Page 15 of Something to Someone

“Well, they picked right,” she said, nudging my shoulder and wiggling her eyebrows. “But he said since they don’t live local, that he’s going to be helping you plan it?”

I nodded. “That’s what they wanted. Although I told them it wasn’t necessary.”

“I can’t imagine Ryder helping plan a wedding.” Natalie laughed. “I had to help him match his clothes until he went to college and decorating his room when he was younger was…rough.”

Across the yard, Theo slipped out the glass door with Ryder right behind him. They quickly found my sister and brother-in-law and took a seat at their table. Ryder set his drink down and leaned back in the chair, propping his ankle on his other knee and falling into what I could tell was easy conversation with my family.

With the sun beating down, he fished his sunglasses from his pocket and donned the black aviators. Frustrated with how good he looked, I took another hearty pull of my drink and pointedly stopped staring across the yard.

“How was your mom?” Natalie asked, and I appreciated the topic change. Although my mother wasn’t necessarily a topic I loved to discuss.

“Same old, same old,” I muttered. “How’s work going? Are you going to sell your house? Why can’t you find a nice man and settle down?”I pitched my voice in a dramatic imitation of my mom’s. “I know she loves me and wants what’s best for me, but her version of that and mine are always radically different.”

“I don’t get it. I mean, I’m not one to talk, my own parents kicked me out when I got pregnant with Ryder, but as a mom myself, I can’t imagine constantly questioning Ryder’s life choices. First,” she began, lifting her hand and ticking off each point with her fingers. “Because that’s exhausting. Second, because he’s an adult, and third, because he’s happy. And you seem pretty damn happy to me.”

“I am. It’s just…the way she’s always been. Allison did everything ‘right’—she went to college, got married, had children, stayed at home. And that’s what my mom wanted for me, too.”

My mom would never agree with my life choices. No matter how happy or successful I was, and unfortunately, I had come to terms with that. Although that didn’t keep my friend from wanting to go to bat for me.

Even when she didn’t know the entire story or why my mom was so relentless. Which I still felt guilty about. I hadn’t kept it from Natalie for any good reason because I knew she would be supportive. I just didn’t like talking about it. Like I said, I was happy and content, and I wanted to keep it that way.

Noting my discomfort with the topic, Natalie easily pivoted topics. She cleared her throat and said, “So, tell me the whole story with your new girl at work. What happened with her boyfriend?”

“Oh, Addie, yes! Her boyfriend came by the office,” I said excitedly, turning to face her, so I could watch every one of her facial expressions. But in my periphery, I caught Ryder watching me. Not that I could see his eyes behind his sunglasses, but I could still tell.

Not listening to the conversations happening around him, all his attention was on me. And I would never admit it out loud, but I enjoyed it.

EIGHT

BEG

Caroline

“I’m just goingto run to the bathroom,” I said over the deafening volume that had not waned the entire day.

“Okay, I’ll get everyone out of the pool, then we can cut the cake. It’s in the fridge in the garage, right?”

I nodded and gave my sister a thumbs up as I headed down the hallway toward my room. My nerves were fried from little kids tugging on me and screaming and constantly wanting things. I wasn’t used to the chaos, and I just needed a moment of silence.

And even amid the insanity, I hadn’t missed the feeling of Ryder’s eyes on me. I could feel him watching me throughout the day, which only made my already anxious state worse.

Pushing open the double doors to my bedroom, I took an immediate right into my bathroom. I swung the door closed behind me but whirled when it opened less than a second later.

“What the?—”

Ryder stepped inside and closed the door behind him. His fingers brushed the lock then turned it slowly. The click echoed through the room.

“What are you doing in here?”

He shrugged nonchalantly, leaning back against the door and crossing his arms. His fitted white T-shirt stretched across his chest, the sleeves of which tightened around his biceps. Dark jeans hugged his thighs, and I watched his ankles cross, too.

A smirk completed his unbothered persona.

“You looked a little overwhelmed.”

I snorted and shook my head, tucking my hair behind my ear. “So, you decided to follow me rather than give me a second to collect myself?”

Another shrug.

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