Somee
She has a brother. A very famous, and although sometimes unfavorable with his behavior type of brother, Ryland existed.
Also, regardless of his questionable behavior, it seemed that he was still a great guy, according to the research I did.
Ryland Parks had not only donated his money but his time to multiple kids and family organizations.
Not all of them were sports related, which was a plus.
It showed he had humanitarian interests that were personal and not just a commitment or obligation forced on him by his team to make them look good.
The most impressive thing about Ryland was that he did the work and not just for a write up or a clip.
No one wouldn’t know all of the amazing things he was attached to unless they purposely did a deep dive on the man.
Mostly because there were hardly ever cameras or media capturing the moments.
Ryland’s actions felt genuine. Aside from his poor choices in his personal life, Ryland Parks wasn’t a media whore with his humanitarian commitments.
I was impressed. Then there was the simple fact that he was here.
Ryland immediately took action and had already secured guardianship for Rylee.
Although the reality made me sad, because I loved having her with me, knowing she had a brother who wanted her with him warmed my heart.
It gave me hope that my sweet Rylee would be okay.
An empty cup, previously filled with rolled ice cream, came into view as it moved across the pink, abstract shaped table, grabbing my attention. When I glanced at Rylee, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hands before she signed, “I’m done.”
I lifted my hands and returned. “I see.”
“Can I go play?”
A smile spread across her face and a grin split mine.
I nodded and she was out of her seat and heading through the shop to the creative things play center.
The rolled ice cream shop we frequented had become one of Rylee’s favorite places.
I’d originally brought her here because I wanted a way to bring a smile to her beautiful face after her mother left.
We came after school, had ice cream, then Rylee would play for a while before we headed back to my house.
In my mind, these fun outings softened the blow of being abandoned.
As I watched Rylee play, a body came into view, right before I was granted a hug across my shoulders and Marlee filled the seat next to the one Rylee had just vacated.
I glanced across the shop just in time to see Rylee toss a plastic ice cream scoop onto the massive cone then jump in place, clapping.
She turned my way and noticed I wasn’t alone, sprinted back toward the table, and hugged Marlee.
“Watch me. I’m the best at all the games,” she signed wildly before running off again.
We watched her for a brief moment while she gathered the plastic scoops molded to look like ice cream. One by one, Rylee tossed them on the cones. Each one landed on the first try and Marlee’s hands were in the air.
“Okay, superstar.”
I grinned, then Rylee was in a zone again, no longer concerned with us. So I focused on my friend who began asking questions.
“What’s the emergency? She seems fine.”
After I found out Ryland was in town, I sent Marlee a text expressing that there was an emergency concerning Rylee and I needed to meet with her after school.
I sighed, lifted my phone, pulled up Ryland’s profile, and handed the device over. She swiped through a few of the posts with the same look I was sure had graced my face this morning when I’d done the same. Not only was Ryland seemingly a great guy, the man was sexy as hell.
Medium brown skin, low set eyes, fuck me beard, and a body that had me wanting to climb him like a jungle gym and play all sorts of nasty games.
There were so many thirst trap pictures on his page I could see the thickness and length of his dick with my eyes closed because it was embedded in my subconscious.
Ryland wasn’t just fine, he was fine with an ego to match.
“You switching teams? I know the Tigers had a shitty season but you usually stick it through. However, if this is your motivation for becoming a Sharks fan, I fully support your decision.”
Once her hands were no longer moving, I rolled my eyes.
“I will forever be a Tigers fan.”
“Then who is this?”
“The brother,” I signed in frustration with my brows pinched.
“The brother?” she returned, looking confused. Then it clicked and her hands sliced through the air in a rushed motion. “Rylee’s brother?”
“Yes.”
“So he is rich? And fine? Heavy on the fine. You talk to him?”
I shook my head and then signed, “No, he’s coming to my house after we leave here.”
“Shit, me too then.”
“No you’re not. This is already going to be awkward.”
“Which is why you need me there. Moral support, Somee.”
“You just want to lust after him in person.”
“I do but can you blame me? Look at him.” Her hands moved quickly, then she tapped my screen, holding it up so I could see the picture she’d selected. Ryland on a football field, shirtless, in Sharks practice shorts. He wore a sexy grin, not looking at the camera.
