Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
SAM
Ryker’s truck pulled up to Gramps’ house just a bit after four in the afternoon. I’d spent the entire morning packing my things, which didn’t take long at all, if I was being honest.
Most of my stuff was being kept in storage in the basement, and I’d planned to move them over to my new place slowly. All my necessities fit in the two large suitcases I’d manage to load into the back of my car. The only thing I couldn’t fit was the futon mattress and bedding Gramps had packed for me, but I could have easily made two trips.
I really should have rejected Ryker’s offer to help me, but he had a point about making our claim of being a couple look more legitimate if we moved together .
“Hey,” he said when he jumped out of his truck.
I walked to his side and peeked into the empty truck bed.
“Where’s your stuff?”
“My friends are taking it to the apartment. We’ll grab your items and meet them there,” he said, then looked around. “Where’s your stuff?”
I gestured toward the small pile right outside the garage door where a of couple boxes and the futon mattress Gramps had wrapped in plastic while it was in storage.
“That’s all you have?” Ryker asked, sounding shocked.
I shrugged.
“I have two more suitcases, but I already loaded those in my car. Everything else, I can slowly move,” I said.
Ryker nodded and went to grab the futon. I quickly caught up to him, grabbed the other end of the mattress, and helped him move it to his truck.
I was trying to be helpful, but honestly, I think I slowed him down more than anything else. My end felt suspiciously light, and I had a feeling that Ryker was indulging my ego to help instead of insisting he could do it on his own.
His being considerate shouldn’t even surprise me anymore.
We lifted the mattress into the bed of the truck, then Ryker returned to get the rest of my stuff. I watched, in a daze, by the slight strain of his muscles as he lifted the first box. Before I could snap out of it, he’d already returned and was taking the second box to the back of his truck as well.
He set the boxes in the truck bed, then lifted the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat that was forming at his temples.
I could just drool at the display of his abs. My eyes lingered there, counting each block of tight muscle.
One, two, three, four, five, six…
“If you’re going to be a perv right in front of our house, at least make it a little less obvious.”
I jumped at the voice that sounded next to my ear. My sister stood there, holding my nephew.
Junior seemed to have made a full recovery. He’d slept through the entire night and woke up chipper and excited like he hadn’t been sick for the past week.
Now, his bright blue eyes shone as he realized I was next to him. He waved his tiny arms toward me, making cooing sounds I’d learned he did when he wanted to act cute and make things go his way.
He was just a baby and already a pro at manipulation. I feared what this smart boy was going to be like when he got older.
Giving in to Junior’s demands—because, of course, I would—I took him from my sister.
“How is my nephew so cute?” I said in a baby voice to him, which only made him giggle loudly.
The noise must have caught Ryker’s attention because he looked up from where he was securing my items inside the bed of the truck. A huge smile appeared on his face when he caught sight of Junior. He abandoned what he was doing to make his way over to us.
“You’re right. He is hot,” Lana whispered into my ear.
“Shut up,” I gritted out through my teeth and plastered a smile on my face as I watched Ryker inch closer. His expression didn’t change, so hopefully that meant he hadn’t heard my big-mouthed sister.
“This must be your nephew. Junior, was it?” Ryker asked when he stopped right in front of me.
Since he was so big, he bent over until he was at eye-level with Junior and waved his fingers. Junior giggled in a way that only babies could. The sound was one of pure joy, and my heart melted every time I heard it.
And then there was Ryker, still bent over, and now making funny faces that had Junior giggling even harder.
I really didn’t need to learn that Ryker was handsome, kind, and good with kids. This didn’t bode well for me.
How was I supposed to pretend I was in love with my fake fiancé without actually falling in love? Especially when each new side I saw of Ryker made me like him even more.
Ryker straightened, looking a touch embarrassed by his actions. I had to look away because I didn’t need to see him being cute right now. Not when his likability level was already maxing out for me.
Lana discreetly nudged me in the stomach, and I knew she’d have a smug expression on her face without even turning to look at her. I ignored her attempts to stir up something, then stuffed Junior back into her arms.
“Thanks for your help. Can I get you something to drink? My Gramps made a fresh batch of aloe vera juice that’ll cool you right down. It may sound strange, but I promise it’s very delicious!” I said.
The way I sounded like I was promoting the drink told me Gramps and Lana were converting me toward their aloe addiction, whether I was willing or not.
“Sure, I’ll try some. Thank you,” Ryker replied with a smile.
I turned back toward the house but shot my sister a warning glare to not say anything stupid while I was gone. I trusted my sister with my life, but she had too much dirt on me, and that was a risk I couldn’t take around Ryker.
I practically ran into the kitchen and quickly poured a glass for Ryker before rushing back out to them again.
My sister and Ryker were laughing about something, which was a good sign, right? It probably meant Lana hadn’t said anything incriminating.
“Here you go,” I said when I reached them and handed the glass to Ryker.
He accepted it with a thanks and took a huge gulp. A bead of liquid clung to the corner of his lips, and that was what I was staring at. Just that, and definitely not the way his full lips trembled with each swallow or how his pink tongue flicked out to swipe at them…oh, and would you look at that? The droplet was now gone, so I now had nothing else to look at besides his delectable lips.
My evil sister bumped me with her hips, but the woman had hips that meant business and almost had me tripping over my feet. I glared at her, but she returned my gaze with one that told me to rein in my obvious staring.
