Surrendering Series Box Set

“Do you really want the tour?” I asked Ryder. He looked around and then up at the ceiling.

“I guess. It’s interesting seeing how the one percent lives.” I knew the one percent comment was a jab at my parents being wealthy, but I ignored it. I might think the same thing if I’d grown up like Lucah and Ryder. I’d probably hate and resent me too.

I made the tour quick, and Ryder made few comments.

“So you grew up here?” he said, fiddling with a lamp in the den, before Lucah gave him a harsh look. I didn’t think he was going to intentionally damage anything. Hell, I’d grown up here and I wasn’t the most graceful of people. I’d broken more things than I could count. My parents never really cared about the stuff as much as I worried they would when I broke it.

“Yeah, I did.”

“Just you? No siblings?”

“Just me.”

“Huh.” He nodded and continued his inspection. Lucah watched him like a hawk, or a mother with a toddler in a museum. I kind of wished he’d say something, but he didn’t.

“And what’s the verdict?” I said as we came back to the main room. Ryder shrugged.

“It’s not as insane as I pictured in my head. It’s comfortable, actually.”

I shared a glance with Lucah. That was pretty much the nicest thing Ryder had ever said to me, so I was going to count it as a victory.

Mom and Sloane were still gabbing away, and I stopped for a minute to watch them. Mom always looked younger when she talked to Sloane. Despite the difference in their ages, they always talked and acted like they were barely a few years apart.

Lucah cleared his throat and they paused, mid-giggle.

“Oh, there you are. Your father is just finishing dinner, so if you all want to sit down.” She motioned toward the chairs, but then guided Sloane so she was sitting next to Mom, and then Ryder next to Sloane, with Lucah and me on the other side. It was a formal setup, with Dad at the head of the table and Mom at the other end.

There was a completely awkward moment when Dad came in with the giant salad bowl. He must have forgotten that Ryder was coming, because he looked up and down the table and then almost dropped the salad bowl, but got it on the table in time.

“You must be Ryder. It’s nice to finally meet another member of Lucah’s family.” He gave him a handshake, and it couldn’t have been my imagination that Dad winced when he shook Ryder’s hand. I’d have to talk to Ryder about that later.

“It’s a honor to meet you, sir. I’ve heard great things.” Lay it on thick, why don’t you? I almost wanted to kick him under the table, but I couldn’t reach.

“Well, I’m sorry I wasn’t out here earlier to welcome you. The dinner was proving to be a little finicky.” Mom got up to help Dad bring the rest of the plates in.

“I thought he’d be taller,” Ryder commented as the rest of us unfolded our napkins and put them in our laps. “I always think people are going to be taller than they turn out to be.” No one commented, but Sloane nudged him to put his napkin in his lap. It was good she sat next to him. I hadn’t even thought about that part of the equation. I’d been too worried about him saying the wrong thing. It was lucky for Ryder that my parents didn’t believe in multiple forks and spoons.

The dinner was laid out and plates and bowls were passed and silverware clinked and Mom, as per usual, kept the conversation light and constant. She talked mostly to Sloane and Ryder, and I had to hand it to him, he held his own, and the word fuck never crossed his lips.

He also seemed to have inherited Lucah’s knack for playing the part a situation would require. Next to me, I felt Lucah relaxing and he started chatting with Dad instead of constantly watching Ryder to make sure he didn’t screw up.

“This is one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time, Sloane’s cooking excluded,” Ryder said as the dessert, little cookie sandwiches with frosting in the middle (very out of character for my parents, but they were probably trying to do something casual to make Ryder feel comfortable) were passed around and coffee was poured.

“Oh, do you have any tea? I’m trying to cut back on my caffeine intake,” I said, and Dad went to put the kettle on.

“Could I have tea as well?” Sloane asked, and then Ryder said he wanted some, too. It was a little bit adorable.

“So, Ryder, how do you like living with your brother again?” Mom said. Uh oh. Potential conversational land mine.

Lucah and I waited for Ryder’s response, hoping that this would continue to go well and not burst into flames.

“Well, at least this time I have my own room. We used to share one, so that’s an improvement.” Ryder seemed to be more open about the specifics of their childhood than Lucah.

“I bet that was fun sometimes, though.” My mother could make a conversation with just about anyone, but I didn’t think she’d ever conversed with anyone like Ryder.

Ryder shrugged.

“It was at least better than that time we lived in the car. Then I didn’t have any room.” What? Lucah had never told me about that. Lucah’s eyes narrowed and I could feel him shooting daggers at Ryder.