My mind was racing as I tried to process what I had just read in Kate’s journal. Clearly Ryder had no idea about the pregnancy with how he reacted to her saying she had sex with Jackson.
“So, Dani’s baby will be the first baby, huh?”
His eyes lifted as he looked at me. “First baby?”
“Yeah, you know … first grandbaby for your mom and dad.”
He narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment. “Unless Nate’s fathered a few kids we don’t know about.”
Letting out a chuckle, I shook my head and ate some soup. “That’s mean, Ryder.”
“The scary part is I’m not kidding.”
With a roll of my eyes, I kept eating.
“What about Jennifer? No desire to have kids?”
His eyes lifted to mine again. “Not that I’m aware of, but I doubt she would talk to me about that. Ava, you’re kind of freaking me out with this baby talk. Is there something I should know?”
“No! God no. I’m curious that’s all. I’m sure your mom and dad are excited, and I was just … curious.”
“Well, as far as I’m aware, Dani’s is indeed the first grandbaby on the way.”
I smiled and took another bite of the BLT.
“This room is beautiful.”
Ryder looked around as he took another bite and nodded. When he was finished chewing, he turned back to me. “This house is actually going to one of the kids when they get married.”
That peeked my interest. “Really? Who?”
“Well, it was Dani’s first pick, but she had no desire for it. Jennifer’s already said she doesn’t want it, so it comes down to me or Nate.”
Everything made such sense. Vanessa is after the house and the only way to get the house is … marry Nate or Ryder.
“How will it be decided?” I asked.
“Whoever gets married first.”
I swallowed hard. “Married first?”
Ryder smiled bigger and winked. “It’s pretty safe to say I’ve got this one in the bag.”
My stomach felt like I was on a roller coaster. “In the bag?” I croaked out.
“Yep. Hell will freeze over before Nate Montgomery ever marries a woman and settles down. I’m sure to beat him to the altar.”
Disappointment swept through my body like lightning as I quickly looked down at my soup. How silly of me to even get my hopes up like that. Ryder and I barely just started dating.
I forced a chuckle out. “Probably.”
We finished eating the rest of lunch in silence. I couldn’t stop thinking about Kate being pregnant. Of course the idea of Ryder marrying anyone but me about had me feeling sick and I had to force myself to eat.
“Ava? Are you even listening to me?”
My head snapped up as I looked into Ryder’s beautiful hazel eyes. “I’m sorry … what were you saying?”
“So what do you think?”