Chapter 9
NINE
CASEY
Ientered the house and shut the front door behind me, the hinges squeaking and giving me away. “Fuck.” I’d wanted to be stealthy and not wake anyone.
“Home so soon?” Eli sat on the couch with Malik, both smirking at me with their arms folded.
“It’s not that early. It’s a Sunday night.” It had to be around ten. Throwing my shoulders back, I strutted into the room. “What are you two doing up? We’re supposed to be at the gym by eight.”
“Yeah, and it’s not quite ten, so we’re hanging out and waiting for you.” Malik waggled his brows as he drank from a water bottle.
“How did it go with Ryker tonight?” Eli shifted and patted the empty cushion next to him.
“It went great, actually.” I dropped in beside Eli and peered at Malik, sitting across from me on the side of the sectional that shifted direction. How much should I tell Eli? “What other questions do you have?”
“Did you get into his pants?” With a smirk, Eli creased his forehead.
“I did. We shared orgasms and fuck, the guy’s hot as hell.” Gnawing my lower lip, heat flashed my skin with the memory of us on the floral couch. I wouldn’t tell them much more. It was private. But shit, I kept nothing private. Why now?
“I see. And do you still feel as strongly about him?” Hooking a brow, Eli drank some water.
“I…” Where was Eli going with this? Oh, the conversation at breakfast…Squirming in my seat, I said, “Yeah, in fact I think I like him even more.”
“So, he’s not a hookup.” Malik leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thick thighs.
“No, he isn’t.” I glanced from him to Eli. “What, have you two been sitting here talking about me all night?” I wouldn’t put it past them.
“Maybe a little.” Eli exhaled heavily, and then a grin played across his mouth. “Casey, I’m glad you found someone. I’m assuming you’ll continue dating him?”
“Yes, of course.” It had changed between me and Ryker, and I wouldn’t let him down. “In fact, I’ll text him tomorrow to see how the week looks.” I grabbed a black throw pillow and hugged it.
“When’s the last time you spent this much time with one guy?” Malik eyed me, leaning back and loosely crossing his ankle over his knee.
With a shake of my head, I huffed and said, “No idea.” Maybe Nelson at football camp?
“Casey, this isn’t like you.” Lifting one side of his mouth, Malik drank more water. “What will you do about your hookup apps?”
“Nothing.” Fuck, I hadn’t thought about those, but I hadn’t opened them since I’d met Ryker. That in itself was odd. I knitted my brows. “I can’t delete them. It’s too soon.”
“Does Ryker know about them?” Eli studied me.
“No, well, I haven’t mentioned them, and he never asked.” That was a shit answer, but it was all I had. “I can’t delete them.” I’d spent some time putting the profiles together. I clenched my jaw.
Eli narrowed his eyes at me. “Do you think Ryker has—”
“No, I don’t think Ryker has any hookup apps. Before me, he hadn’t been with anyone for a while.” How did I know that? Did he tell me, or did Wes? My stomach churned. Fucking hell, they were making me look like an ass. “I’ve only known Ryker for maybe ten days.”
“Casey, remember what I told you about a guy like him. If he sees you’re still active on a hookup app, you might lose him.” Eli pursed his lips.
I gaped at him. Was he serious? Two fucking dates and I had to delete my apps?
I wouldn’t use them, but if things didn’t work out…
fuck, I’d already be hurt. “I’ll, uh, I’ll consider it.
” The notifications could be turned off for now.
Right now, they were muted, and I only looked at them when I felt a little horny.
“Okay, I’ve warned you.” Eli sighed and then faced me. “You’re coaching his little brother, dating him and getting involved with his life. Do you really need the fucking apps?”
I squeezed the pillow to my chest and rested my chin on the edge. “No…” My chest squeezed. Why was I reluctant to let them go? Were they an emotional safety net? Maybe.
With a huff, Malik rose and walked toward me. “Dude, delete the apps already. Listen to Daddy Eli.” He patted my shoulder and continued to the hallway.
With a snicker, I said, “Daddy Eli is about right.” I glanced at him, frowning at me.
I hated letting Eli down, and that’s what I was doing.
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” Hopping off the couch, I tossed the pillow into the corner and then strode to the kitchen.
“I like him, Eli. I really do.” Opening the refrigerator, I grabbed a bottled water.
“In fact, I don’t think I’ve liked anyone this much since Nelson at football camp.
” There, I’d said it out loud. Eli knew. He’d been at camp that year.
“Yeah?” Rising, Eli’s eyes twinkled in the low light. “So, you think you’re falling in love? The great Casey Carter?”
