Chapter 19
NINETEEN
CASEY
Iwoke with a start and peered around my room, the sun streaming in through the crack in the center of my blackout curtains. We’d barely won against West Virginia, but a win is a win. Still, my stats weren’t quite where they should have been. I’d been too worried about Ryker to focus properly.
I rubbed my eyes and groaned. I had to study my ass off, so I’d have time to meet Ryker’s mom this evening. Had Ryker spoken with her about moving in with me or what might happen after I graduate? When she found out I might take him away from them, would she hate me for it?
I dragged myself out of bed, threw on a pair of team sweats and ambled into the kitchen.
Eli stood at the coffeemaker, watching it drip coffee into the carafe.
“Hey.” Combing my fingers through my hair, I stepped to him and leaned my hip against the counter. “Will you be making us all breakfast?”
“After I drink some coffee, I will.” He peered at me. “Protein pancakes?”
“Sounds good.” I let a long breath flow from my mouth, my brain reliving every mistake I made last night. “I played like shit yesterday.”
“I’d say you weren’t up to your usual standards.” He grabbed two mugs from the cupboard. “What was up with you? Just an off night?”
I pulled the creamer from the refrigerator and set it on the counter. “No, I’ve been worried about meeting Ryker’s mom today.” All my buddies knew she’d gotten out yesterday. That wasn’t the sort of news you kept secret with your besties.
“You’re heading over there for dinner, right?” As the stream of coffee slowed, he poured it into two mugs. “You know she’ll love you. Everyone does.” He threw me a smirk.
“Yeah, but will she still love me when she realizes I want to take her firstborn from her in six months?” They’d just gotten back together as a family. I poured creamer into my coffee, grabbed a spoon from the drawer and stirred it.
After adding creamer to his coffee, Eli blew on it, holding the mug in both hands. “How close are they?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. No mention of how far gone I was with Ryker. Everyone knew Ryker was the one for me. “Judging by how Ryker came to his brother’s rescue and set his life aside after his mom’s incarceration? I’d say pretty damn close.”
“It’s just the three of them. No dad in the picture?” He sipped his coffee.
“Not for Ryker. His dad took off on them soon after he was born. Wes has a dad somewhere, but barely sees or talks to him.” I drank my coffee, the bitterness melting with the sweet caramel creamer.
“Yeah, then they’re close. They’ve obviously had tough times, and that’ll either tear a family apart or bring them together.” He pursed his lips. “I don’t know what to tell you, Casey. This is tough.”
My heart twinged. It was bad if even Eli had nothing positive to say. “Yeah.” I patted him on the back. “I need to get some studying done. Call me when breakfast is ready.”
“Of course.” He tilted his head. “Casey, don’t let it get you down. You’ll work it out. You love each other too much not to.”
“Thanks.” I walked toward my room. Didn’t love conquer everything?
After parking at Ryker’s apartment complex, I strolled along the walkway with two bags of Chinese food and a bouquet of fragrant lilies in my hands. I was trying my best for Ryker’s mom.
As I stepped to the door, it opened, and Ryker gave me a broad smile. “Casey, come on in.” He pecked my cheek and stepped aside.
“Hey babe.” I gave him my best grin as my heart thrummed in my ears.
A woman with dark hair strolled from the bedroom hallway, her lips tugging into a faint grin. Her eyes were the same shape and color as Ryker’s, and her short green dress looked a size too big. “Casey?” She approached me and stopped. “I’m Linda, Ryker’s mother.”
“Hi, Linda. It’s so nice to meet you.” It was easy to see the resemblance to Ryker and Wes. Pushing the flowers at her, I said, “I, uh, hope you like lilies.” I licked my dry lips.
Taking the flowers from me, she sniffed them and said, “These are lovely. Thank you.” Her gaze met mine. “It’s been a long time since a man brought me flowers.” She chuckled. “Let me put these in some water.”
Wes strolled from the hallway and stopped as his gaze swung to mine. “I smell food.” A wide grin erupted on his face.
“Say hello to Casey before you eat his food.” Ryker grabbed the bags from me and brought them to the table, already set with plates, silverware and drinks.
“I hope everyone’s hungry. I got two of everything.” As Wes gave me a bro-hug, I shut the door.
“I’m glad you won last night, but damn, you messed up a few plays. Fumbling the ball on that run?” He snickered.
“Yeah, I was off last night.” I strolled to the table and fell into a chair. “It happens to the best of us.” Of course, Wes would notice.
“Well, Casey, I thought you looked amazing last night.” Linda opened the food containers and sat at the head of the table. “You’re a senior this year, aren’t you?” She spooned honey-walnut chicken and rice onto her plate.
