“Maybe next time, then,” Ryker says before leaning over and saying something to Lucy that has her giggling like crazy. The deep kind of belly laugh you hear every once in a while and that makes you stop just to enjoy the sound.
“Yeah. Next time.” There’s defeat in Joey’s tone, and now I feel like shit.
“She’s spending the night tonight,” I explain even though I don’t have to, as Ryker begins walking hand in hand with Lucy to the car. I know I don’t have any obligation to say anything, but it’s my way of trying to feel less guilty. If I’m not coming back here like I usually would, the break in routine explains to him how I forgot it’s pizza Tuesday. “I was able to get approval to have her stay tonight to make up for not getting to see her last week.”
“Great. Good.” He glances over my shoulder to Ryker. “Have fun.”
“You sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. I just didn’t know you were still with him is all. After the other night when he was at your house . . . never mind.”
I roll my shoulders at the mention and hate that it only serves to prove he was one of the only people who knew. I look out to the cars in the parking lot, debating whether I should just ask flat out if he said anything or not.
“Is everything all right?” he asks, bringing my attention back to him.
“Everything is fine.”
“You sure? I didn’t hear from you at all the past week.”
I narrow my eyes at him. Did he forget what was happening? “That’s because I wasn’t allowed to see her. Remember?”
“You could have called, though. I would have picked up.” He looks back again to the facility, his hands fidgeting with the jacket in them. “Everything’s all better now?”
“Appears to be. I’m getting to see her, aren’t I?” Something is off here.
“Yeah. I’m sorry. It’s just been a long week.”
“For you and me both.” I pause as he looks back to the office yet again. “Is everything okay with you?”
“Fine.” He takes a step backward. “I need to get back inside.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Vaughn
“Keep your eyes closed,” Ryker instructs as Lucy and I walk over uneven ground.
“This is ridiculous,” I mumble as Lucy giggles, and then I remind myself to see this through the eyes of a curious eight-year-old instead of a woman who isn’t too fond of surprises.
“It really is hard for you to let someone else be in control, isn’t it?” Ryker’s voice heats up my ear. “Relax, Sanders.”
“You’re right.” He is right. But having to cover my eyes with my hands while being led through wherever he’s leading us is downright ridiculous.
“Can we write that down? That I’m right?” His laugh rumbles over my skin as Lucy keens in excitement beside us.
“Funny.”
“Where are we?” I ask as the sound of people laughing in the distance can be heard. Horns honking. Birds chirping.
“I asked you to trust me,” he warns.
And I take heed of the warning, all the while trying not to be a little miffed that he took complete control of my first day with Lucy in a while.
“I had things planned out perfectly fine,” I say, knowing I sound like a brat, but the unknown is unnerving me.
“Up these steps here.”
“Because that’s easy to do when you’re blindfolded.” Another grumble from me.
“It’s like we’re on a secret treasure hunt, Auntie Vaughn,” Lucy says, the excitement in her voice snapping me out of my grumpiness.
“Right, Lucy? Just like that one princess movie,” Ryker says and chuckles because I know damn well he has no idea what he’s talking about.
“Smooth, Lockhart.”
“I try. A few more steps, ladies.”
“’Kay,” Lucy says.
The sounds all around us are so familiar, recognizable, and yet so generic that I have absolutely no clue where we are.
“Stop here,” he says and holds our arms in place. “Are you ready, Lucy?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” she squeals.
“I figured since you were a princess, I needed to arrange a date fit for royalty.”
Her giggle fills the air as she all but vibrates in anticipation beside me. “Can I look?”
“Yes.”
And if I thought her squeal was loud, then I don’t even know what to say about the sound she emits when she sees the scene set before us. We are on the terrace of the Belvedere Castle in Central Park. The whole thing has been transformed.
There is a canopy draped in some kind of sparkly fabric that sits over