I was doing a miserable job of not worrying about him. I had barely slept, but I knew better than to blow up his phone. No bitch, not even the president’s daughter, was allowed to act like a stage five clinger; it wasn’t a thing, and it would show everyone that I wasn’t as okay with Ryder being an outlaw as I had let on. I was even surprised myself. I never worried about my dad. He always came home. He never broke that promise and I trusted that he wouldn’t, but I was so scared Ryder would not be able to guarantee his own safety. It was my cross to bear and Ryder was fuckingworthit.
I shot off a quick “good morning” text to him and then forced myself to get out of bed. Still in my pajamas, I groggily made my way down to the kitchen where I heard my stepmother already banging around,cooking.
“Hey Crickett?” I walked into the kitchen and saw her putting a few racks of ribs intotheoven.
“What is itsweetheart?”
I pulled her in for a hug. “I never said thank you for helping me with the whole Dad-Rydersituation.”
She laughed a little. “Oh, honey. Sometimes you just have to remind those stubborn men of ours who is really the boss around here. Want somecocoa?”
I took a seat at the dining room table, like I used to do when I was a little girl, waiting not-so-patiently for the warm chocolaty goodness that was about to trip me down memory lane. She plopped a couple of marshmallows in each of our mugs after bastingtheribs.
I took in a deep breath of the sweet aroma. “This is exactly what Ineeded.”
She smiled at me. “Good. How’s everything been withRyder?”
After wiping off my hot chocolate mustache, I beamed. “He’s amazing. Even through all the stress of work and the club shit he can’t really tell me about, he still is sweet andcaring.”
Crickett smirked, rolling her fingertips around the edge of her mug. “Soundsfamiliar.”
“Whatdoes?”
“The way you’re feeling now is how I still feel about your father. He’s mysoulmate.”
I swooned at her words; they gave me so much hope. “Being in love with someone that loves you back is the greatest euphoria on thisplanet.”
Crickett grabbed my hand and intently looked into my eyes. “Love is the ecstasy that makes sense of this crazy, fucked up world welivein.”
I nodded. “I couldn'tagreemore.”
Right then Collin game trudging into the kitchen, sniffing around the stove. “Ribs fordinner?”
Crickett got up to start fixing a cup of cocoa for her son. “I had to figure out some way to get you to come straight home after practice at least one nightthisweek.
Collin hooked an arm around Crickett’s. “Oh Ma, you don't have tobribeme.”
I started laughing. “Um, yes we do. What was the last meal you ate at this tablewithus?”
My little brother grabbed his chin, pretending to be thinking really hard, then shrugged. “All right, maybe y’all have a point. I promise tonight I will leave practice without even showering in the locker room and will be home in time to devour a full rack of thosesuckers.”
“Perfect. Now get your ass in gear. I don’t want to have to explain another tardy to your homeroomteacher.”
“Yesma’am.Bye.”
Collin hugged both of us and marched out the front door with his book bag and football crapinhand.
“We really have an incredible family, don't we?” I looked up at Crickett as my words washed a sweet smile ontoherface.
“We have the best fucking family in the entireworld.”
“I couldn'tagreemore.”
My dad’s loud footsteps started making their way down thestairs.
“Mornin’.” He kissed Crickett, grabbing a coffee cup out of thecupboard.
“Morning, babe. I didn’t even hear you get in lastnight.”
