Page 31 of Coming For Her Curves
Brock laughs. “She calls them turds.”
“Brock,” I admonish.
He just shrugs. “What? She does.”
Ryker laughs out loud. “He’s right. She told me the same thing.”
I stand up to get serving ware. “Well, this is perfect. Everyone, we have pumpkin pie, cheesecake, cookies, and now chocolate chess pie.”
Ryker and I serve up dessert to everyone, working side by side. I know we have a lot to talk about, but I don’t want to think about that now. I just want to enjoy being together because we don’t know what tomorrow may bring.
Hours later, Caroline has already left, and Ryker is about to leave and take his dad home. He hugs me. “I’m going to go home so you can spend time with Brock.”
I look up at him. I thought for sure he’d want to talk about earlier. “Okay.”
Ryker looks at Brock. “What time are you leaving for your dad’s?”
He shrugs. “After we open presents in the morning. You’re coming, right? I’m supposed to be at Dad’s for the rest of Christmas break.”
Ryker ruffles his hair. “Yep, I’ll be here in the morning.”
Brock rubs his belly. “Sounds good. I’m hungry. Mom, I’m getting another piece of pie. Want one?”
“No, thanks,” I tell him, and he disappears into the kitchen after telling Walter and Ryker bye.
I hug Walter, and he says he’ll wait in the car, leaving Ryker and me standing at the opened door.
“You okay?” he asks me.
I nod, but that’s not good enough. He hugs me. “He’ll be ten minutes away, and I know Brock. He’s still going to call you every day.”
He thinks I’m upset about Brock leaving, and yeah, I’m going to miss him, but more than anything, I want to fix this with Ryker, and the only way to do that is to tell him everything. “We should talk.”
He smiles softly at me. “We will. Let’s get through tomorrow and then we’ll talk about everything.”
Fear like I’ve never felt before consumes me. I can’t lose him. Not again. But Walter’s in the car, and Brock is in the other room. It’s Christmas, and now is not the right time. “Okay. I love you, Ryker.”
I’m looking him straight in the eye because I want him to know I mean it.
He brushes the hair off my face. “I love you too, Izzy.”
I close the door as he leaves and then lean against it. I still can’t believe that I told him I wanted him to leave earlier. Sadness overcomes me, and I wonder if I’ve already lost him.
CHAPTER 17
RYKER
“Merry Christmas,” I tell Brock as I hand him his present.
He takes it, but instead of opening it, he hugs me. “Thanks, Ryker.”
I hold the boy, patting him on the back. When he releases me, he tears into the package, and as soon as he sees what’s inside, he starts jumping up and down. “A new glove! You got me a new glove!”
I laugh and look over at a smiling Izzy. “Yeah, I asked your mom, and she said you’ve been wanting one.”
He puts the glove on his hand and starts banging his fist into it. “This is perfect. I love it.”
I lean forward. “I’m also putting up an indoor batting cage next to my house. It will be up in a few weeks.”
