“If I need to explain the birds and the bees to you, dude, you’re the one with the bigger problem here.”
Nate rolled his eyes and sighed in frustration. “I’m talking about when you move back to Montana and she’s living in Texas. You and I both know the long distance shit doesn’t work out. No matter how much you said you weren’t into Destiny, it was the distance which ultimately caused you to break if off with her.”
“No, it was me realizing I didn’t love her or want a future with her.”
“Whatever it was, it didn’t work. Dad is going to remind you of that and we both know he wants Parker’s ranch, and if that means you marrying his daughter for him to get it, I promise you he’s going to push you in that direction.”
Taking Nate by the arm, I pushed him toward my door. “I know what I’m doing and I seriously doubt Dad wants anything bad enough to push his kid into doing something he doesn’t want to do.”
Nate stopped and looked at me with his mouth gaped open. “Do we not share the same father? The same man who made us both miss the state football championship because he wanted our help on the ranch that day.”
“I’m done with this conversation. Night, Nate.”
I pulled open the door to see Ava standing in the hallway.
“Ava,” Nate and I both said at once and a little too loudly.
Closing her eyes, she shook her head as the door across the hall opened. Reed came walking out and asked, “What’s going on?”
Ava glared at Nate and then me. “Nothing, Daddy. I was headed down to the kitchen to get something to eat. Ryder and Nate here ran into me as I was walking down the hall.”
Reed glanced between all three of us. “Huh. Okay, well don’t stay up late, sweetheart.”
I couldn’t read Ava’s eyes. She looked mad, disappointed even. “Don’t worry, Dad. I won’t be.”
Spinning on her heels, she headed downstairs. I wanted nothing more than to follow her, but Reed was burning holes into me with his death stare.
“Well, good meeting, Ryder. Talk to you tomorrow.”
With a smile, I nodded my head and smiled. “Yep. Later.”
Reed stood there for a few minutes waiting for me to go back into my room. “All right then, night, Reed.”
With a grunt, he said goodnight and went back into his room. I stood in the hallway unsure of what to do. When Reed opened his door again and looked out at me, I knew I had to go back into my room.
I shut the door and cursed under my breath. Ava was headed to the kitchen and I was trapped in my own room.
“Fuck.”
My phone buzzed on the dresser as I walked over and saw I had a text from Nate.
Nate: High school. Late night meetings in the barn. You catching my drift?
With a smile, I fist bumped and sent my brother a text back.
Me: Thanks dude.
After slipping on a pair of boots, I made my way over to the window and threw it open. I couldn’t even count on my hands how many times I climbed out of my window to sneak out.
Leaning out, I looked over to the trees Nate and I used to make our escapes.
Shit. It sure seems a lot higher.
And dangerous.
With a deep breath and a silent prayer, I climbed out the window and reached my foot out for the metal roof. I made my way over to the large group of oak trees. Twisting and turning my way through the trees, it hit me. “This shit was easier at seventeen.”
“What are you doing?”
Stopping, I held onto the trunk tighter as I looked down at Ava standing in the yard.
“I’m climbing down a tree.”
“I see that. Why are you climbing down a tree?”
Letting out a frustrated sigh, I started carefully making my way down again. “To get to the kitchen, Ava!”
When my feet finally hit the ground, I dropped and kissed the grass. “I made it!” I said in a hushed excited voice.
“Oh yay!” Ava said. “Why didn’t you just use the stairs like a normal person?”
“Your dad was watching my door.”
Ava placed her hands on her hips. “Is that why you never came to my room?”
Wait. What?
“Me? You were supposed to come to my room.”
Ava’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Ryder, the girl never goes to the guy’s room!”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know … she just doesn’t. It should be the guy coming to the girl. You know … like a guy riding up on a white horse and whisking her away and talking all romantic shit and stuff.”
“You’ve been talking to Jennifer, haven’t you?”
Ava giggled. “Whatever! I got tired of waiting for you, so I came to your room only to find Nate there.”
“He stopped by to talk to me about something.”
The light from the full moon lit up Ava’s face beautifully. “So, talking to Nate was more important than sneaking to my room and having hot, passionate sex with me?”
I nearly choked on my own spit.
Finally finding my voice, I asked, “Hot sex?”
Ava took a step closer to me. “I believe I said hot, passionate sex.”
“I can’t take it anymore, Ava.”