Page 18 of Refusing Kendall

It doesn’t help that now I’ve got to make the trip to see Ry. Three hours of nothing but driving and thinking. When my only class of the day let out earlier, I drove over to say goodbye and give the guys good luck hugs. Which turned into kisses that made their teammates around us hoot and holler like the wild animals they are. There’s an unspoken rule on the team about privacy. No one would ever sell our relationship out, so the guys give me all they’ve got.

I smile now just thinking about it. They then got on a huge silver bus and headed off to the airport. They should be somewhere over Oklahoma right now. By the time I get to Ryleigh’s house, they should be close to landing. I think this might be the longest time that we’ve gone, since we’ve been together, without any kind of contact whatsoever. As much as I miss them, a bit of distance is good for us sometimes. Gives them a chance to miss me.

Cranking up the radio in the Rover, I sing along to every song that I know and some that I don’t, until I’m pulling into our small hometown. Well, the guys’ town. Mine is across the railroad tracks, and I have no desire to head over that way today, especially not while the guys are out of reach.

Pulling up in the Morgan driveway hits me like a ton of bricks. It was barely over a year ago when I met the guys, back when Gramps was still alive. The plantation style house still sits as beautiful as ever, with its wrap around porches on both levels of the house and huge columns. Memories flood me from the first almost all-nighter that I pulled with Teagan. He brought me out here around the same time last year, and he gave me my first ever s’more. Maybe when they get home, I can find a way to make us some. That would be an awesome reminder just for him.

By the time that I’ve hauled my overnight bag out of the backseat, Ryleigh is stepping out the front door.

“Hey!” she yells excitedly, coming down the stairs. “You just missed the ‘rents. They’re headed off to the resort for the weekend. Couples massages and such. Gag me.”

Her words, as much as she herself, already make me feel lighter on the inside. I don’t think I truly realized how much I have missed her until this moment. We meet halfway and throw our arms around each other. I don’t hesitate to tell her, “I’ve seriously missed your face, Ry.”

“I’ve missed you too, boo,” she says squeezing me tighter before letting go. “Now let’s go inside and get this party started.”

My mouth pops open, and she laughs, “Not really a party. Jeez. Not only would my dad throw a hissy, but I’m pretty sure Teagan would beat me black and blue if I let some random drunk dudes hang all over you while he’s not here.”

This time we laugh together as we make our way into the house.

“Thirsty or hungry?” she asks.

“Yes to both,” I answer honestly, without even thinking about it. I haven’t had anything since breakfast this morning.

“Awesome,” she claps. “I’m going to order us some pizza. Cynth prefers to cook, so I haven’t had any in months, which is a travesty.”

I roll my eyes, but smile at her dramatics, “I’m just going to drop my bag upstairs, and I’ll meet you back in the kitchen.”

“You can put it in Teagan’s room if you want,” she says, walking off.

When I don’t move, she turns back around, “What, I figured that’s where you’d want to sleep anyways. Unless you want to slumber party in my room. Which, I’m totally ok with that too.”

My head tilts back as I laugh and make my way up the stairs. Just in the first few minutes of being here, Ryleigh has lifted a little of the weight that I didn’t realize I was holding on to so tightly. I won’t mention it to anyone, but I thought coming back here would be difficult. The guys not being here this time around made me more anxious than I guess I was even willing to admit to myself. So far so good, though, if I venture across the railroad tracks anytime this weekend, that may change.

After I toss my bag on Teagan’s bed, I head back to the kitchen. As I walk in, I see Ryleigh getting us some drinks out of the fridge. It stops me in my tracks for a second, because from the side with her long blonde hair it’s so obvious that her and Teagan are siblings. Being here with her eases some of the pang from missing them. This may have to become a ritual for away games that I don’t go to. Not wanting to get caught staring at her like a freak, I walk in and sit down at one of the stools stationed at the bar.

“So, any news on the home front?” I ask her.

She sets a glass of ice tea in front of me, “Not really. School is school. Can’t get out of there soon enough.”

“Have you thought about where you’re going to college?” I ask curiously before I take a sip of my tea.

Shrugging she says, “I know where Iwantto go, but I don’t know if it’s the smart choice.”

“Well,” I start, “You have to do what’s right for you. Not what your dad or anyone else thinks is right. You go where you want to go and study what you want, because you’ll have to live that life, not him.”

With one side of her hair tucked behind her ear, I see it turn pink, and she looks down at the counter as she mumbles, “It’s not Dad who’s the problem.”

“Oh shit,” I gasp, “Ry, you aren’t pregnant, are you?”

Her head jerks up, “What the…no way in hell. Why would you immediately jump to that?”

I shrug, and she sighs, “I’m not pregnant. It’s Logan.”

“What’s going on with him?” I encourage. I met Logan at the beginning of this year when I got invited to Lucas’ house to meet his brothers. It was obvious to me there was something between Ry and him, but even I knew that nothing could come from it. She was too young then, but she has just had a birthday.

Before she has a chance to say anything I cut in, “He wants to date you, doesn’t he?”

She shrugs, “I’ve had the biggest crush on him ever since Teagan and Lucas became friends. I don’t think he ever saw me that way, and it was probably for the best, considering he’s five years older than I am, but he knows that I just turned eighteen.”

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