Somee #3
Spending the day with Ryland provided understanding of how he’d easily slept with so many women.
He likely just smiled and their legs opened.
The man was unfairly sexy, cocky, and seeing him with Rylee did something crazy to my ovaries.
I had a feeling they were blooming or whatever the hell they did to prepare for procreating.
I now understood the whole allure with single dads.
I wanted this single bro-dad something terrible.
Marlee: Then my answer remains the same. YES. YES. YES. I have to go. I’m with a client. Call you later.
Me:
I locked my phone and dropped it into my crossbody just in time to catch Ryland finishing his last round of selfies with the president of the school, who just happened to be here today. I would bet his presence had a lot to do with Ryland’s name showing up on the tour schedule.
He headed my way, looking frustrated since his back was to them and they couldn’t see his expression.
I signed as soon as he was close. “That looked fun.”
His face tensed. “It wasn’t.”
“But they love you. You’re a trooper for indulging.”
“Rylee loves this school. Figured I might as well make a good impression.”
My brows pinched. “The monthly tuition should be enough of a good impression.”
He grinned and shrugged. “I’m sure it is but it won’t hurt to play nice.”
“Nope, it will not,” I signed.
“What do you think? And if you don’t like it, please be honest. I know football, you know schools. I want your honest, unbiased opinion.”
He locked his arms over his chest, staring at me, eagerly awaiting my thoughts on the school.
“If I were a kid, I would want to go here. This campus is like a mini-college with the technology. The curriculum is very advanced and that music department has me sold. What kid wouldn’t love all the amenities and access?”
“A kid, sure, but as a parent, would you want your child to go here?”
“Hell yeah…” I signed with a silly grin, which he returned, and shit… That smile of his was a problem. Which was why I hated how freely he had been offering it to me and Rylee all day.
“She seems happy,” he signed.
“She is, which is a great start, but aside from all the things Rylee loves—the gym, the cafeteria, the art room, and now the music classes—I would really love for her to do the next step track if she tests into it and I believe she can. She’ll be happy here.”
“You seem just as excited as Rylee. I could pull some strings to get you a position teaching first grade.”
“How about we focus on your sister right now?”
He grinned. “Fine.”
Our conversation was interrupted by Rylee who rounded the corner with one of the staff members. As soon as she had eyes on us, she took off running, slamming on her brakes right in front of me with her hands moving.
“I got to play the drums and I’m really good at it. I also got to lay on the floor and be an instrument. They have special floors. I could feel the music all over my body, like when we have dance parties.”
“Oh wow, that sounds like fun,” I signed.
“It was really, really fun. Can this be my new school?”
“Ask your brother. It’s his decision.”
Her hands were moving again, but this time for Ryland.
“Can this be my new school, please?” She smiled brightly at Ryland, and even if he had other plans for her, with the way she had him wrapped completely around her fingers, Ryland would have agreed to buy the damn school if that was what she wanted.
He lowered to his haunches and signed, “You know that you have to go to all your classes. Not just music, right?”
A smile split her face. “I’ll go to all of them.”
“And you’ll do homework and won’t complain.”
She nodded. “Even math. I promise.”
“Then yes, this can be your new school.” He confirmed.
“Thank you.” She threw her body into his and her arms circled him in a hug. It caught him off guard based on the way his eyes went wide but he pulled it together and hugged her back until she pulled away.
“Somee, he said yes.”
“Well, it looks like you have a new school, kid,” I signed, then tapped her nose.
“But I don’t have my book bag. It’s at your house.”
“We can buy a new one when we’re all done. Come on, let’s go fill out the paperwork so you can be a student here,” Ryland signed.
“Can I come tomorrow? My art teacher said I could if you let me.”
“We’ll see.” Ryland extended a hand and she slipped hers into it before taking mine.
We were on our way to the administration office to get Rylee all signed up for school.
The three of us like this felt so normal, so right, and it made my heart ache because this was Rylee’s new world.
One that would exist without me. I loved that she would have the consistency and stability of family.
I was also sad that being here was temporary for me.
After we left the school, our first stop was a place called The Shops at Crescent Falls.
