Page 32 of Cocoa

They finished their dinner, cleaned up together, and let Ritz out one last time. When Lucas said, “Well, I should probably…” and made a move toward the front door, Ryder took his hand and led him to the bedroom.

As Ryder’s arms wrapped around him, the big man mumbled, “Goodnight, babe,” against his temple. He pressed a kiss to his temple, sighed once, and dropped into sleep.

Lucas lay awake for a while longer, enjoying the warmth and comfort of being exactly where he wanted to be. The last thought he remembered before drifting off was that maybe, just maybe, that was the way life could be every day forever.

Chapter 20

Ryder

The scent of burgers and Craig’s famous garlic parm fries hit Ryder the second they stepped inside the door on Sunday. The place always smelled like a home, which he realized might sound silly, but it made sense. His apartment hadn’t smelled like one until Lucas started dropping by and helping with dinner and breakfast the next morning.

Lucas stood beside him, slightly tense but smiling. He gripped the bakery box from Mara’s in his hands, still nervous that the chocolate cupcakes would tip over and the sprinkle-covered frosting would smudge.

Ryder called out, “We’re here!” and hung their coats in the hall closet. The sound of happy family chatter came from the kitchen, so they turned in that direction.

“Uncle Ryder!” Emma jumped out of her chair to hug him around the waist. She turned quickly to smile up at Lucas. “You brought dessert? What kind?”

“Cupcakes with chocolate frosting,” Lucas said as he lowered the box so she could peer through the transparent plastic window in the lid.

Emma waved him toward the counter. “Put them there. I like you already.”

Brooke leaned her hip against the counter. She passed a potholder to her husband before smiling. “Hey, Ry, Lucas. I’m so glad you both could come. You didn’t have to bring anything.”

“Yes, they did,” Emma chimed in. “Uncle Ryder always brings dessert.”

“I’m Brooke, by the way, and my husband, Craig.” She waved a hand toward the tall man bending over to pull a tray of homemade fries out of the oven.

“Good to meet you,” he said as he grabbed a spatula and transferred the golden potatoes to a dish. His salt-and-pepper hair framed a rugged face with startling blue eyes. “Ryder’s never brought a guy around for us to meet before.”

Ryder groaned and pushed Lucas gently toward a chair. “Don’t listen to them.”

With a laugh, Luc sat down. “Oh, then you do bring a lot of men around?”

“Uncle Ryder doesn’t date,” Emma said. “Mom says he’s a giggle-oh.” She sat down in her usual seat and rearranged her utensils.

Brooke turned bright red, Craig let out a guffaw as he brought the fries to the table, and Ryder hung his head. “I am not a—”

“I didn’t say that!” Brooke shouted and playfully put her hand over Emma’s mouth. Everyone descended into laughter, and whatever awkwardness there was at this first meeting disappeared.

The burgers, fries, and salad filled the center of the table. “Dig in. We don’t stand on ceremony around here.” Craig took the first bun and burger as Brooke put salad on Emma’s plate.

Dinner was loud and easy in the best way, just like it always was. With Lucas there, things only got better. Ryder’s sister and brother-in-law treated him like he’d always been around, like one of the family, which Ryder knew was something Lucas didn’t have with his own. Brooke told some embarrassing childhood stories, Craig shared a few on-the-road anecdotes, and they both asked Lucas plenty of questions about photography, the shelter, and that picture he took of me in the snowstorm.

They’d seen it, of course, just like every other person Ryder came in contact with in the area. Their questions and gentle teasing about his hero status felt comfortable, though. Sibling stuff.

Emma turned the topic back to the shelter with, “I think I want a cat instead of a bearded dragon,” after they all cleaned up together and moved into the living room. She had a smear of chocolate frosting on her chin.

“Thank god,” Brooke muttered as she settled against Craig. He slung his arm around her and grinned. “I mean… that’s good, honey. They’re much cuddlier and they don’t have to stay in a tank or cage.”

Lucas shifted and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I have some pictures of the cats they have at the shelter right now. They might get adopted before your mom and dad decide, but they’re awfully cute to look at.” He leaned over to show the screen to Emma, scrolling through various shots.

Over his bent head, Brooke caught Ryder’s eye. “I like him,” she mouthed, grinning widely. She nodded before joining in with the cat photo perusal.

Ryder watched the scene, his heart full and eyes wide open. He liked him, too. In fact, he was pretty sure what he felt for Lucas went far beyond ‘like.’ For the first time in his life, he welcomed that all-consuming feeling. It felt like family and forever.

***

The road to the abandoned hospital wasn’t much more than an overgrown path of cracked asphalt hemmed in on all sides by underbrush and tree branches. They hung low over the truck, heavy under the weight of accumulated snow, and scratched along the side panels on occasion. The moon rode high, filling the skeletal woods with reflected light.

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