28. Somee
Somee
Iglanced at my ring finger, admiring the tiny R and S separated by a red heart and the inside of my wrist while I waited for the garage to open. My confidence had been on a thousand while I was getting inked, but now that I had time to think about what I had done, I was beginning to panic.
Unfortunately, it was too late. I had two tattoos quite visible on my skin.
I pulled into the garage and waited for the door to come down before Rylee and I got out.
My baby was mentally exhausted from end of year testing.
As smart as Rylee was, she was high strung.
Sitting for hours at a time with nothing to focus on but aptitude testing was a challenge.
Thankfully today was the last day and there were only two weeks left of school.
She was looking forward to the summer, and honestly, I was too.
Summer meant we could do some fun things and hopefully travel before we completely lost Ryland to the season.
I was honestly a little sad about the amount of time we would miss with him because I was so used to having him around.
The separation was already starting for me since the two of us were typically home all day.
Now that he was back in his training rotation, I was home alone.
It wasn’t as bad for Rylee, because most of her day was spent at school, and by the time she got home, Ryland was done with practice and training.
Even if he was tired, he still made an effort to give Rylee the attention she craved but it was wearing on him.
Ryland received the final signed documents granting him permanent guardianship of Rylee which made them officially a family.
Legally binding. He and I were also locked in which meant there were no outs for either of us.
I loved the peace and comfort of knowing that this was my life but it didn’t whoever come without challenges.
We ate dinner as a family, and after Rylee was in bed, he didn’t miss the opportunity to make me a priority. However, by then, he was drained. I felt horrible because he was trying to balance too much, so I did my best to give him time to adjust to football and having us here.
At night, we mostly just lounged in bed, watching TV until he fell asleep, but that was cool with me too.
I would snuggle up next to him, appreciating that this man was killing himself to show up for us when he was struggling to show up for himself.
The five a.m. workouts were kicking his ass.
He said it usually took a couple months to fall back into football rotation.
I would help however I could so he survived the transition.
“Can I go watch TV?” Rylee signed with sluggish movements that let me know the TV would likely be watching her before long.
“Yes, go put your book bag on the table, then wash your hands and see what Joy left you for a snack.”
While I dumped my purse and the few shopping bags I brought in on the table, Rylee did what I asked then darted my way holding up a Ziplock bag that held small, round orange circles that had my stomach grumbling.
Rylee and I both loved Joy’s homemade cheese straws.
Well, technically, cheese circles since she made them round instead of oblong.
“Don’t eat the whole bag,” I signed.
She gripped the bag in a way that allowed her to respond. “These are mine. She put my name on it. The rest are on the counter.”
“Fine, but you have to promise to eat all of your dinner.”
“I will,” she signed and took off running, heading upstairs. I moved to the kitchen, washed my hands, then snagged a handful for myself, popping the first one into my mouth before trying to locate Ryland.
I started upstairs and didn’t find him, then headed to the basement.
I grinned at the sight of him sitting on the sofa, head back, arms folded over his chest, out cold.
I kicked off my sandals and made my way to Ryland, climbing onto his lap.
My goal was not to wake him, but the minute he felt my weight, his arms unfolded and closed around me.
A lazy smile eased onto his handsome face at the same time his eyes peeled open.
“How long you been here?” he asked, looking exhausted.
I had two cheese circles left, so I ate one then held the other up for him. When his lips parted, accepting the offering, I placed it into his mouth and created enough space to move my hands.
“Just got here. How long you been asleep?”
He swallowed before answering. “Not long.”
“You’re tired.” I searched his face.
“I’m fine. Where’s Rylee?”
“Watching TV or maybe sleep. Those tests are kicking her ass.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, they’re taking her down.” He moved his hands up my back and brushed his fingers over the exposed skin. Today was warm for spring, so I was in a burgundy, floor length sundress that dipped to the small of my back. “How was your day?”
“Good.” My eyes not so discreetly shifted to my hand. When he looked down, I made a fist to hide the tattoo.
“Why you looking all shady? What’s up?”
“I did something today.” He watched my hands as I signed but was frowning so damn hard he hadn’t paid attention to them or my wrist.
“What?”
I lifted my hand and he lowered his eyes again, but this time grabbed my wrist just below the design. I said a silent prayer because it was still a little sore. He examined my finger, smiling big as hell after he realized what it was.
