Chapter 18 #2
I select the song on my phone and hit play.
Ryder cues into the music with his guitar immediately, and I watch him as we play.
Ryder is very handsome, striking even. Dark hair and eyes that glow like amber.
There are some subtle changes that have occurred over the past year, like his shoulders and chest seem wider and bulkier, his hair on top a tad longer, his arms thicker with muscle.
Jayson is taller, his body more streamlined from swimming, whereas Ryder is more muscular.
Julien is similar in build to his twin brother, but leaner due to all the soccer and running he does.
It boggles my mind how I got to be so lucky to have three such gorgeous, captivating boys as my best friends, ones that love me in different ways.
Ryder’s eyes meet mine, and he gives me a knowing eyebrow wiggle when he catches me checking him out. My face heats. Yep, totally busted.
Jayson and my dad appear in the doorway just as Ryder and I finish the song.
“You guys sound good together,” Dad says as he walks in and picks up his bass guitar. “Do you mind if your old man joins in the jam session?” Dad plucks the strings a few times and turns on the amplifier for it while he waits for us.
“What’s up, Ry?” Jayson asks Ryder, and they fist bump.
“Not much, man. Keeping busy.”
Jayson walks over to where I'm sitting behind the drums and gives me a short, sweet kiss. “Hey baby.”
I tap a drum stick against his butt. “Do you mind waiting while we play?”
“Not at all,” he replies, kissing me one more time and pulling up a stool to sit next to me.
“What’s your poison, Dad?”
“Do you guys remember how to play ‘Come Closer?’” Dad asks us.
“Oh! I love that one.”
Ryder plays the first three measures of the song to refresh his memory. “I think I got it.”
I prod my drum stick against Jayson’s knee to get his attention. “Jayson, would you mind videoing us?”
“On it,” he says and stands up with his phone pointed at us. I want to treasure this rare moment—me, Dad, and Ryder playing together like old times, and Jayson with us. When we finish, my dad lifts me up in a great big bear hug.
“Love you, Pumpkin.”
“Love you too, Dad.” I squeeze him harder. I’ll be leaving for college in a little over a year and won’t have as many opportunities to enjoy my favorite daddy hugs like I do every day now. I want to pack as many in as I can, especially since he’s leaving again for a six-city tour.
Dad puts me back down and clasps Jayson’s and then Ryder’s hands before leaving. “Good to see you boys.”
Ryder goes to the mini-fridge in the corner and takes out three waters, handing me one and tossing the other to Jayson. He opens his water and takes a sip. “That felt really good. It’s been a while since I last played. Thanks for letting me play with you.”
“Anytime, you know that. We should do it more often.”
Jayson hooks his arm around my waist. “What brings you by, Ry?”
“Taking a break before I have to head back to the garage.”
“Maria said you guys had a good time last night,” my mouth blurts out before I can stop it.
“Yep,” is his one-word reply, then, “Saw the video of the tree.” A flash of sadness flickers briefly across his face before disappearing.
I feel Jayson’s arm tighten around me. The air thickens around us, the tension between Jayson and Ryder palpable.
Should I be worried about where this conversation is going?
Ryder is the first to break it. “That was a pretty cool thing to do, Jay. Anyway, I think I’ll head back.”
Jayson surprises me with his response. “If you have time, why don’t you come with. Liz and I were going to grab some lunch in town.” I’m so proud of both of them at this moment.
Ryder hesitates, so I push. “That’s a great idea. You’ll come? Please?”
Ryder takes a deep breath. “Yeah, sure. Yeah, I’ll come. Thanks for asking. Mind if I meet you guys there?
“Ruby’s Diner in a half hour,” Jayson tells him.
“Got it. I’ll be there.”
Jayson releases me and I walk over to give Ryder a hug. He links his pinky with mine and pulls me in, wrapping me in a warm embrace. I rest my cheek against his chest and breathe him in. He gives me one last squeeze before walking out.
Jayson waits until he hears the front door close and then he pounces. I’m abruptly lifted and pressed against the adjoining wall, and I only have a second to blink when Jayson lands a hard kiss on my lips.
“I couldn’t wait another second to get my hands on you,” he says, letting me go.
“But, your dad is still in the house, and I don’t want him to kick my butt if he finds me defiling his daughter.
Besides, I have to take my girlfriend out to lunch.
” He grabs my hand, and we walk to the front door. “Dad!” I yell out.
“What?” he answers from upstairs.
“Going to lunch with Jayson and Ryder. I’ll be back later.”
“Okay, hon.”
Jayson helps me up into his truck. He buckles me in and comes around to hop in the driver’s seat. I roll my head toward him. “That was a really nice thing you did, inviting Ryder to join us.”
