Me:Same, but as a sister.
Me:Also, I think we both inherited the worry gene. That’s a thing, right? I’m an overthinker and worrier. You too?
Ryder:100%
The corner of my mouth tugged into a near smile. It felt strange, even a little wrong, to smile after last night.
Ryder:Are you okay? I should have already asked that. Like I said, I’m still learning.
Ryder had a grounding effect on me. No pressure. No drama. Just this quiet presence—even with the caps lock.
I supposed we’d get the chance to learn more about each other now that he’d be coming. Of course, the idea of my brother and Chase’s father together sounded more like a Navy SEAL versus Delta Force showdown than anything cozy or comforting.
Who was stealthier? Who had the bigger ego? Who could shoot tighter groupings at two hundred yards? I more than likely had those discussions to look forward to.
I shook my head, rubbing my temple again. That only made it worse.
Me:Doctor wasn’t too worried about the bump on my head. So, yeah, I’m fine.
Ryder:And how is Chase? I should have also asked that. Fuck, I suck.
I laughed. Actually laughed. That hurt to do, but still.
Me:You’re a great uncle. Chase adores you. But yes, he’s okay. Thanks to Trevor. He calmed him down last night. Made him feel better. Safe. He’ll still need to talk to someone since he did hear me scream, but ...
Ryder:I’m going to find who did this. They’ll pay, I promise.
Me:Great. Now, my brother and ex are vying for who gets dibs on the burglar.
Me:Teamwork makes the dream work.
Ryder:You’re hilarious.
Ryder:Please read that with a sarcastic tone.
Ryder:But I’ll try to get along with Trevor.
Ryder:As long as he’s never hurt you, then I have no reason to hurt him.
Me:You might be a natural at this whole brother thing.
Ryder:Funny enough, Alex said the same thing this morning, right before he caught a flight out your way.
Alejandro, not Alex.That was how he’d introduced himself at Christmas. Alejandro Rodriguez. Even his name had swagger.
I sighed. Heaven help me. All the sighs from thinking about him.
Shitttt.I wasnotallowed to feel warm and fuzzy about men. I wanted cold, sterile, and avoid-at-all-costs reactions. It wasn’t just that I felt it’d be too soon to feel anything for anyone as a widow (even if I’d been trying to get divorced)—it was that I never wanted to have romanticanythingagain. Period. End of story. No questions asked (pretty please).
Yet there I was, about to crawl under the covers and hide at the fact Ihadnoticed another man. More than that, I may have exchanged a few embarrassing texts with my best friend, Hollis, about him, including how funny and hot he was.
Her great advice, which I’d actually taken, had been:Since you never plan to date again, at least have him star in your fantasies on lonely nights.
And now he was on his way, at my brother’s orders, and planned to share a roof with us.Kill me now.I needed to do damage control to prevent him from coming without raising the alarm as to why.
Me:How about Jason Reed instead?
Ryder:Too late. Alex is already on his way. Should be there any minute. But why don’t you want Alex there?
