Page 83 of Selfless

I feel Ryder’s body stiffen beside me, and I watch as Becca cuddles up closer to Jaycent’s side as if she’s afraid of the woman.

I square my shoulders and lift my chin. I’ve only met her five times, and she looks as beautiful as I remember. Too bad she’s a bitch.

She doesn’t overdo it to where she looks plastic and fake. She looks more like a porcelain doll. Her makeup and hair perfect. She wears a white dress, and I frown; you’re not supposed to wear white to a wedding unless you’re the bride.

“Well, aren’t you going to say hello?” she asks.

“Hello, Mother,” Becca says timidly.

Ryder ignores her as he takes another drink. “Your father’s looking for you,” she tells him.

“I’ve been right here all night,” he says flatly.

“Ashlyn, it’s good to see you again.” She looks at me and smiles. “Like New York?”

I almost swallow my tongue at her words. I’m not a fake person, but I can play if that’s what she wants. “Yes.”

Ryder leans back in his seat and places his right arm over my shoulders. I stiffen as his mother’s eyes narrow just a bit. “Mother, Ashlyn and I moved in together,” he states, and Jaycent is the one who chokes on his drink. Becca is quick to clean it up off his button up.

“What?” she asks, clearing her throat. To be honest, I’m surprised she didn’t already know that.

He gives her a fuck you smile. “I asked her to move in with me, and she said yes.”

Her blue eyes dart back and forth between us, and she opens her mouth and then closes it. “But I thought—”

“You thought wrong,” he snaps, interrupting her.

She huffs, and her eyes move back and forth between me and Ryder. Then they settle on me. “So do you plan on marrying him or just gonna play house with my son?” She doesn’t let me answer as she then looks at Ryder. “You’d better make her sign a prenup. Women like her are only after one thing.”

“Excuse me?” I snap as I stand.

“Mother,” Becca squeals as she also stands.

She narrows her eyes at me, and Ryder very slowly stands, stepping between us. “She’s not the whore you are, Mother.”

She gasps, placing her hand over her heart as if his words just stabbed her. “Julian …”

He rolls his eyes and throws back what’s left of his drink. “Play the victim. Like always.” He leans into her face, and she pulls back, eyes wide. “But we’re not your friends, Mother. We’re your children, and we know exactly what kind of piece of shit you are.”

Her eyes narrow, and she opens her mouth. “Gwenda?”

We look over to see Vicki has joined us, a fuck you smile on her face as she stares at me for a second. “Let’s go take some pictures,” she says, offering her hand.

“Run along, Mother.” He gestures to Vicki. “To your little pack of sheep.”

Surprisingly, she takes Vicki’s hand and walks off without argument.

I place my hand on his shoulder and let out a long breath. “Ryder …”

He looks down at his empty drink and pulls away from me. “I need another drink,” he states and then walks off.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

RYDER

I make my way over to the open bar at the far side of the tent. I place my empty glass on the white tablecloth, and the female bartender smiles at me. “Ready for another already?”

I nod. “Make it a double.”

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