Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
DARCY
A fter hearing how well Ridge’s talk with Lou went, I feel more confident about what’s unraveling. But also a little more worried. Because now that Lou is involved, it’s even more important that I know what’s going on with my own emotions about the situation.
The fact that I’ll be back in classes in a month still scares me. I don’t know if I have the time to commit to something that will require so much of me. I always said classes first, and there would always be time for serious dating later. Especially after how much Tyler affected me while I was in school.
I made an exception to my rule for him and I learned my lesson. Or at least that’s how I felt before. But now, what if it happens again? What if I let my guard down and it doesn’t work out again?
Of course, there’s that nagging voice in the back of my head screaming, “RIDGE IS NOT TYLER, DUMBASS!” And that voice would be right. She sounds a lot like Lyric, too. Probably because that’s what she yelled at me last night when I asked her that question.
Ridge and I planned for me to come over today and spend the night tonight. It’s a beautiful Saturday, so I’m hoping we do something outdoors. The reason we didn’t pick last night, seeing as Friday makes it easier because I’m already there, is because Lyric and I already had plans. She just hit a pretty big milestone at work—having an article about her featured in a regional newspaper. It was about women in her field. They interviewed her and everything. So we went out to celebrate.
This morning, I’m packing an overnight bag along with a couple of different outfits so I have whatever today throws at me.
My phone dings from across the room, and I leap over my chair to get to it, expecting it to be a text from Ridge. Instead, Tyler’s name fills the screen. I roll my eyes and open his text, preparing myself for what it might say.
TYLER
I really need to talk to you.
I haven’t spoken to him since the night at the bar. I never replied to him that night when he said the same thing he’s saying now. For a moment, I consider setting my phone back down and returning to what I was doing, but then I remember Ridge’s advice on the matter. His encouragement in finding some closure. So I open a text bubble.
Say what you have to say.
TYLER
Look, I don’t like the look of that guy you’re with or his friends. They’re sketchy. I don’t trust them at all and I’m worried about you. But all that aside, I miss you. I really do. And I’m not just saying that out of jealousy or anything. I mean it.
I inhale deeply, familiar with this tactic of his. This is the same kind of shit he pulled when he wormed his way back in last time. But I’m a wiser woman this go-round.
Tyler, thank you. I appreciate your concern but I’m fine. I’m better than fine. And I suppose it’s probably time I told you something.
TYLER
What?
You hurt me. You hurt me a lot when we were together and you didn’t really care about me. You treated me bad again and again and I put up with it because it’s what I thought I deserved for some crazy reason. But I’m not going to put up with it anymore. You no longer have access to me.
I send the text, pull up his contact, scroll to the bottom, and block him. A huge sigh of relief escapes me as I deflate. In an instant, I feel lighter.
I did it. I fucking did it. I finally blocked him.
I pull out my phone and text Lyric the good news, explaining that Ridge is the reason and what he said to me.
LYRIC
Darcy, as your best friend in the whole world, I need you to know something.
What?
LYRIC
I like Ridge. He’s the best. Please marry him.
I choke as I read her text, her bluntness hitting me right between the eyes. Marriage. I scoff. I’m barely able to think about the next year, let alone a commitment like marriage.
Ridge would make a good husband, though. A damn good husband. My imagination drifts off for a moment, a flash of Ridge standing at the end of an aisle, Lou spreading flower petals. Fast forward to our first Christmas and Ridge unboxes a pregnancy test, Lou thrilled to be a big sister. I could think of worse futures.
They say love conquers all, but does it? I would argue that timing is an integral part of the happily-ever-after potion. Two people separated by time, by where they are on life’s path—if they can’t find their rhythm, it will never work.
I slide a bag of nail polishes into my bag, thinking it might be fun for me and Lou to paint each other’s nails. Maybe she can convince Ridge to let us paint his, too. I laugh at the thought, feeling like there’s a pretty good chance he would be willing.
It would be impossible to rule out the idea that this could all work out. There’s a small part of me that thinks, Damn everything and let’s just go for it . Then those secondary voices who sound nothing like Lyric chime in and whisper of a ten-year age gap, a full college load, and a little girl who deserves someone who can give her more than I will be able to for the next year.