“Shut up. We’ve only had like two actual dates.” With a scoff, I sauntered to my room. Hopefully, I’d have sweet dreams of Ryker tonight. Slipping my phone from my shorts, I opened the text app and tapped on the screen.
Casey
I arrived home safely about thirty minutes ago, but my roommates ambushed me. I want you to meet them sometime soon. Anyway, good night and sweet dreams.
The three dots popped up.
Ryker
Wes came home right after you left. I think he left us alone on purpose. Good night.
The next morning, after a grueling workout at the gym and a shower, I headed home and straight into my bedroom. I wanted to talk to my dad about Ryker’s situation with his mom.
I fell onto the corner of my bed and pressed the call button for him. Hopefully, he wasn’t in a fucking meeting.
The phone rang briefly and then picked up. “Hello? Casey? Are you all right?”
I chuckled. I barely called him during the day, so of course he’d think something happened. “Yeah, I’m fine. Are you busy?”
“Not right this second.” Clicking sounded through the line. “I just shut the door to my office.” He paused. “What’s up?”
“So, I met a guy.” I winced. Fuck, I blurted it, but there’d been no alternative to starting this conversation.
“You did?” he asked. “Did you get drunk and propose or something? Why are you calling me and not your mother?”
Shit, Dad had an interesting sense of humor. With a grin teasing my lips, I said, “No, I didn’t. I called to ask you about his situation, lawyerly things. And to do that, I had to admit to dating someone.”
“Oh, I see,” he said. “So, go on. What’s this boy like?”
“He’s not a boy, he’s a…well, he’s twenty-six and owns an auto repair shop.” I twisted my lips. Would he put two and two together?
“Let me guess, Hart Auto Repair?” He snickered. “Did dating him result in a discount on the work he did for you? Is that why it was so cheap?”
I choked back a laugh. “No, I didn’t get a discount.
He offers fair prices and does great work.
The neighborhood his shop is in isn’t the best.” Damn it, I didn’t want to get into Ryker’s economic status.
But Dad wasn’t a pompous ass like some guys he worked with.
I rubbed my brow. “Anyway, his mom is in a situation, and I was wondering if you could help.”
“Okay, what’s going on?”
“She…well, she’s in jail for aiding and abetting.” My chest clenched. Would Dad assume Ryker was a felon too?
“Oh, tell me the circumstances.” He clicked his tongue. “This young man you’re seeing — he’s not in trouble too, is he?”
“No, not at all. In fact, he’s taking care of his younger brother, who’s in high school and plays football.
I’m coaching him over the summer break. He’s a good kid, and Ryker, the mechanic I’m dating, worked at BMW for a few years and then built this auto shop business from scratch.
He’s a decent man, Dad. They’re good people.
” My heart warmed with the memories of the stew dinner we’d had.
I’d spilled a lot of info in a short time over the phone, but Dad needed to hear it.
“I see. What are the details concerning the mother’s felony?”
I’d tell him the abbreviated version and let him ask questions.
Sucking in a breath, I said, “Her boyfriend lied so she would drive the getaway car for a burglary. She thought he was removing his own things from his parents’ house when, in fact, the guy was stealing from a wealthy family here in Scottsdale.
During the burglary, the guy shot one owner, a woman, but she survived.
” It sounded insane when I repeated it to him.
“If she was unaware she was aiding and abetting, she shouldn’t be in jail.” Dad hummed. “But the concept called willful blindness exists, and it might have led to her charge. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to review criminal cases.”
“Okay, but the boyfriend lied to her. So how would she know the truth?” I pursed my lips. What else was there? “Ryker said she couldn’t afford a lawyer and took a plea deal. It sounds like she’s got two years left.”
“Even if you can’t afford an attorney, the court will appoint one to you. So, she had one, but maybe not a very good one.” He tsked. “Let me check around with some of my buddies from Stanford. Someone’s got to know a firm in Phoenix who’ll talk to Ryker and his mother pro bono.”
“Thanks, Dad, I knew I could count on you.” As the tightness in my gut unwound, I sighed.
“Of course. If they look through the court documents and find a plain error in the proceedings, it could provide grounds for an appeal. Then, a talented attorney might help her get released and have the charges expunged.”
“Really?” I lifted my brows. I hadn’t thought of that. If she had a felony on her record, she couldn’t work in certain places. Like a doctor’s office? Shit. Life wasn’t fair sometimes.
“Yes, really. I’ll see what I can do,” he said. “And Casey? You have feelings for this young man, don’t you?”
As my chest fluttered, I said, “Yeah, I do.” And with each day I couldn’t see him, my feelings grew like wildfire.
“Maybe we can meet him over the holidays. It sounds like a long way off now, but they’ll be here before you know it.”