Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“You got custody of us to stick it to your ex-wife because she wouldn’t bow to your every whim. So, not only did I grow up without a mom, but I also grew up without a dad. Grandfather is the only person who’s cared about spending time with me. And thankfully, despite the odds, I didn’t end up like you.”
“Your mother didn’t give a shit about you,” Henry hisses. “I got custody of you to save you from the ridiculous life she wanted to stick you in. She’s spent the last several years living like a damn hippy in some shitty RV.” He scoffs. “That expensive home you live in, the luxury cars you drive, the cushioned life you live are because of me!”
“No!” Ryder barks. “It’s because of me. I haven’t touched a dime of the money Gramps gave me. Everything I have—the house, the cars, the life—is because of me.”
Addie whines, and Ryder reaches over and picks her up, holding her tight against his chest.
“I’m not going to expose my daughter to you or your world. I’m done trying to be a part of this family. I want my daughter to grow up feeling loved and wanted and cared for—things I never felt because you were too busy trying to be king of the castle.”
“You’ve always had a thing for the dramatics,” Henry says.
“Begging someone for attention isn’t being dramatic,” Ryder points out. “But now, you don’t have to deal with my dramatics because as far as I’m concerned, I’m no longer part of this family.”
He glances at his brother, looking like he wants to say something, but instead, he shakes his head.
“I’m done,” are his final words before he takes my hand in the one that’s not holding his daughter and walks us back to the elevator.
The ride back down to the lobby is filled with quiet tension, and I don’t ask what we’re doing, not wanting to upset Ryder further. I don’t think he’d lash out at me, but he’s upset, and I think he just needs a moment to calm down.
When we get downstairs, he requests our vehicle and bags and then buckles Addie into her car seat while I follow suit, making sure Violet is buckled in.
“Are we going to the beach?” Violet asks in confusion when she realizes we’re back in the SUV.
“We are,” Ryder says. “But I was silly and took us to the wrong hotel.”
He sticks his tongue out at her, clearly trying to defuse the situation, and it works when she sticks hers out at him in response.
He drives a few minutes down the road and then pulls into another hotel.
“Wait here,” he says, leaning in and giving me a quick kiss before he jumps out.
A few minutes later, he returns with a soft smile splayed across his face. “You guys ready to go to the beach?”
Violet cheers in excitement, and Addie copies, neither of them having any idea all that just occurred.
“I think that’s a yes,” I say through a laugh.
We get the girls out once again, and the valet says they’ll bring our bags up for us.
I didn’t think it was possible, but somehow, this resort is even more luxurious than the last one. Just like last time, we ride up to the top floor, only when we get off, there’s only one door on the floor.
“Don’t worry,” Ryder murmurs as he swipes his card on the door to unlock it. “I made sure this suite has a hot tub too.”
He shoots me a panty-dropping wink, and just like that, the tension fades away, leaving Ryder, the girls, and me in our own happy little bubble.
chapter twenty-four
RYDER
Eric
Please come back. Let’s talk about this like adults.
Eric
Are you really going to just cut off the entire family?
Gramps
I heard what happened. What hotel are you staying at?
I ignore the messages from my brother and text my grandfather back the name of the hotel we ended up at. A moment later, he messages back that he’ll see us soon.
I’d rather not get into this shit with him when all I want to do is enjoy my weekend with my girls, but my grandfather has always had my back, so I’m not going to push him away simply because his son is a dick.
“The girls are getting hungry,” Kira says, plopping her wet behind next to me on the lounge chair we rented for the day by the pool. “I was thinking lunch and then a nap.”
She shoots me a flirty wink, and I pull her into my arms while we watch the girls play at the splash pad. Since Addie isn’t a strong swimmer yet—although she’s learning—the splash pad is perfect for them to have fun and be safe.
“My grandfather is on his way over,” I tell her. “He’ll want to meet you, and he’s only seen Addie a few times. Once he gets here, we can go eat.”