Watching Ridge cook is like watching him make art. I don’t know if it’s the way his arms flex when he’s flipping things about or the confidence he has that never disappoints, but it’s hot as hell. It makes me think that watching him tattoo would be even hotter. Especially if he were to tattoo me . Yowza.
Jesus, did I just think yowza?
After dinner, Lou asks for a movie night. We’ve already gone to the park, played basketball, stopped for ice cream, went to the petting zoo, and gone to the store so she could pick out a new animal-fact book, but sure, a movie night is obviously what we’re missing. How she finds the energy for all this is beyond me.
“Lou, how about you start the movie. I’m just going to step out on the back patio with Darcy to talk to her about something, okay?” Ridge tells her. “Grab your blanket and stuffies and pick a movie, and when we come back in, I’ll get us some snacks.”
Lou runs off to her room to grab her stuff while we step out the back door and take a seat on two lawn chairs. It’s a nice night, warm with a gentle breeze. Summer is in full swing, and Lou and I have soaked up every minute we could. We’ve spent our days at the zoo, the water park, and having picnics in the backyard.
Ridge takes me by the hand and rubs his thumb over the back of my knuckles. His touch is warm and familiar.
“I had fun with you today,” he says. “I think Lou did, too.”
“I had fun with the two of you as well.” I lean back in my chair, closing my eyes and soaking in the calm.
“And I want you to know that I’m falling for you,” he says.
He says it so plainly, so sure of what he’s saying that it’s hard not to believe him. I mean, I definitely believe him. I don’t even know if I’m all that shocked. But I can’t bring myself to say anything for a moment. He doesn’t rush to say the next thing, though. He wouldn’t. He always seems to know when to let his words linger.
“Ridge, I?—”
“Don’t say you don’t feel it, too,” he says.
“No, I do. I do feel it, too, and that’s what scares me.”
“Why?”
“Because when I go back to school, I’ll be a zombie.” I huff. “My course load is next-level hard, and I’ll eat, sleep, and breathe my classes.”
“You’re doing something important, Darcy,” he says, gripping my hand tighter, imploring me to make eye contact. “I would never want to stop you from finishing school.”
“I know that, but you and Lou are going to deserve way more than I can give you for the next year. I never have time to cook. Me and Lyric always meal prep. I spend my days writing papers and reading the latest studies on the effects of various teaching techniques in different populations. And I sleep like three hours a day.” I blow the air from my lungs.
“What if I cooked for you? Meal prepped for you? What if while you’re writing all those long papers and reading all those, frankly, boring-sounding studies, your amazing boyfriend brought you snacks and caffeine?”
I laugh at his classification of the studies as “boring,” knowing he’s right but also that they fascinate me. “Your focus should be on your daughter, not taking care of a college student.”
“My focus will always be on what’s best for Lou. And I think she’s better off with you in her life than not. Even if you’re a little busy for a while,” he says, his dark eyes ensnaring me.
“It’s just not fair.” I sigh. “For you to have to do that.”
“I don’t care about fair, Darcy. I care about what I want. And I care about you. Which, funnily enough, those two things are the same,” he says, squeezing my hand again.
“I care about you and I care about Lou. So much. I just never want to be a burden when you already have so much resting on your shoulders.”
“But you’d be sleeping in my bed. And for all the shit I deal with during the day, you can’t imagine the peace that simple act alone would bring me.” He stands from his chair and comes to kneel in front of mine. He caresses the tops of my thighs, and I cup his face in my hands.
“I’ll beg if you want me to beg,” he whispers, his hands sliding higher to my hips.
“Well…” I let out the word on a long breath. “I mean, I won’t stop you if that’s what you want to do.”
“Because you want me?” Ridge nips at my mouth.
“I do.”
“And you want to sleep in my bed?” he asks, eyebrows raised.
“Yes.”
“And you’re going to let me take care of you while you turn into a college zombie?”
I hesitate for a moment, closing my eyes. “Okay, but the second you’ve had it with me and can’t put up with my insanity anymore, you have to kick me to the curb.”
“Sure,” he says, rolling his eyes. “Cross my heart.”
Something tells me he doesn’t mean it or has a pretty high tolerance for bullshit and thinks it won’t come to that.
“Then I tentatively accept the position of your girlfriend.”
“I didn’t ask you to be my girlfriend,” he says, mouth moving closer to mine.
“Yeah, but that’s where you were going with it, right?”
