Chapter 12
TWELVE
RYKER
“What a beautiful morning.” I sat in a deck chair, in the hotel’s fluffy white robe, on the balcony with a cup of coffee and glanced at Casey.
As I shifted in my chair, an ache radiated from my ass, and I winced.
Last night had been fun, but damn, I hadn’t been pounded like that in a long time.
I placed a hand over my full stomach. We’d already eaten a fantastic breakfast of smoked salmon eggs Benedict.
“It sure is.” Casey narrowed his eyes. “You okay? You look a little uncomfortable.” He squeezed my forearm, resting on the chair’s arm.
“I’m a little sore. But it’s a good sore.
” With a quick chuckle, I drank my coffee.
I’d remember last night for a few days every time I sat down.
But fuck, I’d have to hide it around Dylan, or he’d tease the living shit out of me.
I watched the leaves shimmering in a cool breeze, the ever-present gurgle of the creek floating on the air.
“Have you heard from Wes at all?” he asked, tipping his coffee cup at his lips.
“Not yet.” I should text him. I plucked my phone from the table behind us and tapped a text.
Ryker
How was your night?
Was he even up yet? Knowing him, he’d played video games all night. I pursed my lips and set my phone on my thigh. “We’ll see how long it takes for him to respond.”
“I’m sure he’s fine.” Casey turned his profile to me, his dirty-blond bangs making a wave to his cheekbones.
His hair was always perfect, even after getting out of bed. Not me. Mine had to be tamed somehow. I combed my fingers through my long bangs. Fuck it. I drank more coffee. “We should head out soon.”
“Yeah, so, we’ll walk around Tlaquepaque, have some lunch and then hit the road?” He slid his lips to one side. “It’s going to be another busy week, isn’t it?”
“It is.” I freed a long breath. “You might stop over for dinner a few nights this week.” Though he couldn’t stay the night, could he? We both had shit to do in the mornings.
“You think?” A smile broke over his face. “I’d love to. I’d like to train with Wes more in the gym, and since it is air-conditioned, we can train in the afternoon.” He patted the arm of his chair. “Soon, I’d like you to meet the guys at the Desert Dog house.”
“Desert Dog house? You have a nickname for yourselves?” I peered at him. Was it like a frat house?
“We do. I don’t even know how it got started, but it stuck.” He sipped his coffee. “They’ll love you, Ryker.”
“If you say so.” Warmth crept around my heart. If his friends were anything like him, it would be an honor to meet them.
A few hours and a shower blowjob later, we strolled around the shops of Tlaquepaque, a replica of a Mexican village in Spanish Colonial architecture with precast stone columns, stucco archways and red tile roofs.
As I strolled along the cobblestones, hand in hand with Casey, we passed colorful pots with flowers and fancy three-tiered fountains, bubbling under expansive sycamore trees.
The shops were endless, with everything from touristy t-shirts to fine art and one-of-a-kind jewelry.
“This place is even better than I imagined.”
“Yeah? I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” Slipping me a warm grin, he kissed the back of my hand.
I didn’t want to go home. I loved fixing cars and being my own boss with the shop, but I hadn’t allowed myself to live.
This felt like life. And then there was Wes…
“Shit, I don’t think I heard from Wes.” I stopped in front of a jewelry store window, the watches and bracelets gleaming in the store’s lights, and tugged my phone from the pocket of my board shorts. A message appeared on the screen.
Wes
Doing great. Don’t worry about me.
With a soft snort, I shook my head and held the screen to Casey. “Now I know why he hasn’t contacted me all weekend.” Wes truly wanted me to relax and enjoy myself. I tapped a message back.
Ryker
We should be home by dinnertime. Take out what you want to eat from the freezer and clean up your mess.
Because I knew how he was. Chip bags, half-drunk water and Gatorade bottles, and clothing would clutter the place. Basically, the main room would look like his bedroom. I worried my lip, watching the three dots twinkle on the screen.
Wes
Already done. Go back to having a good time.
“Fine.” With a sigh, I stuffed the phone into my pocket, and a black beaded bracelet caught my eye in the shop’s window. “Hey, let’s go in there.”
“Of course.” Casey guided me into the shop and hovered over me while I scanned the glass display cases of wares.
A man stepped toward us from behind the counter. “Would you like to try something on?” He flashed a smile at me and then at Casey.
Shaking my head, I said, “No—”
“Yes, I think he would.” Casey focused on me with a wicked gleam in his eye. “What caught your attention from the window?”
Heat flooded my cheeks. I shouldn’t have come in here, damn it. This place was too expensive, and Casey had already done so much.
