Page 69 of Ryder

“Yeah,” he answered. “He told me there was a possibility she’d show up today, that she might be moving back here.” Tripp slung the baby bag over his shoulder, looking quite the specimen regardless of what he was carrying. Actually, I thought it made him even sexier, but hey, that was just me.

“Well good. I’m happy for him,” I said, threading my arm through Tripp’s as he led us toward our friends.

“Are we early?” Tripp asked as we walked up behind his brother and Edana, giving her a hug and kiss on the cheek before he approached his brother, doing that man-hug thingy that guys do.

“Yeah, but not by much.” Hawke turned his attention to me, giving me a quick kiss before backing up. He glanced toward Edana to see her reaction, but all she did was smile. “Reece, this is Edana. Edana, this is Tripp’s ol’ lady, Reece.”

“Ol’ lady? We’re still doin’ that?” I laughed as I shook hands with Hawke’s woman. Tripp had referred to me as such a few times, and each time I told him I didn’t care for the phrasing. It made me sound . . . old. He’d shrugged off my protest as if I was being ridiculous. In the grand scheme of things, if that was the worst issue we dealt with, I really had nothing to complain about.

Lost in my thoughts, I was startled when Jagger snuck up behind us, kissing my cheek before slapping Tripp on the back. Holding out his hands, he wiggled his fingers.

“Let me see this guy,” he instructed. I passed him Luke, smiling over his enthusiasm over seeing our son. “He’s getting so big.” He jostled him a bit until he’d positioned him just so, causing my heart to skip a beat in fear that’d he’d drop him.

“You drop my kid and I’ll kick your ass. Don’t care how undefeated you are.”

Jagger laughed at the threat, turning his attentions away from Tripp and back on Luke.

“You wanna be a fighter like me when you grow up? Don’t be like your dad. He can’t throw a punch to save his life.”

Jagger with my son was representative of how most of these men were. Big, tough and loud, yet they all turned into big softies whenever a baby was around.

Making funny faces at Luke, ignoring the jests of his friends, Jagger’s demeanor changed as soon as Kena joined the group. The way she watched his interaction with our son was borderline hypnotic, and I could only wonder what kinds of thoughts were running through her head. When she caught me staring at her, she smiled.

He’s so adorable.Jagger’s eyes were glued to hers.

“Me or Luke?” he teased, moving in to give her a kiss. “Wanna hold him?” A sudden nervousness made her shake her head. “He won’t bite.” Still, she only stood there, extending her hand to caress the side of Luke’s head. “Ya gotta get used to it sometime, babe.”

Why.

“Because I’m gonna want one soon, so you might as well get some practice.” He laughed but Kena found his comment anything but funny. In fact, she looked petrified. She dropped her hand to her side and took a step back, giving me a pathetic smile before she turned around and walked away.

Jagger looked puzzled, confused as to what he’d said wrong. “Here,” he said, handing Luke back to me before he took off after her.

I laughed. One odd expression from her and he was practically tripping over his feet to find out why.

“Where’s he goin’?” Tripp asked, and I just shrugged. When I didn’t answer, he added, “Looks like he probably stuck his foot in his mouth.” He leaned down and planted a loving kiss on my lips. “Been there . . . done that.”

“You can say that again,” I laughed.

As I turned back around to watch Jagger chase after his future, I knew mine had already arrived.

Gifting me with every possible dream I hadn’t even known I’d wanted.

Jagger

“Babe, stop.”Damn, she’s quick.“Kena!” I finally caught up to her right before she disappeared into one of the bedrooms in the back of the clubhouse. Spinning her around, I asked, “What’s the matter? What did I say?” I tried to pull her close, but she pushed me back, her hands resting on my chest to give her some space.

When I finally retreated, she dropped her hands to her sides, looking at the ground as if she feared looking at my face. Paranoia and uncertainty swirled inside me, and instead of blowing off her odd reaction to my joke a few moments before, I continued to press her for a response.

“Are you ever going to answer me?”

She picked her head up, her beautiful eyes looking lost. The longer we stood in silence, the worse I felt, a bead of nervous sweat appearing on my brow. “If you don’t answer me, I’m gonna start to think the worst, and considering I have no idea why you’re upset, my mind is gonna create some off-the-wall scenarios.” I tried to laugh but the sound fell short.

She lifted her hands and signed,You want to have a baby?

“Is that what this is all about?” Another failed laugh fell from my mouth. We’d talked about having kids in passing, more so over the past few months, but nothing serious had ever been decided. I wasn’t even twenty-five yet, so there was no rush. But eventually, I’d want to start my own family, especially after seeing how happy my brothers were with their kids.

I see the way your eyes light up whenever one of our friend’s kids are around.

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