“Sure, but let a guy follow his game plan.” He pouts sarcastically. “Makes him feel manly.”
“I promise to afford you many more opportunities to assert your manhood.” I press my lips together.
“Mmm,” he groans, capturing my mouth.
I kiss him hard, threading my fingers into his hair. His thumb is poised on my chin as his hand cups my jawline. He runs his tongue over mine, lapping and tasting me.
He breaks the kiss and presses his forehead to mine. He inhales deeply.
“Now, let’s go in here, watch twenty minutes of this movie until Lou falls asleep, put her in her bed, and then I’ll fuck you until we collapse,” he whispers.
Say less, sir. “I can’t argue with that kind of plan.”
Ridge smacks my ass as I walk past him toward the door. And I really like it.
“Keep that energy for later,” I say.
Ridge laughs rather wickedly, simply nodding in response to my request. Something tells me he will have no problem delivering.
Exactly as predicted, Lou’s out cold about half an hour in, proving just how well Ridge knows his daughter.
I slip into his room while he tucks her into her bed, taking the opportunity to change into something special I brought, just for him.
A few minutes later, he pushes the door open, and I watch his mouth fall open.
“Jesus, honey,” he says, his eyes skating over me.
I picked up this new black nightgown the other day, thinking he would love it. The garment only covers to right under my ass cheeks, and the entire thing is sheer. My nipples poke through the thin material. It shows off the tiny matching lace panties—the only other thing I’m wearing.
“Remember when you said you’d beg, if that’s what I want?”
He shuts the door behind him and removes his shirt but leaves the pants.
“I do,” he says.
“You can do that now,” I say, placing my hands on my hips as I widen my stance.
Ridge keeps his eyes fixed on mine as he kneels down a few feet from me. And then, in possibly the sexiest display I’ve ever witnessed, he crawls to my feet. He cups my ankle with his left hand and slides his hand slowly over my calf and higher.
“Like this?” he asks.
“Yes.” I breathe heavily, never taking my eyes from his.
He runs the pad of his thumb over my pussy and my knees buckle.
“Careful, honey.” He reaches higher and pulls the panties from me in one fluid motion. He grips my ass with both hands, pulling me to him and burying his face between my legs without another word.
I grab a fistful of his hair to keep myself balanced while I bite my finger to keep from screaming too loudly.
He flicks his tongue against my clit and sucks it into his mouth. He kisses, licks, and nibbles, assaulting me with every sensation. He is quite possibly a god. And as I quiver and shake and come all over his face, I think about how I will happily be his sacrifice.
When I gain my composure, I wobble to his bed and bend over, giving him a full view of my ass. He stands and pulls his belt off, then retrieves a condom from his nightstand. I put my knees onto the bed and bend further, allowing my face to meet the mattress.
“Surrendering to me?” he asks.
“Yes.”
He slaps his dick against my entrance, the abrupt contact causing a flurry of desire for more, for him. I push my ass back, grinding against him.
Ridge grips his shaft in one hand and uses the other to grab me by the hip, guiding himself to my wetness. His tip enters me. He’s hard as stone and thick, stretching me as he slowly pushes farther inside.
I moan and cuss and his name slips out like a plea. “Ridge, fuck.”
He pushes in again and again. My grip on the mattress tightens as I push back to meet his movements. We’re in rhythm with each other in mere seconds. Even our breathing follows pace.
Before long, an orgasm is building, the intense energy deep in my belly.
“Come with me,” Ridge says, like he knows my body better than me.
“Yes.” I close my eyes, his hold on me tightening as his movement becomes more intense, his body growing more rigid.
“Fuck!” he exclaims, stilling himself deep inside me.
I scream out, the orgasm ripping throughout my center. I reach back, gripping the top of his hand with mine, and we collapse onto the bed together, still connected.
Ridge turns me with him, so as not to slip out, and cradles me from behind. We’re spooning and breathing and panting. A few more expletives escape us as our lungs work to still the fire in our chests.
Ridge’s cock is still inside me, his body limp and comfortable. He’s got one arm under his head and the other draped over my stomach. His hand has found its way into the top of my lingerie, where it’s casually palming my tit. All together, I’d say he’s a very comfortable man right now.
“Well, don’t you look and feel relaxed,” I say with a laugh. I can’t actually see most of him, but I can imagine the full picture with ease.