“I am. I’m getting a finance degree.” After opening a beer can, I set it on the table. This would help my nerves.
“That’ll help you manage all the money you’ll get with your NFL contract.” With a sharp laugh, Wes slid orange chicken onto his plate.
I glanced at Ryker as my gut clenched. We were already talking about the future? Shit. “Yeah, that’s what I was hoping.” I added Singapore noodles to my plate, my go-to when I ate Chinese. “It was my dad’s idea, since I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study.”
“Casey, you’ve got to thank your father for me. The young man he set me up with, Gabe Johnson? He was fantastic to work with.” She slid food into her mouth.
“He was happy to help, so I’ll make sure I send along your appreciation.” Did we dodge a bullet? I glanced at Ryker, digging into his food with a smile on his face.
Linda poured wine into a glass and sipped it. “And thank you for this food, Casey. It’s delicious.”
“Of course.” I twirled my fork in my noodles and took a bite, glancing around the table. So far, so good. Ryker’s mother seemed nice. How the hell had she ended up with a loser like Carl?
“So, which team do you want to pick you up in the draft?” Wes drank from a bottle of Gatorade.
Fuck, here we go again. With a shrug, I said, “I don’t know. I think I’ll be higher in the draft, so I’ll probably end up with the Giants, the Browns or the Titans. They’re not doing so well this year.” I peeked at Linda. What did she know about the NFL draft?
She set her fork on her plate, her brows knitting. “You don’t get to decide what team you play on?”
“Um, not really. I can put feelers out and let a few teams know I’m interested, but it’s up to the team’s management after my combine performance this spring.” I wiped my mouth with a napkin. I could see the wheels turning in her head.
“So…” She eyed me. “When you graduate this spring, you expect to have an NFL contract.” Her eyes narrowed further. “And you won’t just play for the Arizona Cardinals? You’ll have to move away?”
My gaze flicked to Ryker. Fuck. I needed a little help here. “Uh, that’s probably the case.”
“Mom, it’s a long time from now. Let’s not worry about it tonight.” He squeezed his mother’s forearm.
Sipping her wine, she side-eyed me. “Okay.”
Wes stared at me for a moment and then stuffed food into his mouth.
What the hell should I say? I couldn’t tell her I wanted to take her son away from her. But she had to understand how much I loved him. “Linda, I love Ryker. We’ll make this work for everyone.”
She chewed her food and swallowed. “Will Ryker be moving in with you after I find a job?” She ate a prawn.
“Um…” My gaze locked on his. We hadn’t settled that yet.
“Yes, I am.” Lifting his chin, he reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “Mom, we’re pretty serious about each other.”
“I see that.” A thin-lipped smile graced her lips. “Well, it’s amazing you found such a talented young man, Ryker.” Her smile widened. “And so handsome.”
“He is.” Ryker kissed the back of my hand. “He makes me happy.”
“I can see you’re not as grumpy as you used to be.” With a pointed look at Ryker, she ate some rice.
“Yeah, he smiles all the time now.” Wes chortled.
“Stop it.” Ryker swatted Wes’s shoulder.
“Boys.” With a giggle, Linda glanced at me. “Welcome to our little family, Casey.”
“Thank you. I’m honored to be a part of it.” I drank some beer. Damn, Ryker had yet to meet mine. But I was sure they’d love him. I’d set up a FaceTime call the next time we were alone together.
A few days later, I had Ryker over for dinner at the Desert Dog house. Eli had prepared a vat of stew using a slow cooker. It went perfectly with the weather turning cold. I’d also made sure my mom and dad were available to meet Ryker.
A knock cracked through the air.
“Go get your boy toy, Casey.” Eli stirred the stew on the kitchen island and set bowls next to it.
“Hell yeah.” I bounded to the door and flung it open. “Babe.” I threw my arms around his neck and pressed a hard kiss on his mouth. “Come on in. The stew is ready.”
“Good, I’m starved.” Wrapped in a hooded sweatshirt and jeans, he entered the house. “Hey, everyone.” He held his palm up to the guys, Eli in the kitchen and Malik and Tex at the dinette, already shoveling stew into their mouths. The guys gave him an up-nod and kept eating.
As he followed me into the kitchen, he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. “So, am I meeting your parents tonight?”
Eli’s gaze shot to mine. “Oh? We’re having a parental meeting tonight?” He scooped stew into two bowls and slid them toward us. “Bread is on the table.”
“We are. I met his mom, so I thought it would be a good time for him to meet my parents.” I took my bowl, stepped to the table and dropped in beside Malik and across from Tex. What stupid remarks would they make?
“Dude, I can’t believe you haven’t done this already.” Malik wiped his mouth with a napkin. “You two have been boyfriends forever.”