Page 8 of Crewe
“You know I had to be desperate to ask for help because you jerks will never let me hear the end of it. But Ry doesn’t seem to see that all the things I’m trying to do for her are to get her to see me,” Crewe said. He took a deep breath. Man, that felt good to get off his chest.
“I think she’s scared,” Halligan said.
Crewe stared at his cousin. “What do you mean?”
“I think she’s an only child who has her parents, but she’s found an extended family with us. I think she’s scared to try for more.”
Crewe wondered if Halligan was on to something.
Ellie and Vivi were being a little too quiet sitting by each other.
“Ladies?” he asked.
“Hey, girl code, so we can’t give an opinion on that conversation,” Ellie said.
“But I might have an idea for a trip that would change the playing field for you,” Vivi said.
Crewe stared at Vivi.
“I’m listening,” Crewe said.
“Well, I’ve been talking to Whiskey about a family trip to that town in Colorado where Gunner worked for a while. It’s a Christmas-themed town, and I know Bailey’s tiny, but Sutton, Ezra, Morgan, Elijah, Wyatt, and Freya would love it. I was thinking September because although it’s Christmas all year round there, their busiest season is October through December. Let’s close the bar, and everybody can go. I’ll make all the arrangements. With all of us there to babysit, then you and Ry could spend some time together. You could work on building a romantic relationship,” Vivi said.
“Oh, I like that idea. Sutton and the boys would love it. Me too because Christmas is very special to Hennessy and me. I was looking into Mistletoe Canyon, and there are a lot of things to do. They have an MC that sponsors bike rides, and they have go-kart tracks, plus so many other things todo. I’m thinking we should plan a week there,” Ellie suggested.
“If they have as much as you say, we might as well plan a week because I’d hate to get there and not have time to do everything. I saw you can even have a class at one of the shops and make your own chocolate,” Hennessy said.
Crewe thought about the possibilities. All of them in a holiday town for a week. He bet there were a lot of romantic things to do in Mistletoe Canyon.
“Okay, let’s get this going. Vivi, you’re okay planning everything?” he asked.
“Yes, but we should also mention it to Freya and Wyatt once I have a date so Ry won’t have any way to say no,” Vivi said, grinning.
Crewe grinned back as Whiskey slid his arm around Vivi and told her how proud he was of her for voicing her opinion. Crewe thought back to the scared pregnant woman on the run and how Vivi had grown with Whiskey’s love lifting her up. He wanted his love to be a place where Ry could come for comfort or for support.
He hoped this plan worked because he was running out of options to be noticed by her. Although he’d loved how he’d grown up living all together with his uncles, brothers, and cousins, Crewe dreamed of having a wife and kids to share this life with. He’d noticed Ry while he was still dating “that woman,” as Vivi called her, but once he’d parted ways from her, he’d begun to notice all the things he adored about Ry. Even when she called him dense because he’d been calling her Ryan instead of Ryanne.
He was entranced, besotted, and head over heels for her, but she wanted only friendship. At least that’s how he was interpreting her words and actions.
He hoped that Vivi’s idea of a romantic time in Mistletoe Canyon could change the playing field for him. He loved her kids as much as he loved her. He wasn’t sure he could handle anyone else besides himself being their dad.
He left the room because it seemed like Vivi and Ellie had the planning under control. As hewalked down the stairs, he realized he had a group of people following him.
“What do you want?” Crewe asked.
“Where are you going?” Halligan asked.
“I need a ride to clear my mind,” Crewe said.
“I’m up for a ride,” Halligan said.
Echoes ofMe toofilled the stairwell. It seemed everyone was going, which was good. It had been a while.
“How about a long one to Bluff Creek?” Crewe asked.
“Yeah, I bet they have something fun going on at the clubhouse,” Schaefer said.
Crewe adored his family, and he appreciated them wanting to help him. Now he just hoped all that help changed the dynamic between him and Ry. He might need to move if it didn’t.
