He sat back in the booth as excitement rushed through him for the first time in days. “As soon as Sophia tells me. I’ll have to get her parents’ address, too.” No sooner had the words left his mouth when his phone vibrated on the table with her caller ID on the screen. He grinned. “Hi, Ben and I were just talking about you.”
“Good things, I hope.” Her tone was light with amusement.
“Of course,” he replied. “I was just telling him I need to get your parents’ address so I can maybe come to see you.”
There was a slight pause, and his excitement nosedived.
Chapter Seventeen
“Ah, that’s sweet,” Sophia said, sounding pleased, which went a long way to resurrecting his calm. “But I can do you one better. It’s actually why I’m calling.”
“Oh?” Ryder’s pulse increased, proving that excitement hadn’t completely died out.
“Any chance you can get away later to catch a Mets game with me?”
Keiffer’s condo and the game they’d watched together immediately sprang to mind. They’d only caught five innings, but it’d turned out to be the best damn game…certainly the most memorable. “I’d love to watch a game with you again.”
That seventh inning stretch had rocked his world.
“Mmm…I’d love that, too. But, I’m actually talking about seeing the game in person, not on television.”
He sat up straight, anticipation thrumming through his veins. “At the stadium?”
Ben’s head snapped up, envy gleaming in his gaze.
“Yes.” She laughed. “You game?”
He couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face. “What time should I meet you? And where?”
“Hmm…” Her tone was playful. “I get the feeling you’re more excited about the game than seeing me.”
“Not true.” He snickered. “I’m equally excited about both.”
Her soft chuckle sent shivers down his spine. “I’ll take it. And you.”
He wanted to tell her she could have him, but his buddy was way too close for him to get into a private conversation with her. “Deal,” he said instead.
“Perfect. I’ll text you the address to my apartment. It’s closer to the stadium, so I’ll meet you there, say around five-thirty? If that’s okay. This way my dad will be home from work to take care of my mom, and you and I can…get something to eat first.”
Her slight hesitation wasn’t lost on him or his body. It immediately picked up on her unspoken innuendo, and the horny bastard tightened with unchecked gusto.
“Deal,” he repeated, shifting to relieve the pressure behind his zipper.
“I’ll see you then,” she said, before hanging up, and a few seconds later, a text came in with her address.
Ever since she’d left, he’d fought an inner battle. Scars of desertion, of family coming first, of not being enough, they all tormented his mind. Deep down, he knew this was different. That Sophia wasn’t Jinan, and yet, old hurts resurfaced, causing doubts, and unwarranted pain. And guilt. He felt bad—selfish—for not wanting her to leave him to take care of her sick mother.
Just because he felt guilty about it didn’t make him any less of a dick.
Feeling his buddy’s gaze on him, he glanced up. “What?”
Ben smirked. “Don’t count on seeing the game tonight, man. You’re going to be otherwise occupied.”
A smile spread across his face as world-rocking memories crowded his mind.
In the grand scheme of things, Ryder was okay with that.
***