“So, how do you like it?” I asked Ryker instead of looking at my sister.
“It’s good, and like you said, it’s very refreshing. I might have to learn how to make some myself to take on-site with me,” he said and licked his lips one more time.
As if summoned by the talk of aloe, Gramps walked up to us, as quiet as a ghost.
“You have good taste, boy. And it’s good for ya, too. Just take a look at me,” Gramps said, puffing out his chest.
Gramps had a full head of white hair, but he stood tall. Well, as tall as a Monroe man could, at least. He was still muscular from years of tinkering with woodwork in the shed out in the back. I hadn’t seen him go out there since Junior was born, but the baby had probably kept him in shape just as well.
“I can see that, Mr. Monroe. You look exactly the same as the last time I saw you years ago,” Ryker said with a light smile.
I didn’t know if he actually meant it or if he was just indulging my gramps, but I was grateful either way.
Gramps looked beyond pleased as he laughed and smacked Ryker on the back.
“You boys have everything you need? Should I head over there to help with the move?” Gramps said as he walked to the truck to investigate.
Oh, no.
I hadn’t told Gramps about this little arrangement yet, so I needed to keep him away from the apartment and Annabelle.
Lana must have seen the panic on my face because she quickly stepped up with Junior and said, “Gramps, I was thinking we take Junior on a walk today. He’s been stuck inside since he got sick, so some fresh air will probably do him some good.”
Gramps nodded, and I knew Lana got him. I shot Lana a grateful look for saving my ass.
“Yes, yes. A walk is a good idea. We should probably go before it gets too late,” Gramps commented, looking up at the blue sky.
Nightfall was hours away, but Gramps thought it was late as soon as the sun even hinted at setting.
“You boys should go early, too. Moving in the dark will be a pain in the arse,” Gramps said when he turned back to us.
I immediately piped up, “Yes, yes. We really should.”
I took Ryker’s empty glass from him, then practically pushed him toward his truck. His brows furrowed the entire short walk there, but he didn’t resist and let me manhandle him.
My family didn’t follow, and when the truck blocked their view from us, I whispered, “Sorry, I haven’t told Gramps anything yet.”
A light of realization appeared in his eyes. “No worries. I’ll head out first then and meet you there?”
“Thanks,” I said, squeezing his arm.
Ryker nodded and got into his truck. He waved goodbye to Gramps and Lana before pulling out and driving off.
“I saw the way he was with Junior earlier. Is he single?” Gramps asked as we entered the house.
They followed me into the kitchen, where I hand-washed the glass Ryker used and stored it in the drying rack.
“I don’t think so, Gramps,” Lana answered, then handed the baby to him.
“Hmm, what a shame. He looks like he’d make a good daddy for Junior,” Gramps replied.
To say my eyebrows disappeared into my hairline by how high I raised them was an understatement. Lana didn’t look any less shocked either, but Gramps was ignorant to both of our reactions and cheerfully babbled nonsense to the baby.
“I’ll get him changed and ready for our walk,” he said before leaving Lana and me alone in the kitchen.
“Was he really trying to set you up with Ryker just now?” I pulled my sister close and panic-whispered to her.
“I don’t know!” She furrowed her brow. “And why is he even talking about finding a daddy for Junior? He’s doing just fine without one!”
That had me pushing aside my own worries to focus on her instead. Lana had only dated Cade for about a year before getting pregnant, and when she told him about the baby, Cade just up and left. He practically disappeared off the face of the Earth, going so far as blocking our family on every social media platform.
I knew this because I’d tried looking him up before to give him a piece of my mind, but I couldn’t find any of his profiles. I could have made a new account to cuss him out, but honestly, that piece of trash wasn’t worth my time. Lana and Junior were better off not having him in their lives.
But I also knew that even if you logically knew someone was shitty, it didn’t always mean your heart understood.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly, wrapping an arm around Lana. She immediately curled herself into me and let out a loud exhale.
She took a deep breath before saying, “I dunno.” She let out another sigh. “I just thought he could have been the one , you know? Sure, we hadn’t discussed having children, but I never thought he’d pull a disappearing act on me like that. It’s fine. I can do this alone.”
I hated seeing her hurt like this. I pulled her close and stroked her hair. “You are doing this. You’re the best mom to Junior. And you’re not alone, nor will you ever be. Gramps and I will be here every step of the way.”
Instead of comforting her like I’d intended to, a soft sob tore through her. A wet spot quickly formed where she was snuggled up against me. I ignored it and pulled her tighter and whispered reassurances into her hair.
It was a good thing Gramps took forever to dress Junior because I was sure Lana wouldn’t want him walking in on her crying. If Gramps saw, he’d go into fix-it mode, and he wouldn’t let it go until he got down to the very reason Lana was crying.
Then we’d have to tell him we were talking about Junior’s dad, and that wouldn’t have gone down well. Gramps had been angrier than I was about the situation. He fumed so hard I thought his forehead vein was going to pop. We didn’t need to test if the vein could actually pop today.
When Lana calmed down a bit, she pulled away. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but no more tears fell. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, then turned to me and said, “And just for the record, I don’t want your man. He’s all yours.”
With that, she turned away to head into the bathroom.
“He’s not really mine!” I called after her, but she continued on her path, completely ignoring my words.
Now I just had to make sure I also didn’t ignore them.