Total pages in book: 196
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
Things were said, words were spoken, and what those things were, I forget, but they’ll come back to me at some point, I’m sure. Oh yeah, he was having a hard time letting me go there while he stayed back here to finish what he was doing.
He’d been very honest with me about some things, and others, I was told, were not for me to worry about. That statement would’ve sent me into a tizzy in the past, but this time, I choose to trust his judgment because I have both eyes open this time around and I’m sure Mr. Ryder Sumner knows and understands that if he fucks with me this time around, it won’t end so well for him.
There was only one thing I had a bit of an issue with, and that was the fact that Janie didn’t know about the divorce. He told me how it came about, and given everything else that was going on, I could see why he’d done things the way he had. Another issue I had, more with myself than with him, is that even though it would kill me if he had to go see her in the hospital, he didn’t know where she was, no one did.
I came to understand that my new messy bestie, MengeLiNi, had something to do with her disappearance and have become even more intrigued by the three little girls he claims are responsible for all this. “I don’t want you to go. Can’t they delay it or postpone it or something?” His musings broke into my thoughts.
“Ryder, we’ve already discussed this. You can always come out to see me.”
“Yeah, but three months is a long time. And I don’t know how busy I’m going to be here or when I can get away.”
“We were apart for five years; you did pretty good then.” Obviously, I’m not exactly over it all. There are still times I’m reminded of the past and want to throw some shade his way, but he’s taken it surprisingly well. Only ever accepting his faults and his responsibility for the mess he made of our lives.
“Anyway, it won’t be that long, and we’ll both be busy, so the time will go by even faster. Next year we’ll plan better so that we won’t have to be apart for that long, okay.” He sulked and drew me into his arms, and that felt good too. I must’ve pinched myself black and blue since the day he brought me here.
This all seems like a fairytale, like something out of a cheesy movie, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying every minute of it. We’ve talked, we’ve cleared the air, and I now have a better understanding of who he was and is because of his past trauma, so I am better equipped to deal with it.
I haven’t let on, but I want to hurt the people who did this to him. My hands are tied right now, though, since we can’t let anyone know that we’re back together for now, but I had a talk with Mr. Lyon, who promised to pass on a message to the nieces for me. I can still remember that conversation word for word though it was a few days ago.
I’d waited for Ryder to be busy elsewhere and went in search of the big man who had been in the home gym at the time, reaming out one of his men as is his wont. I have yet to see him calm and collected, as Ryder describes him to me when he’s singing his praises. I was even a bit hesitant to approach him, but what do you know, he’s the perfect gentleman when not riled.
“Mr. Lyon.”
“It’s Lyon or Colt Elena. It feels odd calling you that; that’s my mother’s name. You’re not as annoying as she is, are you?” It took me a second to realize that he was kidding, and I remembered that Char had once said one of the nieces might be helping me because I have her grandmother’s name, or that that could be one of the reasons. I found that preposterous at the time, but if she’s anything like her father, I’m not sure it’s such a stretch.
“Okay, Lyon, I need a favor. I want to talk to your daughter and her friends.”
“Oh? How come?” I filled him in on why and watched his eyes soften. That was the day I realized that he was a big old fraud. That gruff exterior of his hides a very caring soul that could feel that easily for a complete stranger.
“There’s nothing for you to worry about there; the kids are already working on it. You just be there for him. He needs it.” I don’t know why, but after that conversation, I felt doubly sure of Ryder’s future and the direction he was going in. “I’ll pass on the message all the same, okay? By the way, they want your autograph. I’m supposed to bring them back, so no rush.”