“No. Jamie, Vanessa, Lyla, and Jos. And we’ve kind of taken in TJ. He was like a lost wildebeest in need of taming.”
I twist in my seat. “Hold on. They’ll all be there.”
She told me this was a small dinner for Tracker and Hope’s anniversary.
“It’ll be fine. They’ll interrogate you but be sly about it. You’re used to being in the spotlight.”
She thinks this is funny, but she’s not wrong. I’m an expert at non-answers.
“You might have to protect me from TJ. I’m pretty sure he hates my guts.”
“He hates everyone. Well, except for Jos, maybe.”
I drop the questions, preparing to enter a house full of people who probably only know me as Ryder’s latest case.
“Matthews, you’re a freaking professional athlete. You play in the NFL. You need to stand tall, be confident, and not let guys like TJ intimidate you.”
I’m not intimidated by TJ. Even more so now that I know he’s not Ryder’s boyfriend. That could’ve been a bit awkward, given the world now thinks she and I are together.
“I’m not worried about TJ.”
She glances at me as if assessing whether or not to believe me. “He’ll only growl and grumble tonight. Tracker won’t let him go too far. You’re paying us, remember.” She bites her lip. “Besides, Jos has a little crush, so she won’t let him near you.”
I catch her slight smirk. Ryder is beautiful, but when I get a glimpse of what I believe might be her true self, she’s stunning. Now and then, I see her let down her guard just an inch, and it feels like this isn’t as much of a job for her, but like we might actually be friends. I like it, and I want her to do it more often.
“Wait, I thought you were supposed to protect me?” I can’t help but see how far I can take this.
“Matthews, in this house, I’m taking a siesta,” she huffs. “Dealing with you and your calm, quiet regimen. . . It’s exhausting as hell.” She can barely say it without laughing.
“Ha. You’re lucky I’m not some playboy.”
Her head swivels in my direction and then back toward the road.
“So, are you all siblings?”
She shakes her head but doesn’t answer, and I’m not surprised.
Although after a moment, she surprises me again.
“We’re. . .a mishmash pinned together. They’re like my sisters, though. We share a townhouse.”
I think about my siblings, whose mom left them when my dad got sick, and decided being a mother was no longer for her. Maggie gave up everything to care for them, and when she married Shane, our family expanded.
Shane grew up in foster care and has two guys he claims as his brothers from their time in a group home. With all of us, our family is huge. It sounds like something Ryder and I have in common.
“I have four younger siblings,” I offer into the silence.
Ryder’s head snaps in my direction. “What?”
“My sister, Maggie, and her husband are raising them.”
Her brows pinched together. “How old are they?”
“Hank is eighteen and just moved to Europe. He was picked up by a pro soccer league. Garrett is fourteen, Teddy is twelve, and Liv is nine. Maggie and Shane also have two of their own. Aiden is two, and my niece, Quinn, is only a couple of months old.”
Her attention returns to the road. “Are you close?” Her tone is tentative.
“Yeah. I miss them like crazy.”