“Anything for you, princess.” He reaches for my hand and places it on top of his thigh as he backs out of the driveway. “How are you feeling this morning?” A hint of nervousness creeps into his voice.
“Good.”
“How do you feel about last night, about what happened between us?”
I can tell he needs reassuring, like he’s worried I may regret what we did. “Jayson, pull over, please.”
“Why? Do you feel sick?”
“Just pull over, please,” I say again.
He slows the truck and pulls over in the grass next to the roadside ditch.
Once he puts the truck in park, I release my seatbelt and climb over the console to straddle him.
His eyes widen, but he says nothing. I cup his face in my hands and press soft kisses on the corners of his mouth, then trace his facial features with my fingertips as I speak.
“Last night was the most incredible night of my life. Do not ever think that I regret one single moment of us. You made it beautiful. You made it perfect.” I peck his nose. “‘You aren’t just a star to me, you are my whole damn sky’,” I recite his love note back to him.
“Jesus, Liz. I needed to hear that so badly.”
“Many more next times, remember?”
“If you don’t want now to be one of those next times, I suggest we get going before I don’t care that we’re in my truck out on the side of the road for any passerby to see.”
I giggle and make my way back over the console to my seat.
I’d texted Julien after we got to Ruby’s diner and asked if he could join us.
He arrived a few minutes ago. We’re all smooshed together in a back booth.
Jayson is sitting next to me, and Ryder and Julien are seated across from us.
A feeling of pure joy unfurls around me.
It's been a while since the four of us have hung out together, talking, being silly, laughing. The waitress brings our food out—burgers and fries. I haven’t had anything to eat today other than the piece of toast Mom left out for me, so I’m ravenous.
“Pass me the mustard, please.”
Jayson hands me the squeeze bottle and grimaces. I have an addiction that is mustard and fries. I’ll even put mustard on my potato chips. It grosses Jayson out every time. I slather my fry in mustard and pop it into my mouth. “Mmmm. So delicious.”
“Don’t expect me to kiss you after that,” Jayson playfully warns me. I take two fries and dip them into the mustard again and smirk at him.
“Not a problem right now. I’m so hungry, I don’t think your threat of withholding kisses could stop me.”
“Oh, is that a challenge, princess?”
“Mmhmm.” I grab another fry. Jayson is quick and grabs my wrist before I can hit it with the mustard and pulls it to his mouth, biting my fry in half. “Fry thief!”
Ryder dips his fry into my mustard. “You know, this is actually pretty good.”
“How many years have been telling you that? See?” I stick my tongue out at Jayson.
“I stand by what I said. Now mayo, that’s the thing.”
Julien gags. “Dude, if you start dipping your fries in mayo in front of me, I am going to lose my lunch.” He holds his straw up and fires a wad of paper at Jayson.
“Oh, it’s so on, brother.”
Our lunch dissolves into a spitball war and our waitress is none too happy with us based on the scowls she throws our way.
We clean up our mess and finish eating our burgers.
“Mom is hinting about a big family vacay for all of us this summer. Pretty sure it’s Hawaii,” I tell them.
Ryder reaches over the table and picks a paper ball out of my hair. “Thank you” I mouth. His foot taps mine under the table.
Jayson’s mouth falls open. “Seriously? That would be awesome.”
“I hate to say that I eavesdropped a little the other night when Mom was video chatting with Freda and Faith. Looks like we’ll be heading to the Big Island in June.”
“Heck yeah!” Julien high fives Jayson. “Surfing the waves in Hawaii will be monstrous compared to the tiny waves we get here on the coast.”
“I can get Maria to help me shop for some new bathing suits,” I think out loud. Two twin groans erupt from Jayson and Ryder and they start laughing. “What? What’s so funny?”
I get pulled into Jayson’s side. “Oh baby. Those are dangerous words.” He leans in close to my ear. “And don’t forget what happened last time you wore your bikini top in front of me.”
I remember the kiss he gave me. Jayson notices my grin and smiles broadly.
Julien looks at his phone. “Hey guys. Elijah said there's a party at Fallon’s tonight. We’re invited.”
Jayson looks at me. “You in, princess?”
“I’m in. Are you and Maria coming, Ryder?”
He doesn't answer and pushes Julien out of the booth so he can get out. “Thanks for lunch. I need to head back to the garage.”
“I’m sorry we kept you out so long. I’m glad you joined us.”
“I’m glad, too.”
“Jules, need a ride to Fallon's tonight?” Jayson asks his brother.
“Sounds good. You want to ride with us?” Julien asks Ryder, but he shakes his head no.
Julien texts us the address Elijah sent him. Three phones ping at the same time.
We get up to leave and make sure to tip the waitress extra. I’m looking forward to spending a night partying with my three guys, just like old times. Famous last words as I come to find out later that night.