“What can I show you, sir?” The man set his hands on the display.
Pulling on my arm, Casey said, “Come on, just tell me what you saw.”
“Fine. There was a black beaded bracelet in the window.” How much could something like that cost? I pressed my lips together.
“Oh, the lava beads. Let me get it for you.” The man turned his back on us, opened the cabinet facing the window and then returned with the bracelet. “Hold your arm out and I’ll put it on for you.”
With a peek at Casey, who was grinning like a maniac, I held my wrist over the counter. Casey better not get any ideas.
The man clasped the bracelet onto my wrist. “This is a special piece made from Hawaiian lava rock. The rocks have been polished, and each piece is unique.” He stood back and held his hands together over his chest.
I glanced at the price tag. Holy fuck, it was way too expensive for me to buy, and I would not let Casey buy it for me.
I should pretend I didn’t like it. But Goddamn, I did like it.
A lot. It was cool and understated and something I would wear every day, except at work.
“It’s nice, maybe a little too tight though. ” I pushed my finger under the beads.
“Oh, we can adjust the tightness for you.” The man removed the bracelet. “If you’d like it a little looser, it’s not a problem.”
“Can you? I think it looks great on him.” Casey’s attention drew to me. “It fits you.”
Shit, I couldn’t let him buy this for me. “No, it’s okay. It’s nice, but maybe another time.” I patted Casey’s hip. “Let’s go look around some more.”
“Are you sure?” His brows creased, and he glanced at the bracelet.
“Yes.” I focused on the man behind the counter. “Thank you.” I had to get Casey out of here. “I’m getting hungry. We should find a restaurant.”
“Okay.” With an up-nod at the man, Casey led me from the store.
After a pleasant lunch on the patio at a Mexican restaurant, I used the restroom and washed my hands.
It was time to leave this magical place.
I strolled from the restroom to our patio chairs at an iron table under a colorful Mexican umbrella.
Where the hell was Casey? He must have used the restroom too.
I dropped into my chair and watched the people strolling by—some couples hand-in-hand and families with strollers and whining children.
What sort of future did Casey envision for himself?
Would he plan to marry a woman someday and have a family?
My heart twinged. This time next year, he’d have an NFL contract and be off in another state at a training camp.
Casey strutted to the table and sank into his chair, a shit-eating grin on his face. He must have been in the restroom. “Did it all come out okay?” He snickered.
“Yeah, you?” I stood, and my heart grew heavy. Time for this fantasy to end.
“Of course.” He rose and snatched my hand. “Let’s go home.”
“Yep.” I followed him down a walkway and past a large fountain in a square. “We’ll see what Wes wants for dinner and if he cleans his shit.” And if not, he’d get hell from me.
“He’ll clean it up. I have faith in him.” With a smirk, Casey glanced at me. “You know, we can come here again.” He shrugged. “Maybe stay someplace a little cheaper, but you know.”
“Yeah?” I squeezed his hand. “You could let me pitch in on the cost next time.” I kissed his cheek. Or I could treat him for once. Though I doubt he’d let me.
“Sure.” With a sly smile, he led me to the car.
We drove home, and Casey parked in a guest spot at my apartment complex. “I had a great time with you this weekend, Ryker.” He turned in his seat. “Can I come inside for a little?”
I glanced toward the apartment. Would Wes have cleaned his shit? Did it even matter? This was Casey. “Sure.”
“Excellent.” We retrieved my duffle from the trunk and strolled to the front door, the heat of the day stifling after coming from cooler weather. Cicadas sang in the tall trees around us, marking the start of monsoon season.
As we reached the door, Casey pulled on my arm. “Wait, before we go inside and you turn back into responsible, serious Ryker, I have something for you.”
He fucking didn’t. I dropped my duffle, watching him reach into his pocket. The fucker. “Casey…” My heart flip-flopped and my stomach churned.
“Yes, babe?” With a broad grin, he slipped the black beaded bracelet from the shop out of his short’s pocket. “Give me your wrist.”
“Why the hell did you do that?” My eyes pricked and my vision blurred. Biting my lip, my breath hitched. Who was this man, and how in the hell did I deserve him?
“Because whenever you get stressed by life and all the shit it throws at you, look at this bracelet and remember our trip and a time when it was in the back of your mind. Someday, it’ll be behind you.” He clasped it on my wrist and pressed a long kiss on my mouth.
I blinked the tears back. Why was I so emotional? Because out of all the fucking people in the world, this golden boy football player understood me? “Thank you,” I croaked.