“It’s perfect. You already have the best recording booth ever, and you like the house. You practically grew up there,” Aiden says, trying to sell me on the idea.
“I said we’d discuss it,” I repeat. “Now, tell me what you need to make you feel better tonight, buddy.”
He shrugs and kicks a rock.
“Can I have a hug?” I ask him, making him roll his eyes.
“I guess.”
I walk into his arms and press my head to his chest and give him a squeeze.
“I love you, baby boy.”
“I love you too.”
I grin up at him as I pull away. “Shall we head out?”
“Yeah, I have to set up my new system.”
He climbs into the SUV, but before I can walk around the car, Ryker grabs my hand and makes me turn to him.
“Did I say something wrong?” he asks. I hate the scowl on his face.
“No, of course not.”
“Wills—”
“Let’s talk about it over dinner. I’m hungry.”
His lips flatten into a line, but he finally nods. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ryker
The majority of this day has been a clusterfuck.
I had to put a cow down this morning. Something attacked her in the night, and she was a fucking mess, suffering in the pasture. I’m glad neither of the younger kids saw her.
That’s some shit you don’t get out of your head.
Sure, this is a ranch. We have farm animals, and I’ll be adding more, but that doesn’t mean that I’ve become completely desensitized when it comes to the suffering of animals.
It fucking sucks.
Then, I decided to cheer myself up with a ride into Missoula with my two favorite people. Aiden was thrilled.
But when I heard that British prick talk sexy to my girl, I would have dragged him through the phone to kick his ass if I could have. I don’t want anyone speaking to her like that but me.
Because she’s mine.
Just as things were getting better, Aiden’s bully came out of the goddamn woodwork and upset all of us, and when I tried to reassure Aiden that he and Wills can both move in with me, Willow iced up.
I don’t let my feelings get hurt. I learned that early on in life. But I’ll be damned if Willow didn’t accomplish it twice in one day.
I need a beer.
I pull up to the house, and Aiden hops out and opens the back of the vehicle so he can retrieve his goods.