“We can totally fall asleep like this, if you want,” he says. “I would have zero issues falling asleep inside you.”
“You’re bad,” I say, nudging him. “Plus, maybe we should wait until I get on birth control so we can nix the condoms. If you want. I feel like no condom would make for a better experience.”
“I would never pressure you to get on birth control if you don’t want to,” he says. “I know that shit can mess up your hormones.”
“I’ve been on it before. It was fine.” I want to reassure him. And I want condomless sex. But I’m happy to hear his stance on contraceptives.
A thought occurs to me, something I hadn’t considered until now. Maybe it’s all this talk of preventative measures because it’s directly linked to pregnancy and children.
“Do you want more children?” My question cuts through the air abruptly. I didn’t really mean to blurt it out like that. There’s probably a better time and place, and not when his cock is buried inside me. But what the hell. Orgasms make me bold.
“I would say that depends on who I’m with. If they wanted kids, I would have more kids. And if they didn’t want any of their own and maybe Lou in their life was enough for them, then that’s okay too.”
I contemplate that answer for a moment, feeling comforted by it.
“Do you want kids?” he asks.
Turnabout is fair play, right?
“I always imagined I would. Someday.” The age gap between us rears its ugly head. Because while I thought kids would be something I did want, if I think of a future with Ridge, how old will he be? Would he be okay waiting… five years, maybe? “I don’t really know what my timeline on that looks like.”
“Well, I’m a virile man,” he says. “I’m not worried.”
I laugh, rolling my eyes. I guess that’s settled then.
In the morning, Lou convinces us that I need to spend the night again and make it a full weekend sleepover extravaganza. And of course, Ridge and I have no objections.
After breakfast, I run back to my place for more clothes. But I’m very unhappy when I pull into my driveway and see Tyler’s car on the street. He’s at my front door, looking down at his phone. Lyric is here and hasn’t come to the door yet, making me think he hasn’t been here long.
“What the hell are you doing here?” It’s the first thing out of my mouth when I step out of my car.
“You blocked me,” he says, like that’s supposed to explain everything.
“Yes, I would think it’s pretty obvious that I don’t want to talk to you.” I walk up the stairs and push past him. I place my key in the door at the exact time Lyric pops up on the other side to open it.
“What’s going on?” she asks, opening the door pretty swiftly when she sees Tyler through the small window to the left.
I catch the change in her expression as soon as her gaze shifts from me to him, looming behind me.
“Tyler thought that blocking him on the phone meant he should come over,” I say flatly, rolling my eyes.
“You won’t talk to me.” His voice is growing angrier than before.
“I don’t want to and I don’t have to.” I spit the words at him, venom on my tongue. I generally have a lot of restraint when I’m angry, but I’m at the end of my rope with him.
“You owe me a conversation,” he says, taking a step forward. “We have history.”
Lyric steps between us, shielding me behind her as she asserts herself in the doorframe. Tyler takes a step back.
“Tyler, you’re not talking to her,” Lyric says. “Ever again.” She crosses her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes and glaring at him with a certain type of crazy she’s had tucked away for a long time. “And if you don’t leave her alone, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that I work in a funeral home. I have access to a lot of tools. I have access to a very large oven for cremation. And I have access to a graveyard, and I will not hesitate to chuck your body into a hole, bury you with a little dirt, and let them lower a casket over you the next day.”
Oh. My. God. I don’t say a word. The color in Tyler’s face drains as he swallows hard. I can’t see Lyric’s face, but I can imagine. I know what it’s looked like in other situations. She’s the friend who will threaten to cut a guy at the bar for looking at you the wrong way.
He takes another step back toward the porch steps, shaking his head but saying nothing. He turns, starting down the steps.
“Not even worth it,” he mumbles.
Lyric closes the door and locks it before turning to hug me. I embrace her, feeling grateful for her friendship in so many ways. But this particular incident is at the top.
“That fucker,” she says with a huff. “If I hadn’t left the night you called Ridge for help, I’d have told him then.”
“You’re the best,” I tell her, nuzzling my face into her neck.
After we calm down, I tell her about my conversation with Ridge. She’s giddy over all of it, clapping when I tell her I’m officially his girlfriend.
And to be completely honest, I’m giddy too.