“You got inked?”
I nodded, then turned my wrist, offering a better view of the tattoo that had Parks with his number inked beneath on the inside of my wrist.
“You got my number.”
“Yes.”
“You know that’s permanent, right?”
“We’re permanent.”
He smirked, gripped the back of my neck, and kissed me roughly. “Very fucking permanent.”
“Good because this hurts like hell. I don’t think I could survive getting it covered.”
“You’re not getting a damn thing covered and I got a few more places I want my name on you.”
“I hope you mean with a Sharpie because this isn’t happening again. Ever.”
“Never say never. Who did them?”
“Just.”
“You told him who you were?”
“Yes, and I also told him I want my name inked on your forehead. He promised to hook me up.”
Ryland threw his head back and laughed. “Yeah nah, that shit isn’t happening. Pick somewhere else.”
I moved my fingers over the side of his neck. “Here in very big, bold letters.”
“You got that.”
“And here until I cover it with a ring.” I touched the spot on his ring finger below his knuckle where our initials were inked on me.
“You asking me to marry you?”
“Nope, but you’re going to ask me.”
“You ready now?”
I shook my head. “I want to be surprised.”
“Let me call Lacie and tell her what I want your ring to look like so she can have it to me by the weekend.”
I grinned. “You’re cute, but how about you just wait until you’re ready.”
“I’m dead ass.”
“I know you are.”
His mouth was on me again. “Go get Rylee. I have something to show both of you.”
“Should I be worried?” I eased off his lap and stepped between his legs.
“No, with your skeptical ass. Just go get her and hurry up.”
I got Rylee and brought her to the basement.
She climbed on her brother’s lap after he waved her over and proceeded to explain the system he had installed today, which didn’t take long because it was very similar to what I had at my house in Chicago.
He told us where all the keypads were added on the walls for easy access, then made sure neither of us had any questions before he told us there was one more surprise.
Rylee lifted and followed him to the room across from his gym.
I was being nosy, trying to peek in, but the room was dark.
Before he turned the lights on, we were instructed to cover our eyes and wait until he tapped us on our shoulder to uncover them.
Once our hands were in place with a promise not to peek, he guided us into the room and I waited, curious about what was happening.
I felt the floor vibrating beneath us and peeked through my fingers.
My mouth dropped when I realized the entire room had been transformed.
One wall was mirrored, floor to ceiling, and to the left was a ballet barre that extended from one end to the other.
But why the hell was the floor vibrating?
I tapped Rylee on the shoulder. She dropped her hands and swung her eyes around the room. Within seconds, she was grinning like crazy.
“It’s a ballet room. Is this for me?”
“You’re gonna be a dancer, right?” Ryland signed.
She nodded wildly.
“I have a gym to train for football, so you need a studio to train for ballet. You like it?”
“I do. It looks just like the one at my classes.”
Ryland lowered and placed his palm flat on the floor.
“You feel that?”
She nodded again and mirrored his position to place her hand on the floor, then signed giddily, “It’s like at school.”
“Yeah, for you and Somee to have your dance parties.”
My fucking heart exploded with an overload of emotions.
“Thank you.” She rushed him for a hug and he barely maintained his balance enough to prevent them from crash landing. After she let him go, Rylee was jumping in front of me with her hands moving. “We can dance in here and feel the music in the floor.”
“We sure can.” I tapped her nose and she turned to Ryland.
“Can you play a boy song?”
“You want me to?” he asked with an arched brow.
“Yes, so you can dance with us.”
“I got you.”
He dug his phone out of his pocket, trying to play it cool, but I saw the way his heart exploded the same as mine had just done, but for a different reason. He created a space for Rylee in his world and she was now inviting him into hers. The moment was so surreal.
He tapped his phone screen to select something.
The vibration changed and I arched a brow.
Ryland turned the phone so Rylee and I could both see it.
I burst out laughing when I noticed he pulled up the soundtrack from her show, Bear With Me, and selected one of the raps from Ace.
A’so had some of the raps from the show produced as completed tracks so the kids could listen to them.
Rylee was already dancing around the room, so I grabbed his hand and made him join us. If I could draw a picture of happiness in physical form, it would be moments like this, because life didn’t get any better than this.