Healing Hearts (New Hope Falls #6) - Kimberly Rae Jordan Page 0,25
asked that embarrassing question. Hopefully Ryker didn’t think that having overnight male guests was something that happened frequently…if at all.
“Nope, buddy. I’m going to sleep at my own apartment.”
“Are you sure?” Bryson asked. “You can sleep in my room, since I sleep with Momma. I have my own bed though.”
“Why don’t you sleep in your room?” Ryker asked.
Sophia held her breath, waiting to see what Bryson would say. Anytime she’d tried to get him to sleep in his own room, he’d said he was too scared. Part of her hoped that Ryker wouldn’t say anything that would hurt Bryson, even if that would solve Bryson’s hero-worship of the man. Maybe.
“I’m…I’m too scared to sleep by myself.”
“I understand. When I was your age, I would go to sleep in my own bed, but sometimes I’d have a bad dream. If that happened, I’d go to my mom and dad’s room, and they’d let me stay with them.”
Sophia felt relief that Ryker hadn’t scolded Bryson for his need to sleep near her. Hearing footsteps headed toward the kitchen, she turned back to the counter where she’d been dishing up the food onto a plate. She’d just shoved it into the microwave when the two of them appeared.
“Momma, Ryker said he used to sleep with his mom too,” Bryson said as he hurried over to where she stood.
“Sometimes,” Ryker clarified. He didn’t mention the fact that Bryson hadn’t included his dad in that sentence. “I didn’t always sleep with my mom and dad. Just when I was too scared to stay in my bed.”
The microwave beeped, saving them from further conversation on that topic.
“I hope you like stir-fry and rice,” Sophia said as she pulled the plate from the microwave.
“I can honestly say that there’s not much I won’t eat,” Ryker said. “And I’ve been known to enjoy a stir-fry or two in my day.”
“Well, hopefully your expectations aren’t too high. Cooking for this guy means not a lot of spiciness, I’m afraid.” She ruffled Bryson’s now dry curls. “Why don’t you have a seat?”
“Thanks.” He pulled out one of the chairs and settled himself on it.
Bryson climbed up on the chair he usually used. “Do I get a treat, Momma?”
“Sure thing. Let me just get Ryker his food.”
She set the plate in front of him then got a glass from the fridge. “Uh…are you okay with water? The other option is milk.”
“I’m gonna have milk,” Bryson said.
“Well, maybe I should join Bryson and have a glass of milk,” Ryker said with a grin. “Never get enough calcium, right?”
Bryson’s brow furrowed. “What’s calcimum?”
Ryker chuckled. “Calcium is something that helps our teeth and bones stay strong.”
“Oh. I drink lots of milk.”
“Then your bones and teeth should be good.”
Sophia poured them both glasses of milk, then set them on the table. While Ryker began to eat, Sophia quickly prepared Bryson’s snack.
When she set it in front of Bryson, Ryker said, “Wow. Bananas and peanut butter. Classic combination.”
“They’re my favorite,” Bryson informed him around a mouthful of banana.
“Not with your mouth full, baby.”
Giving her an apologetic look, he swallowed. “Sorry, Momma.” Then he turned his attention back to Ryker. “I like bananas and peanut butter on pancakes too.”
“Yep. I like that as well.”
While she put away the containers of food, Sophia listened as the pair continued to discuss food. She had to give Ryker credit for holding up his end of the conversation with a four-year-old. A lot of guys wouldn’t even bother.
It was part of what made the idea of asking Ryker to back away so hard to accept. It appeared that Ryker was a decent guy, and if Bryson was in need of anything, it was good male role models. He’d had plenty of negative ones, so she was eager to replace those with positive ones.
But how did she do that without him getting overly attached to someone like Ryker?
And honestly, without her becoming overly attached as well. She’d always fallen too quickly for guys, especially ones that weren’t exactly good for her. Why that was, she didn’t know. But being unable to escape the last bad decision she’d made, she wasn’t in a rush to get into anything else.
Perhaps five years in hell had taught her to be a little more discerning in the men she allowed to get close. At least she hoped she’d learned that lesson, because she needed to be wiser about the people she let into her world now that she had Bryson to protect and take care of.