“Wow.” He tilts his head, watching me. “That’s fucking amazing. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. And speaking of work, I have to be in the booth today, so I’d better get home so I can get some work in before I have to pick Aiden up from school. I don’t let him walk home anymore.”
“You know that I hate that you drive back and forth from here to Missoula.”
“I’ve been doing it for a long time. I could probably do it with my eyes closed.” I smirk and walk to the front door. “But I won’t.”
“Text me when you get home.”
“Okay. Thanks, Ry. I mean it.”
“You didn’t even have to ask, you know. Just tell me what you need, and it’s yours.”
You. I need you. Naked and sweaty and saying filthy things in my ear.
“You’re blushing,” he says, and I’m instantly mortified.
“I amnotblushing. I probably got sunburned yesterday or something.”
“Nope. Blushing.” He steps toward me.
“I have to go.” I hurry down the steps and wave at him before lowering myself into my car. “Talk to you later!”
He’s grinning at me, and it makes the butterflies wake up in my stomach.
I start the car, and with another wave, I drive away, but he doesn’t walk inside. I can see him in the rearview mirror until I drive around the bend and he’s out of sight.
It’s been the longest two weeks of my damn life. I’ve been buried in work, making up for the time I took off over the past month after Ray’s passing, and needing to be more present at the ranch for Ryker and Gideon. I feel like all I do is sit in my booth. I’ve barely spoken to Ryker at all. We’re mostly back to our normal texts and once-a-week phone calls, like it used to be.
And I kind of hate that. I got used to seeing him often.
Add on to that—and I didn’t think it was possible—the way Aiden’s attitude has gotten progressively worse with each passing day. He’s so short tempered and has been pretty much giving me the silent treatment.
School got out for the summer yesterday, and at some point after I went to bed, Aiden sneaked out of the house, and is just now at six in the morning sauntering through the front door, his hair tousled, his clothes rumpled, and is that a freakinghickeyon his neck?
When he sees me waiting for him, standing in the kitchen with my arms crossed, there’s a quick flicker of guilt that flashes over his face, and then the scowl that seems to live there permanently takes up residence once more.
“Where the hell were you all night?”
“Celebrating” is all he says.
“You didn’t answer your phone.”
“Turned it off.” He yawns and scratches his flat stomach. Aiden may only be fifteen, but he’sbig. He’s well over six feet tall, and he’s muscular. Weight lifting class is the only class he hasn’t missed all year. “Going to bed.”
“No, you’re not. You can turn around and get in my car. Now.”
“No way. I haven’t even been to bed yet.”
“Not my problem. Let’s go.”
His eyes narrow, and he steps into me, the way he’s started to do when he’s not getting his way and he thinks he can intimidate me.
I’d never admit this to anyone, but I’m starting to actuallyfearmy kid, and that breaks my heart. It’s one more reason that I’m sure taking him out to work at the ranch is the right thing for him.
“I said I’m going to bed.”
I keep my chin lifted, not wavering in staring him down. “And I said get in the goddamn car, Aiden. Now.”
