Chapter Thirteen
ALEX
We cleaned up as best we could, making good use of the thick, high-quality paper towels Parker kept stocked in the restrooms. I wouldn’t advise a black light until the cleaning crew came through with their industrial-strength chemicals, but it would do for the rest of the night.
The task took longer than it should have because we couldn’t keep our hands or lips off each other for more than fifteen seconds.
I’d always imagined that someday I would be interested in getting serious with someone and settling down.
No one could accuse me of being a player, but I’d find someone to hook up with when the need hit.
My work, school, and family demands made dating difficult, and even fuck buddies tended to get annoyed when I couldn’t spare them much time.
Ryder blew past all of that. What we had went beyond anything I could have imagined for myself and a partner.
Every day, we intertwine our lives, minds, and hearts a little more.
I’d turned into someone I didn’t recognize, but in the best way.
For years, my mother had been harping on me about the time I spent fulfilling obligations.
She complained that I had taken on responsibility beyond my years and that it had become an integral part of my personality.
She wasn’t wrong, but that’s the hand life dealt me.
So that’s the hand I played.
But it seemed I’d swapped out a few cards, and I now held the King of Hearts.
“Good enough,” Ryder said as he tossed the final wad of paper towels into the tall black trash can in the corner. One thing Parker was militant about was the cleanliness of his restrooms. He insisted they would not look like the average club or bar.
“Yeah. It’ll get sanitized later.” I reached for his hand, and together we walked out to rejoin the party, for a few minutes anyway.
“Damn. You forget how loud the music is. I’m so ready to be home. Let’s find your boy, wish him a final happy birthday, and tell his sparkly ass we’re out.”
I laughed. “Sounds like a plan… or maybe not.” I stopped walking without giving Ryder a heads-up, which caused him to bounce back when my arm stretched too far.
“What’s wron… oh damn.” Ryder returned to my side, tilting his head to get a better look at Trevor, who stood with his back to the wall as someone I didn’t know devoured his mouth.
“Should we…” I shrugged. “I don’t know, intervene somehow?”
“What?” Ryder gaped at me as though I’d grown a second head. “Are you crazy? Hell no, we should not intervene. Let the man get some birthday lovin’.”
“But he doesn’t want that guy. He wants Parker.”
Ryder’s eyebrow arched. “Seems like Parker made it pretty clear he doesn’t want Trevor. He’s a free man, Alex. Let him have some fun. It’s his damn birthday.”
I frowned. With the way Trev had his legs wrapped around the guy’s waist and his hand fisted in the dude’s hair, it sure looked like he was enjoying himself.
Ryder kissed my cheek. “He needs this, Ally. He’s been pining after the man for years.
Something needs to break the cycle. Maybe this is exactly what he needs.
Or…” He pointed across the room to where Parker stood glaring at Trevor and his make-out buddy with murder in his eyes as though his glower could pry them apart and vanquish Trev’s new friend on the spot.
I grunted, drawing a grin from Ryder.
“You’re such a papa bear, but Trev’s a big boy.”
“Yeah…” I wasn’t convinced this wouldn’t blow up in Trevor’s face, but Ryder was right.
It wasn’t my business. Trevor was a grown-ass man who was allowed to make his own decisions.
And he deserved a bit of fun on his birthday.
If he woke up with regrets, I’d be there to meet for a drink tomorrow with a supportive ear.
“I love how hard you love people, you know that?” Ryder whispered in my ear.
I leaned into him. “All right. I get it. I’m being overprotective.”
Chuckling, Ryder threw his arm around my shoulders. “It was a genuine compliment.”
“I know. But let’s go. I’ll text Trev later.” I grabbed his hand, and we made our way out of the club, stopping a few times to say goodbye to my co-workers and friends. We made a point to steer clear of Parker because I wasn’t certain I could keep my thoughts to myself.
Humid summer air greeted us as we stepped outside, leaving the pulsing beat behind us.
“Ugh, it’s so damn sticky. I’m ready for fall. Bring on Halloween. Oh!” Ryder grinned at me. “Do you carve pumpkins each year?”
Carve pumpkins. How old were we? “I do not. Can’t remember the last time I did that.”
He grunted and bumped my shoulder. “Well, you’re doing it this year with me. Fall is my favorite season, so I’ll be dragging you to all sorts of festivals. Farms too.”
“Farms? You don’t exactly strike me as the farm type.”
