Chapter 36 – Ryan #2
“Whatever,” Axel growled. “Davy’s the athletic director’s son. He’ll beat Ryan.”
Axel was right. Suddenly, Ryan was annoyed with himself. He’d fallen right back to his old mentality about CJ. Instead of seeing how it all played out, he’d been willing to walk away and probably allow resentment to fester.
“Ryan, do you want to be the fucking quarterback?” CJ asked.
He could keep his ass on his shoulders and pretend he didn’t care.
He could even say he’d try to win fair and square because he knew the underlying message of CJ’s question.
He’d get someone to intervene on Ryan’s behalf.
But, fuck, he wanted his chance in the spotlight, too.
He had a good arm and good instincts on the field.
“Yeah, CJ.”
“That only took twenty years off my fucking life,” Axel complained.
“I want to be on the team,” Rory admitted. “I’m still on the practice squad.”
“Suffer, bitch,” Axel said. “If CJ…” He glanced at the girls. “If you get on the fucking team soon, I will torture CJ as a traitor.”
At Rory’s crestfallen look, Ryan actually felt sorry for the motherfucker.
“Axel, can I ask you something?” CJ started.
“I guess, but I might not answer if I don’t like the question.”
“Fair enough, big head. I just want to know why you’re here and where are Ransom and Ryder?”
“They went to Turn Creek Bridge. We need a ride home. I stayed behind to let you know.” Axel grinned. “They told me to, so I think they went to the mall to buy me birthday stuffs.”
“I need a ride home,” Skye announced. “Unless I can share your Uber, Jaleena?”
“Can you share the cost?” she asked coolly.
Ryan really liked her bitchiness. It reminded him of how Harley was when she’d first moved into the cabin and alienated almost everyone. “I have Mom’s Jeep. I can take you both home, Skye.”
Skye laughed nervously. “Jaleena first since she lives the farthest.”
Skye probably didn’t want Jaleena knowing she lived in a trailer.
“Aunt Zoann gave you the keys to her Jeep?” CJ shook his head. “She must be going soft.”
Ryan wasn’t sure what was going on with his mother, but he was beginning to worry about her. “Mom knew I had practice and would be late. She’s been sick lately, so—”
“Sick?” Rory scoffed. “Yeah, courtesy of Uncle Val. She’s pregnant. Mattie told me.”
“Fuck me,” CJ groaned.
“No fucking way!” Ryan cried, grossed out by the idea that Dad…Mom…ewwww…
“That wasn’t your fucking business to tell, Rory,” CJ said.
“Wait, cuck. You knew?”
“I guessed, Ryan. My mom’s been pregnant all my fucking life. I knew the signs.”
Horror washed through him. “And that doesn’t gross you the fuck out?” Ryan cried. “That means they have…” He glanced around. “Sex.”
CJ shook his head. “Asshole, how do you think you and Devon got here?”
“Why wouldn’t she tell me?” Ryan asked, oddly hurt that she kept the information from him.
“She didn’t want to upset you,” CJ said with certainty.
He’d know. Rebel had crashed out when Aunt Meggie first turned up pregnant last year. She’d probably wanted to soften the blow for her daughter. That experience gave CJ insight into Mom’s reasoning.
Goddamn. Mom was pregnant. Only certain acts led to that state and that embarrassed Ryan that the same thing he did with girls…ewwwww…
“Ryan, take Jaleena and Skye home. Think about what you’re going to say,” CJ advised. “Ask her if you can tell Devon. Then buy her flowers or a small gift to congratulate her. It’ll make her feel so good to know that you accept it.”
“Suppose I end up with a little sister?” Ryan couldn’t imagine having to watch over a girl. He’d grown up with Rebel, Mattie, and Harley, and all three of then were handfuls. Female cousins were bad enough. The stress of a sister would give him white hair far too early.“I’ll lose my fucking mind.”
“Welcome to my world,” CJ said, smirking.
Ryan looked at Rory. “Why would you blurt my mom’s private business? It was up to her—”
“Dad says women are liars and manipulators,” Rory shrugged. “So—”
Ryan punched Rory in his fucking gut and stomped his goddamn foot. Ignoring Rory’s gasp, he walked the fuck away, leaving the girls to follow if they chose.
When Ryan walked into the house, he was glad he’d given Harley his bedroom, so he wouldn’t run into her and she ask about the big bouquet of flowers he carried.
He wasn’t sure about the protocol of finding out your mom was pregnant, but he knew she’d been sick. Once he dropped off Jaleena and then Skye, he’d gone to the mall and sat in the parking lot, unsure what to do.
Devon texted he was at the bowling alley with a girl in one of his classes. Ryan didn’t ask who. He didn’t really care. Rory’s news left him reeling.
Somewhere he’d heard or read that pregnancy was dangerous for women over thirty-five, so he’d looked it up. The facts frightened him. Afraid and grossed-out, he’d gotten to the florist right before they closed and bought the biggest bouquet available.
Ryan glanced down the hallway, inhaling the flowers. As he headed toward the private access road, he’d seen Dad’s bike parked at the club. He breathed a sigh of relief at his father’s convenient absence. Yet, he didn’t want Pops around when Ryan talked to Mom. He might judge or…or…something.
Unable to put into words why he felt so relieved that his father was at the club, Ryan hurried to his parents’ room and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Mom’s strong voice relieved Ryan. He opened the door, lifted the vase, and walked in, carrying it as a peace offering.
“Ryan?” She sounded shocked.
Setting the flowers down on the dresser, he turned and found his mother dressed in a pair of green pajamas, sitting in her rocking chair. It was the one she’d had in his and Devon’s nursery. She gaped at the bouquet. “What are those for?”
“Uh…” Rocking on his feet, he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Rory told me.”
She pulled her gaze away from his gift and narrowed her whiskey-colored eyes. “What did Rory tell you?”
“Uh, Mattie told him and, uh, I-I don’t think she expected him to open his mouth.”
Disappointment dragged down Mom’s features.
It made Ryan wished he’d punched that motherfucker in his big fucking mouth.
“He told you about the baby?” she asked, sniffling.
Horrified, Ryan rushed to her and kneeled in front of her, grabbing her hands in his. “I bought the flowers to congratulate you.”
She blinked. Everyone always said how gorgeous Aunt Meggie and Aunt Kendall was, but his mother was, too. “You aren’t upset?” she asked, more vulnerable than he’d ever seen her.
He hugged her. “Even if I was, there’s not much I can do.”
“This pregnancy has already been difficult,” she said, returning his embrace. “I didn’t want to add to the stress. I just couldn’t think of a way to tell you and Devon.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Ryan said, straightening, glad he removed the burden from her mind. “Our concern is you.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you, son. I needed to hear that. I’ll tell Devon in the morning.”
Somehow, he didn’t think Devon would be as understanding. He shook his head. “Wait until you feel better. Once he realizes you’re fine, news about the baby won’t worry him.”
“Val thought we should wait until I was past the first trimester.”
“Why? Is there something wrong?”
“It’s just best,” Mom said cryptically.
“How many months are you?”
“Two.”
“When will you be in your second trimester?”
“My fourteenth week.”
“How many trimesters?”
“Three.”
“Wait, babies take…” Ryan counted in his head… “Ten and a half months to be born?”
“Sometimes, although it’s normally ten months.” She yawned. “I’m so fucking tired all the time. My pregnancies with you and your brother were so easy. I hope this means I’m carrying a girl.”
Those horrifying words stuck with Ryan the rest of the night.