Page 57 of Selfless

She pulls away from me and turns to face Becca, pulling her into her arms as well.

“God, I have missed you two so much,” she exclaims, gripping her just as tightly as she did me.

Becca laughs. “We’ve missed you too.”

I turn to face Ryder and see he is helping Milton remove our luggage. He gives me a quick look over his shoulder and then a wink. I take another look around at the snow-covered mountains and take in a big breath of the fresh Seattle air.

He brought me home?

I go to open my mouth to speak to him when an arm drapes over my shoulder. My mother yanks me to one side and Becca to the other. “I can’t tell you how glad your dad and I are to have our girls home,” she says and then sniffs.

I feel my eyes start to sting, and my throat tightens as I realize just how much I have missed them. “Me too, Mom.” I hug her this time. “Me too.”

She walks us over to the limo, and I see my father standing by the open trunk helping the guys load our luggage. He spots me, and a big smile spreads across his face. “There’s my girl,” he says, walking over to me. I let go of my mother to hug him.

Minutes later, we all crawl into the back of the limo with the exception of Milton. He gets in the passenger seat.

I take Ryder’s hand as I settle in next to him, and I can’t help the big smile on my face. “How did you all pull this off?” I ask in amazement.

My mother smiles over at Ryder. “Ryder called us yesterday and asked if we were available this weekend. He wanted to surprise you by bringing you home.”

I tighten my hand on his. “Aren’t you sneaky?”

He chuckles and nods.

“I’m glad we didn’t blow it this morning,” Jaycent says. “We weren’t in on the surprise.”

My mom smiles over at Becca. “And who is this, Becca?”

“This is Jaycent.” She pats his leg. “My boyfriend.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Jaycent,” my mother says.

“You too, ma’am.” He nods once, and she giggles like a teenager.

I can’t help but laugh.

“I assume this is the man you were telling me about.”

I feel Ryder shift in his seat beside me at the fact another person knew about them together when he had no clue.

I take my free hand and place it on his chest as I lean into his side. “Thank you,” I whisper softly so only he can hear as my mother talks to Becca about their relationship.

He leans in as well and kisses me softly on the forehead. “You’re welcome, beautiful.”

Thirty minutes later, we are walking into my childhood home, and I kick off my shoes, taking in a deep breath. The smell of vanilla hits my nose, and twenty-five years of memories comfort me. It’s like I never left.

“Okay, ladies. I’m making your favorite tonight!” my mother exclaims. “All of you go and wash up. Dinner will be ready in an hour.”

“Sir?” Ryder and I turn to see Milton standing by the front door. “I will be on my way …”

“Where are you going?” my mother asks him.

“I have a hotel—”

“Nonsense,” she interrupts him, waving her hand in the air. “You’ll stay here with us.”

He shakes his head. “I couldn’t—”

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