Wildcard: Volume Three

“Are you serious?” I demand, walking over to him.

He shrugs. “If the kid wants to take me for show and tell—”

“No, you idiot,” I interrupt, whacking him on the arm. “Are you really asking me to marry you?”

“Technically, I haven’t asked you yet. I’ve only asked Jake for permission,” he smirks.

“Ryder!” I shout. If I don’t get a straight answer out of him, I might just kill him.

He takes my hand and pulls me close. “Yes. Scar, I love you and Jake. I want us to be a family. The four of us.”

“So you are going to make a baby?” Jake asks suspiciously. “Remember, I don’t want a sister. I don’t like girls.”

I laugh and curl my hands around Ryder’s neck, pressing my lips against his. I can hear Jake giggling in the background.

“Is that a yes?” Ryder whispers in my ear.

I nod and then laugh, kissing him again.

“What are we going to do if it’s a girl?” he mutters under his breath.

I giggle. “We’ll figure that part out when we come to it.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ryder

“So, you’re sure about this?” Scar asks nervously.

I laugh and look around my empty apartment. It’s a little late to be second-guessing this.

“You’re asking me that now? After sending half my shit over to Chicago?”

“I just want to make sure you’ve thought this through,” she retorts. “Moving over there, it’s a big deal.”

“Scar, I’ve been living out of a suitcase on tour for the last eight years. I think I’ll cope,” I chuckle. “I want to be with you, okay? Besides, did you hear my mother when we told her? She’d kill me if I let you go.”

I press my mouth against hers and she smiles. I smirk, because I’m pretty sure she’s looking forward to being a part of my extended family almost as much as she’s looking forward to being with me.

“Okay. Then let’s do this.”

I drop Scar and Jake off at the airport, because there is something I still need to do—something I want to do in person. The whole drive over to his office, I think about what I’m going to say. I’m still so angry, and I can’t figure out how he didn’t see that she wasn’t a willing participant.

I knock on the door and walk in. He looks surprised to see me.

“Ryder, what the hell? I’ve been trying to get onto you for days. What’s this I hear about you taking a coaching position in the states? When were you planning on telling me this?” he glares at me.

“That’s why I’m here,” I say. I glance at the photo of him and his family that sits on his desk. Rage fuels inside me as I stare at his kids, all smiling and happy. “Nice photo.”

“Thanks,” he mumbles, his brow furrowing. “When do you leave?”

“Now.” I exhale slowly.

I had it all worked out before I walked in here, and now my head is just a mess of irrational thoughts. I can’t stop thinking about him forcing her to… My hands clench into fists beside me.

“Are you okay? You look a little off,” he says. The concern in his voice is genuine, but it doesn’t matter. It’s too late for concern. I don’t want to hear any of what he has to say.

“I’m only going to say this once, Matt. You make me sick.”