Chapter 4 #2
“You’d better watch that mouth. You’re in God’s country right now.” He leaned forward and looked up at the sky through the windshield. “Never know when a bolt of lightning might streak across the sky and slam a bolt of fiery heat right through your heart for smiting his son.”
I’d forgotten how it was out here, how worked up people got about three things. God, country, and family. Well, they were pretty damn protective of their guns, too. So, four things. Fuck, I must have been insane to come back here.
“After we grab some breakfast, I need to run by the seafood restaurant and pick up my winnings.”
“Since when do we have a seafood restaurant?”
“Since a few years back.”
“And why would you need to pick up your winnings?”
Grinning, he winked at me. It was weird.
“Because the back room is really where all the action is.”
“I wasn’t aware there was action at a seafood restaurant.”
“Oh, yeah. There’s a card room set up back there. You have to know the right people to get in,” he grinned.
“And who are the right people?”
“Well, if I told you that, it would give away what makes the room so special.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face, wishing I could go back in time and never have called him for a rental.
I parked outside the diner and got out, not surprised at all when I ran into not one, but two other Parker brothers, along with who I assumed were their wives and their kids.
“Ryder!” Bailey squealed, rushing forward and wrapping me up in a big hug. “It’s been so long. I think the last time I saw you was when you and Krista snuck her into the house after skinny dipping at the falls.”
She was suddenly yanked back, and Liam glared at me like I had done something wrong.
“What?”
“Don’t touch my wife.”
“Good to see you, too. You know, I don’t actually have a thing for her. Everyone knew you two were going to end up together since you were in fifth grade.”
“Third,” they both said at the same time.
“How did you know I snuck in with her?”
“Because I was in Liam’s room,” she said, blushing bright red.
“So, Krista wasn’t the only bad one,” I smirked.
“Actually, I was there, studying for a test. Liam needed some extra help.”
“Not really. I just wanted to stare at your ass and watch you lay down in my bed,” Liam grumbled.
“If your mother knew—”
“She did. It was Pop who would have pulled out the belt.”
“So, you’re gonna have a baby,” I said, staring at her large stomach.
Liam stepped protectively in front of her, glaring hard at me. “Would you stop staring at my wife?”
“Relax. I’m really not interested in pregnant women.”
“And what’s wrong with my wife?” he bit out.
“Would you make up your mind? You don’t want me to look at her, then you do. Which is it?”
“Alright, before you guys get all worked up, can we grab some food?” Michael stepped in.
I glanced over my shoulder, but Jeff was gone. The bastard was already inside, leaving me out here with his crazy family.
“Shithead,” I muttered.
“He dragged you out here, didn’t he?” Michael grinned.
“He broke into my house this morning with Declan. I walked out after my shower, and they were playing video games. It was fucking weird.”
“Sounds about right. Ryder, this is my wife, Blake, and our little girl, Rosie.”
I smiled, but deep inside, my heart ached.
At one time in my life, all I could think about was having a life with Krista.
We’d planned to run away together and start over, but when it came time to leave, she decided to stay.
I was going to college, and she had no desire to follow me, not even to stay together.
Maybe that was just another instance of wishful thinking on my part. And up until last week, I assumed all had worked out for the best. I had Bianca, and that was proof Krista and I were never meant to be.
Now, I wasn’t sure. Not that it mattered. She was married now.
“We should grab some food,” I said, turning away from the happy couples. But when I walked inside, my stomach somersaulted at the faces smiling at me. Fuck, did everyone in this town always have to know everything that was going on?
“Just move quickly to Jeff’s booth,” Michael hissed. “And don’t make eye contact. They’ll only think you want to talk.”
I quickly ducked my head and practically ran to the booth, sliding in and picking up a menu to cover my face. What I wasn’t counting on was how squished I would be by everyone else joining us.
“Here, can you hold her?” Blake asked, handing her baby off to me as she got unbuckled from the contraption around her chest.
I held the child out in front of me, staring at her big blue eyes, hoping she didn’t vomit on me. Fuck, I was not good at this. Over time, I had developed a certain distance I kept between me and things like babies. Bianca hadn’t wanted them, and I was on the fence, wanting to please.
Now…holding one was completely different. I didn’t feel anything besides absolute terror.
“She’s not a grenade,” Blake chuckled. “She won’t explode if you move.”
“Never held a grenade before.”
“Well, trust me. They’re much scarier.”
I handed the child back to Blake, not touching the fact that she knew what a grenade was like.
“So, now that you’re back, we need to find you a woman,” Jeff said, studying the people in the diner like he was picking out his favorite gumball.
“No thanks.”
“No, seriously, if you don’t, they’ll just find someone for you.”
“Guys, I just ended things with someone and—”
I stopped talking the moment I noticed all eyes on me. They were all listening intently. My gaze tracked every single person in the room, and when I got to the booth beside us, a woman was actually leaning on the top of the divider between the booths, staring directly at me.
“You just ended things with someone,” Blake said encouragingly.
“What the hell is wrong with everyone?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “Why are they all staring?”
Bailey glanced around the room, then back at me.
“Because you’re the bad boy, returned from the big city.
They want all the details. Honestly, as much as it sucks, it’s probably better that you just spill the beans now.
Otherwise, they’ll just keep talking about you behind your back and spreading gossip. ”
“It’s none of their fucking business,” I muttered.
She snorted, waving down the waitress. “Since when has that ever mattered?”
“Hey, sugar,” the woman said, winking at me.
“Uh…hello?”
God, this place was so weird.
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
“Should I?”
“Well, I only served you every Saturday morning with your dad when you came in after checking on the cattle.”
A younger face flashed in my mind. It hadn’t been that long ago, but after high school, I sort of blocked things out. Including anything I did with the old man.
“Cora?”
“The very one, sugar. Have I aged that much?”
“That’s a trick question.”
Laughing, she pulled the pencil from behind her ear and tapped her pad. “So, what can I get you guys?”
She went around the table, taking all our orders, but when she got to me, I still hadn’t decided. I doubted they had egg white omelets or avocado toast. I wasn’t in New York anymore.
“Surprise me.”
“Honey, you’re gonna wish you hadn’t said that.”
With another wink, she was off to the kitchen, and everyone was still staring at me.
“Don’t they have anything better to do?” I grumbled.
“Not really. You should have come into town on a weekday. Then they’d have to leave,” Liam scowled, glaring at all of them. “Hey! It’s not a fucking exhibition!”
Some of them turned around, but most of them continued to discreetly look at our table. It was the most uncomfortable feeling in the world. I didn’t remember the town being quite so nosy in my youth.
“I’m never coming here again,” I muttered.
“You say that now, but eventually, when you’re hungry enough, you’ll come back,” Michael chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee.
That’s what he thought. My first stop when I got out of here was the grocery store. To hell with this. The last thing I needed right now was the whole fucking town trying to pry the past ten years out of me.
I’d starve first.