“What are you doing?” I rub the sleep from my eyes.
Kids’ voices carry on in the distance, and sleeping is over for now.
She steps off her suitcase, pulling her baggy sweatpants above her hips. She looks tired and worn, as if she fought all night.
“I can’t leave my Sig lying around.”
She flips the bathroom light on, and I squint one eye at her. “Your what?”
She peeks her head out with her toothbrush in her mouth, twisting the cap back on the toothpaste. “My pistol.”
Oh, right. Her gun.
“Don’t worry. I have the magazine stashed separately,” she says around her spit. She disappears and returns. “But it’s not ideal.”
I lie back down on the cold, hard floor, smiling. Never did I think I’d hear those words.
My entire body hurts, from my head to my toes. It’s amusing, really. I make millions of dollars, and I’m sleeping on the hard ass floor, but I’d do it every night if that meant Ryder would be near.
I run a hand over my face.
I’m in deep shit.
“What’s wrong?”
I lift my hand. Ryder sits on the edge of the bed, pulling the cuffs of my sweatshirt over her hands. The sight dispels the chill of uncertainty lingering around me.
I stare at her, swimming in all the soft gray material.
She glances down. “Sorry. It’s freezing down here.”
“Just don’t get any blood on it,” I tease, wanting her to stay tucked inside my shirt as long as I can keep her there.
One corner of her mouth lifts. “That’s a tall order, but I’ll try.”
I laugh, stretching. “You ready to head upstairs?”
She tucks her hands between her legs. “Yeah, uh. . . I was thinking maybe it’s best if you don’t say anything about us not really being together. I don’t want it to be weird for you or makeyour family worry. This is your break, and you should enjoy it with them.”
“I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
She peeks at me from under her eyelashes. “Them thinking I’m your girlfriend or not isn’t likely to change that.”
“Are you sure? Because it’ll be fine if I tell them.” I’m just happy Ryder is here. I don’t care what my family thinks or knows.
She nods. “Yeah. I’m sure.”
I peel myself off the floor. “Ok, then. Fair warning they’re nosy as hell.”
She groans, flopping backward on the bed, and runs a hand over her face.
I use the bathroom and brush my teeth, and then Ryder and I make our way upstairs. I pause in the doorway of the kitchen, watching the absolute madness that is my family.
I feel Ryder’s hand slip into mine. It’s a little sweaty, but I grip it tight, not letting her second-guess it.
“Unca Co.” Aiden, Maggie and Shane’s toddler, claps his messy hands and then returns to smearing oatmeal all over his tray.
I pull Ryder into the kitchen with me. “Hey, guys.” I run a hand over Aiden’s head.
