walker to keep from toppling over as he searched for the right word.
When it didn’t come, he let the sentence die out, probably for the best. Whatever he’d been about to shout would have been cruel at best, and continued silence would only go so far.
Though stiff as a damn wooden plank, Ryder remained calm beside me. He didn’t jump up to help his father, though I guaranteed the instinct was there. Any offer of assistance from his son would have sent Mr. Calloway spiraling into deeper rage.
Did I mention how proud Ryder made me? Or how much I loved him?
I squeezed his thigh, drawing Ryder’s attention. When he met my gaze, his eyes were clear and determined despite obvious pain.
But then he smiled, and everything lightened.
“If you quit… you are… no son of… mine.” His father’s declaration was slow but clear as a bell.
Lowering back to the couch, Mrs. Calloway sniffed, wide-eyed, while wringing her hands on her lap. “Nixon,” she whispered in a soft plea for sanity to prevail.
“No!” He ignored his wife, glaring daggers at Ryder.
“I gave you everything. This is your legacy. I’ve worked your whole life to get you to this point.
” The words flowed well now, hurtful and full of vitriol.
“You will not throw it away because you want to impress some classless piece of ass with how deep you are.”
Ouch.
I’ve had plenty of insults hurled my way over the years, but classless piece of ass was a new one, and I had to give him credit where it was due. It stung like hell.
My face heated, and I had to swallow the urge to defend myself. Staying silent in the face of a bully wasn’t my style, but this wasn’t my fight. It wasn’t about me at all. Ryder had the right to handle it as he saw fit.
And my man did not disappoint.
Slowly, he rose to his full height, which was a few inches taller than his father.
“If you speak that way about Alex again, I will walk out this door and never return. Fuck giving the job one more day, and fuck being a part of this family. You will not disrespect my boyfriend now or ever. Have I made myself clear?”
Ho-ly shit. The no-nonsense words in that lethal-as-fuck tone had a shiver running down my spine. Fuck, Ryder was hot. So. Damn. Hot.
Don’t get a boner. Don’t get a boner. If you get a boner right now, you are a sick man.
Despite the pep talk, I could feel my dick reacting. Whose dick wouldn’t stand up and take notice when their sexy boyfriend got all snarly and murdery in their defense?
Mr. Calloway’s disgusted attention flicked to me for one second before settling back on his son.
And there went my erection.
“He understands,” my mother interjected, demure as ever. She looked at me. “No offense was intended.”
Sure, it was, but I nodded in acceptance of her apology for her husband’s harsh words.
Ryder snorted.
“This decision was made before I moved back home. In fact, I made this decision a few years ago, during my undergraduate studies, long before Alex was involved. This is my decision for my life. All Alex has done is stand by my side and literally scoop me off the ground when I hit rock bottom.” He stared straight at his father.
“I’m miserable. I hate every second of being the CEO of Calloway Enterprises.
The company is not going to be my future, and it’s time to end it being my present.
“I recognize this will cause massive disappointment and a huge shift in the plans you had for both our futures. But they were your desires, and mine were never taken into consideration. It was always just assumed I’d follow in your footsteps.”
My father grunted. “That’s how it’s done. This is your… lemon… legacy.”
Ryder shook his head. “No. It’s your legacy, and it’s amazing. But I’d like to forge my own path and pursue my own interests. Make a name for myself in my own way, doing something I love.”
What parent wouldn’t be beaming with pride over a son like this?
Ryder’s apparently. Mr. Calloway continued to scowl with narrowed eyes and a rigid posture. “You’re making a mistake.”
Ryder shrugged. “I don’t think so, but if I am, it’s mine to make. I’m an adult, as I have been for years now.”
“I won’t give you another din… die…” His father grumbled as his mom worried her lower lip between her teeth, rubbing off what had to be expensive lipstick. “No more money!”
Ryder shrugged. “I’m twenty-four. I’ve invested my money wisely and have more than most do at my age. Hell, I have more than most do in their lifetimes. Threats to cut me off financially do not worry me.”
My mother shook her head. “How can you turn your back on your family this way? In our time of need. When did you become so cruel?” She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with the back of her hand.
Mr. Calloway could officially retire tomorrow and live the rest of his life in a level of luxury I couldn’t comprehend.
They had more money than some small nations.
None of these theatrics was truly about helping his family in their time of need.
They’d lost control over their son and couldn’t handle it.
Ryder’s stoic mask slipped a fraction. He’d stayed firm and appeared unaffected, but the hits had to be bruising his heart. I was the grumpy asshole who didn’t give a shit what people thought of me. Ryder had a softer soul. Everyone loved him. For his own family to attack his character had to hurt.
He sighed and looked down at me. A silent question passed between us.
Should we go?
Yes.
Simple as that.
Ryder took my hand and tugged me to my feet. “We are going to head home. I think it would be wiser to have dinner another time when tensions have cooled. Please give the chef my apologies.”
“You may only return to this house once you’ve come to your senses. Otherwise, you’re not wall… well… welcome,” his father spat out before shifting his attention to me. “Don’t drag him down to the gutter where you reside. He was born for more.”
His mother didn’t speak but nodded in agreement.
Ryder gasped. “Dad, what the fuck?”
Mrs. Calloway reared back at her son’s use of profanity. “Ryder! Language!”
Really? That’s what she cared about?
“How can you two—”
I turned to Ryder and placed my hand on his chest, stopping whatever he’d been about to shout at his parents. Shame and heartache were written all over his face.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered to me, his voice full of agony.
And that’s what rocketed me to my limit.
Fuck this conversation and fuck these people. I didn’t give two shits what they said or thought about me, but to make Ryder feel like he had to apologize to me for their cutting words?
Hell no. I pressed a gentle kiss to his lips before facing his fuming parents. “Ryder will return to this house when you pull your heads out of your asses.”
Mrs. Calloway gasped and pressed a hand to her heart.
Whoops. Too rude? Too controlling? Did I mention I wasn’t one to stand back and take bullying from anyone? Apparently, that included my boyfriend’s father.
“Young man, this has nothing to do with you,” Mrs. Calloway said as she looked down her nose at me despite being seated while I stood.
“Maybe not, but I’m here because your son wants me to be here.” It seemed I wasn’t done telling these people off. I stepped closer. “Do you have any idea who he is? What he loves and is passionate about?”
His father narrowed his eyes but didn’t respond. Nor did his mother.
“Have you ever seen him working with kids? Maybe at the LGBTQIA+ youth center where he’s been volunteering for years?”
His mother blinked. “I thought you’d done that for an assignment back in college.”
Ryder scoffed and shook his head.
“Maybe if you spent two minutes trying to get to know your son instead of thinking of nothing but business, you’d realize what an amazing man you raised.
I’m sure others can fill the CEO position…
men and women who’ve worked at your company for years and would love the challenge.
You can’t see past your ego to how this job is consuming him.
It’s stealing the life he wants and replacing it with the life you wanted for him.
And last time I checked, that makes you pretty damn selfish humans and shitty parents. ”