We valet parked and entered the mall through a private entrance, moving from store to store without much attention from customers shopping.
I had never seen anything like this. Most of the stores were connected through back entrances that allowed us to move down a private hallway where we entered through the back of the stores to avoid being seen.
“I think I like being you,” I signed as soon as we entered Kameron Taylor through the VIP entrance.
His eyes circled the space before he lifted his hands, moving them fluidly. “You think this is me?”
“Your life, yes, and you’ve worked hard for it. So being king of the world isn’t a bad thing.”
“Then you’re saying you’re trying to be my queen.” He looked me over slowly from head to toe, lingering in some areas and smiling sexily. I was not going to be okay if he kept smiling at me like that.
“That wasn’t a pitch for a position,” I signed and rolled my eyes.
“If you’re trying to be like me, it was. I’m one of one, Somee. If you want to be in my world, you have to do it at my side. I’m not opposed to you being at my side.”
Rylee gave me an out from promising this man my heart when she tugged my hand right before hers started moving. “Can we go somewhere else? They don’t have any pretty book bags. Just those and I don’t like them.”
We entered into the women’s section. With a pout, Rylee pointed toward the two leather totes and one backpack on display. All three were designed to be fashionable, not functional. They were also women’s and very high end. I loved all three but none would work for a six-year-old for school.
“Do they have a kids section? This won’t work,” I signed to Ryland who nodded and motioned to the other side of the store. It was huge and we couldn’t see the entire space from the back.
“Come on.” Ryland extended a hand to his sister and the two of them started toward the other side of the store.
I watched them with a smile because seeing them together was beautiful.
It was February, so they didn’t have a huge selection of backpacks, which meant nothing purple.
However, they managed to find a gray one with purple flowers all over the zippered front pocket and purple straps.
Ryland helped Rylee slip it on then she ran to me.
“This one is pretty. Do you like it?” she asked with a hopeful grin.
“It is very pretty. I like it,” I signed back.
“Can I get this one?”
“You have to ask your brother. He’s the one shopping for you today.” I needed Rylee to get used to making him her go-to for the things she needed. After all, it would be just the two of them when I was gone. So she might as well start relying on Ryland now.
She turned toward him, asking if she could get the bookbag. After receiving a yes, she beamed.
“What size does she wear?”
“6 to 6X, which is small and medium, depending on what it is, but they wear uniforms at Chandler,” I signed back.
Ryland frowned slightly. “Right, shit. Okay, shoes then. If she has to wear them ugly ass uniforms, we’re gonna make sure her shoe game is on point.”
Chandler had adorably fashionable uniforms. Plaid green and blue skirts, cardigans and blazers with their logo embroidered or patched on and polos but still uniforms. I wouldn’t argue that I thought they were cute.
I smiled, shaking my head. “Is this for you or her?”
“Both. She’s representing me and you see how I get down.” He motioned to his clothes—sweats, a hoodie, and a puffer vest. Nothing over the top but the OG Retro 1s on his feet set the look off. “And this is light work,” he signed and winked.
“She wears a thirteen, but let her pick. Don’t try to turn her into your mini me,” I warned and he grinned before signing to Rylee.
“We have to get you some shoes to match your book bag. Go pick something and let me see your style.”
“My style?”
“What you like?” he explained, then added. “My sister has to match my fly.”
Her little nose wrinkled before she signed, “You can’t fly.”
Ryland laughed before his hands were moving. “My fly means my style. My clothes, what I wear and how I wear it.”
“My clothes don’t match your fly?” she signed and looked down at the jeans, purple hoodie, and purple parka she was in.
He placed his hand at his chin and stepped back, taking her in. She waited impatiently, eager for his approval, and it was the cutest thing. After a minute of inspection, he smiled and extended a closed fist.
She giddily tapped it with hers, bouncing on her toes when he responded, “You definitely match my fly.”
Rylee’s smile expanded and she turned toward me with her hands moving. “Somee too. Does she match your fly?”
“Yeah, she does.” The smugness in his expression at what he was insinuating went way over Rylee’s head but landed directly where it needed with me.