“Apparently not you.” I sulked as I climbed into the car, which just made him laugh harder.
“Patience is a virtue, Bailey,” he said as he climbed in beside me.
Ryder and I drove around town aimlessly after leaving school, both of us trying to process everything that had just happened. The whole thing went down so quickly that we both needed the chance to catch up. The secrets. The lies. The betrayals. They were out in the open for all to see and hear. Eventually, he turned to me and said he just really needed to do something fun to forget about the drama for a day.
“Okay, so let’s do something fun,” I said. “What is there around here to do that’s fun?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged thoughtfully. “Come on. I have an idea.” He turned the car around and drove back into town. After a few minutes, we pulled up out the front of his house.
“Uhm…what are we doing at your house?”
“There’s someone I want you to meet.” I was confused. I had already met his mother. His father wasn’t around. I’d just met Kenzie a couple of hours earlier. I didn’t know who else he wanted me to meet.
As he opened my door for me, it suddenly dawned on me. “Cole?”
“Cole.” He smiled, pressing a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “It’s okay. You’ll love him.”
“I’m not worried about that.” I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. I wasn’t worried about not liking the kid. I loved children.
“Well then, why so nervous?” Ryder stepped closer and bent his knees so he was level with me.
“What if he doesn’t like me?” I asked nervously, causing Ryder to throw his head back and laugh.
“Seriously? That’s what you’re worried about?” he asked when he finally calmed down.
“Yes. He’s one of the most important people in your life, if not the most important person. If he doesn’t like me, then…then…I…” I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to hold back the tears as a lump formed in my throat. I knew I was being stupid, but the thought of Cole not liking me had me worried that Ryder would change his mind about me. Cole was the biggest part of his life, and I wouldn’t fit in if Cole didn’t want me to.
“Then nothing, Bailey. If Cole doesn’t like you, he doesn’t like you. It’s not a big deal. Don’t worry.” He reassured me by kissing my forehead before pulling me up to his front door. “But I know for a fact he’s going to love you.”
As soon as we walked in, I wished I’d stayed in the car. Kenzie was sitting on the sofa in tears while a little blond-haired, green-eyed boy with Ryder’s dimples sat at her feet.
“It’s okay, Mumma,” the little boy was saying over and over again, patting her on the knee.
“Shit,” Ryder hissed when he saw how much of a mess his sister was.
“Cole, buddy. C’mere a sec.” Ryder crouched down in the doorway and opened his arms out to the little boy, who immediately jumped up and ran into his embrace.
“Uncle Wyda,” he squealed, “Mumma’s sad.”
“I know, buddy. I know. I’m going take care of your mumma, but first I want you to meet someone, okay?”
“Who’s that?” Cole whispered in Ryder’s ear while looking over his shoulder at me. Ryder chuckled.
“That’s Bailey. That’s who I want you to meet. You think you can say hi to Bailey?”
“Hi, Bayey.” Cole smiled up at me while Ryder ruffled his blond curls and placed a kiss on the top of his head. I swore my heart swelled in my chest just watching the way Ryder was with Cole. So caring and loving. There was no bad boy in him at all. He was all heart.
“Now, can you play with Bailey for a minute while I take care of your mumma?” Cole nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Good boy. You be nice, okay? She’s very special to me,” Ryder said, making my heart race and my cheeks warm as Cole tilted his head to the side and eyed me curiously. Probably to see what was so special.
“Do you mind?” Ryder stood and faced me.
“Not at all. Go make sure Kenzie’s okay.” I smiled and leant into him as he kissed me quickly.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
I dropped to my knees so I was at Cole’s height. “Hi, Cole.” I smiled at him.
“Play cars. Come on,” he said, grabbing my wrist and dragging me into the living room. Very demanding. Just like his uncle.
Ryder was whispering to Kenzie and attempting to get her to stand up as I sat down on the floor with Cole. I was so distracted watching Cole play. Amazed at how similar he and Ryder really were, I didn’t even notice Ryder and Kenzie had left the room.
Cole was concentrating so hard on getting one of his cars into the garage that his tongue was poking out, a weird habit I’d noticed Ryder had whenever he was concentrating. Cole’s blond curls were falling in his eyes, and he kept brushing them off his forehead exactly the same way Ryder did. The similarities were unbelievable. I couldn’t see any of Chace in Cole at all, which was a good thing. Whatever Kenzie had been doing, she’d been doing it right. Particularly if he turned out like Ryder.
“I’m sleepy, Bayey,” Cole announced, rubbing his eyes.
“Okay, sweetheart. Let’s have a nap, yeah?” I stood up and reached my hand out to him. He smiled and jumped up, running over to the corner, where he picked up a book.
“Storwee?” He held out the book to me.
“Sure.” I smiled at him. I had no idea where he was sleeping, so I took him over to the sofa and let him curl up on my lap. He was adorable as he snuggled in close with his little fingers twisting through the ends of my hair as I read him the story.
Cole was fast asleep in minutes. I just sat gently playing with his curls until Ryder came back. He stopped in the doorway and was chewing on his lip ring as he watched Cole and me. He had a strange expression on his face.
“He was tired. Sorry,” I apologised, unsure whether I should have let him sleep or not. Maybe it wasn’t his naptime.
“That’s okay, love. I’ll go put him in bed. Kenz is out like a light, too.” He crossed the room and picked Cole up out of my arms. “I’ll just be a sec.”
I was picking up toys and packing away Cole’s cars when Ryder came back. I didn’t want there to be a mess when Kenzie woke up. She’d had a big day, and I felt for her. I turned around to see him hovering in the doorway, shifting from foot to foot and tugging on his hair slightly. He looked nervous.
“Sorry. I was just tidying up.” I smiled at him, but he didn’t say anything. I took a step toward him, and he spun around and walked out of the room.
I wasn’t sure what I had done wrong, but before I could move to chase after him, he was back, storming across the room in my direction. He slammed his mouth into mine, forcing his tongue between my lips. His fingers dug into my hips as he pulled my body into his. I immediately dropped the car and teddy bear I was holding and wrapped my arms around his neck. His kiss was heated, rough, and way too quick. Before I could even open my eyes, he had pulled away and spoken.