“You have to let me meet him,” she signed after putting the phone down.
“Fine, but you have to behave.”
“Scout’s honor.”
“You’re not a damn scout, H-O-E,” I signed, bringing a smile to her face.
“Hold please. I’ll search the oath and take it now so you know I’m serious.”
I shot her a bird and signed, “He has custody.”
I glanced at Rylee who was still contentedly playing by herself.
She was such a loner and I hated that because it was learned behavior.
Even at school, she didn’t interact much with the other kids.
Being isolated at home kept her isolated in the world.
Plenty of deaf children thrived beautifully in a hearing society but that was mostly when they had the proper support systems and resources available. For years, Rylee had not.
“Shit, already. That was fast.”
“He’s rich and has pull. I’m sure that has a lot to do with it, and well, her mother is M-I-A and he’s her only accessible blood relative according to Miranda.”
“You’re sad. You don’t want her to go,” Marlee signed while delivering a softer expression. She knew me well and could read my moods.
“I am. She’s happy with me. He won’t even be able to talk to her.”
“He can learn and he’s rich; so he can afford to hire someone to assist.”
My hands moved angrily. “It’s not the same.”
“It’s not, but what can you do? You knew this was happening. Rylee being with you was temporary.”
My shoulders dropped and she narrowed her eyes and signed, “But you were hopeful.”
That she could stay with me…
“Yes,” I signed.
“Talk to him. Having Rylee is going to be a lot. If he sees she’s happy, maybe he’ll let her stay. He’s a professional athlete. Playing football and raising a kid would be a challenge.”
One thing my girl was going to do was support anything I wanted. I didn’t know a damn thing about being a parent but she was going to hype me to take on the role for Rylee.
My hands were moving. “I thought about that but he can also pay someone to do it.”
“Yeah.”
We both sat watching Rylee play and my heart hurt at the idea of having to let her go. Brother or not, she was happy…with me. I watched a little boy run over to Rylee and begin talking, waving his arms.
She signed that she was deaf and he frowned, not understanding. I was about to get out of my seat to intervene when Marlee shook her head and told me.
“She’s fine.”
My brows pinched as Rylee touched her ear and shook her head, lifted one of the ice cream scoops and handed it to him.
His little face balled up, then he smiled and shrugged tossing the bright pink scoop at the cone.
When it missed, Rylee lifted it from the bin and showed him how to do it.
He nodded, smiled, and tried again. The two played together, bringing a smile to my face.
“She’s smart, Somee. Rylee’s going to be okay no matter where she is.”
“She is and I know,” I signed back.
The problem was, would I? Rylee had shifted things in my life and made me want more than just teaching. I didn’t know what to do with those feelings because wanting didn’t guarantee having. Like it or not, Rylee wasn’t mine and I had to let her go, no matter how much I would miss her.
When we pulled up to my house, there were two cars waiting in the driveway.
I panicked because they weren’t supposed to be here until six.
I had fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes I was going to utilize by ensuring my home was tidy.
Not spotless because that would feel odd.
Neat but lived in seemed like a good compromise.
Deep down inside I felt like he would be judging me, because well, I was judging him.
One of the vehicles was the Tylers’ SUV I recognized, which meant the rental parked behind it had to belong to Ryland. Sure enough, as soon as I navigated into the spot at the top of my driveway beside them, I received my answer when I glanced to the left and caught sight of him watching me.
And shit… Pictures were good but the real thing was so much better.
Marlee parked behind me and my phone vibrated with a text the second after her car came to a stop at my bumper.
Marlee: They’re early.
I had explained what time Miranda and Ryland were arriving so she was aware that the timeline was off.
Me: They are. Can you come get Rylee and take her in? I want to talk to them first and I need you to make sure things look good in there.
Marlee:
I turned to Rylee and signed, “Go inside with Marlee. I’ll be there in a sec.”
She turned to look out the window then back at me. “I want to say hi to Miranda.”
“You will. They’re coming in.”
She beamed, signed okay, then got out of the car when Marlee opened her door on the opposite side. I watched as Rylee skipped beside Marlee, hand in hand, waved at Miranda, and disappeared inside the house.