He scoffed and pulled his hand from mine to jam it on his hip. “Uh, yeah. Where do you think we get the pump—”
My phone rang, interrupting Ryder’s ode to fall. “That’s probably Trev wanting to bust our balls for leaving without a goodbye.” I dug in my back pocket for my cell. “Shit, it’s Gladys.” My stomach sank as I stared down at the screen.
Gladys Rivers had lived in the house next to mine since the day she was born.
I’m pretty sure the house was originally her grandparents’, then her parents’, and now the sixty-two-year-old widow lived there alone with three cats and nothing but time on her hands.
She’d planned to watch a movie with my mother tonight at our house.
They’d been on a Bette Midler kick the last few weeks.
Her name flashing on my phone at close to midnight couldn’t mean anything good.
“Gladys?” I said as a greeting. “Is my mom okay?”
“Yes,” she said. She’s fine. I hit the speaker button so Ryder could hear as well, and we both leaned over the cell.
“She’s doing well.” Her clipped tone didn’t mirror her words, but at least it didn’t seem to be a significant medical emergency.
Progressive Multiple Sclerosis didn’t come with a structured schedule and loved to surprise us at the worst times. “But um…”
My stomach went again, swooping like a carnival ride. Ryder wrapped an arm around my waist as though sensing I needed grounding.
“Kenny showed up a few minutes ago. I think he forgot his key because he’s outside pounding on the door, quite belligerent. He’s yelling all sorts of threats and screaming profanities. I don’t think I’m comfortable letting him in while he’s in this state, but I’d hate for someone to call the cops.”
Oh fuck. The post-fuck high I’d been riding evaporated faster than a water droplet on a hot city street in July. Anxiety and urgency replaced the evening’s fun. This could turn into a nightmare situation if I played it wrong.
Ryder was already hustling me down the street toward his car.
“You’re doing the right thing. Do not let him in, Gladys.
He’s not good to be around when he gets like this.
” We were jogging now, close to the luxurious Range Rover Ryder loved so much.
“I’m on my way home with my boyfriend. We’ll be there in less than ten minutes, and we’ll deal with him. ”
“Okay, thank you, dear. I’m so sorry to bother you on your date, but I worry about your mother.”
I slipped into Ryder’s car as he started the engine and pulled onto the road before I slammed the door. “You did the right thing. Just hang on for a few minutes. We’ll be there soon.”
“Okay, dear. See you soon.”
“Fuck!” I shouted after the call ended. The urge to hurl my phone through the windshield hit hard, but I resisted—barely. “It’s always fucking something with him.”
Ryder slid his hand to my thigh while keeping his focus on the road.
He drove fast, too fast, we’d get a ticket for sure if we passed a cop, but I appreciated his urgency.
The simple touch helped. It kept me from losing my shit completely.
I rested my head against the backrest and watched him drive.
“Think we’ll ever get more than a day of peace? ”
He tightened his grip on my leg, stroking his thumb back and forth. “I think every time a problem arises, we smash it down. This is just another one.”
“Thank you.”
He cast me a side glance. “For what? Driving? Don’t thank me for that. If you recall, you promised to eat my ass in the shower if I drove tonight.”
Despite my crashing mood, I smiled. “How could I forget? But no, I mean, thank you for being here with me. For not questioning anything and just responding.”
“Where else would I be?” he asked with a wink before focusing back on the quiet streets.
I nearly snorted out loud. Anywhere else?
Somewhere, he wouldn’t have to deal with a boyfriend’s drugged-out brother waking the entire neighborhood with his antics.
I kept those thoughts to myself. Most days, I was overthinking that I wasn’t good enough for Ryder, though times like tonight made those insecurities resurface.
So instead of letting that worm of self-doubt crawl beneath my skin, I placed my hand over Ryder’s on my thigh, interlacing our fingers.
We sped through the nighttime city streets of Boston, turning onto my street a mere three minutes later.
As we rolled to a stop in front of my house, we could see Kenny ramming his fist against the door while hollering into the otherwise quiet night.
“This oughta be a hoot,” Ryder said with a wry grin. He sighed. “To think, you were buried deep in my ass only half an hour ago.”
Felt like days ago already. I grunted then sighed. “Let’s get this shit over with.”
Ryder and I simultaneously exited the vehicle from opposite sides.
Kenny whirled around at the first slamming door. “Fucking finally!” he shouted, throwing his arms in the air as he stomped toward where we’d parked along the curb. Ryder came around, taking his place at my side.
“Give me your fucking keys. I gotta piss, and that bitch Gladys won’t let me in my own damn house.”