Healing Hearts (New Hope Falls #6) - Kimberly Rae Jordan Page 0,136
breath and let it out. “Are you sure this is okay?”
“I’m very sure,” Ryker said, understanding in his gaze. “They want to meet you, and I want you to meet them. I know you’re worried about Callie, but you don’t need to be.”
He wasn’t wrong about that worry, and though she usually trusted him completely, she wasn’t sure when it came to this particular situation. Unfortunately, she had no choice but to accept what was to come because she’d already agreed to it.
“They’re going to love you as much as I do,” Ryker said, then paused, a smile taking over his whole face. “No. I take that back. I don’t think anyone could love you as much as I do.”
Sophia’s heart felt like it was going to explode with emotion. He told her he loved her regularly. And not just her. He’d started telling Bryson too.
Each time, the words for what was in her heart were on the tip of her tongue. Why she hadn’t been able to say them yet, she wasn’t entirely sure.
She knew that Ryker wasn’t Ezekiel. That he would never treat her the way Ezekiel had. Still, there was fear. She so wanted this to be a good decision. That after years of making bad or questionable decisions, this one would finally be the right one.
“They’re still going to love you a lot.” He always continued on to say something else after telling her he loved her. It was as if he didn’t want her to feel forced to say the words because of an awkward silence following his own declaration.
“Are they gonna love me too, Ryker?” Bryson asked.
Ryker scooped him up with a smile. “They certainly are.”
Sophia hoped that Ryker was correct in that regard. “Well, we’d better go so we’re not late and make a bad impression right off the bat.”
After she picked up her purse and a bag of toys and books she’d packed for Bryson, they left the house to climb into Ryker’s truck. He’d gotten a car seat for Bryson, so they didn’t have to always take her car whenever they went somewhere together.
It was almost an hour’s drive to his parents’ house, so she’d brought a few books for Bryson to look through. Since she wasn’t sure that they’d have any toys for him, she’d also put in a coloring book and some crayons so he’d have something to keep him occupied. She was very glad that he was easily entertained, so she didn’t have to worry about him getting bored.
As they drove, Sophia told him about her family’s dinner earlier that day. It had been another fun and exciting episode in the Chloe and Natalie show.
“Is there anything they won’t fight about?” Ryker asked.
“Not that I’m aware of. There have been times when I’ve wondered if Natalie was actually switched at birth. I mean, she’s so unlike everyone else in the family.”
“Really?”
“We’re all pretty chill, for the most part. Natalie is the only one that we really get into heated arguments with. Well, I try my best not to, but others in the family will take her on. Like Chloe. It just seems like Natalie has to be right about everything, and even when she’s clearly wrong, she still fights in defense of her opinion. Though some in the family don’t mind the weekly sparring sessions, they just stress me out.”
“Yeah, arguing is Callie’s love language too, apparently. Silas won’t even engage most of the time. I do on occasion simply because I find it hard to ignore some of the stuff she says. My dad will shut it all down if it happens at the dinner table, though because apparently, arguing gives him indigestion.”
“So is that your way of warning me not to incite any arguments over dinner?”
Ryker chuckled. “Definitely. Most definitely. I mean, I’m so worried about you doing that.”
After he pulled onto the highway, he reached over to take her hand. Sophia loved the feel of the rough skin of his hand against hers. It was a reminder that this man worked hard with his hands, and yet he was always so gentle with her and Bryson. She was grateful to be with someone who, even though he had the strength, didn’t use it against those who were weaker than him.
Ezekiel had been the opposite. He’d rarely done any hard work around the compound, but he’d been quick to use his fists when he got upset with someone.