Kyle, Jack and Ryan - LeAnn Ashers Page 0,48
It’s the least I can do.”
Wow, that is the most he has ever spoken. I know when to fight my battles and when to fold. I know he won’t budge on this going by the staredown he’s giving me right now.
I reach forward and take a hold of his much larger hand. “Thank you very much. You have gone above and beyond what I was expecting. I will forever be grateful.”
His face softens and I love seeing that on him, but more so because it’s aimed at me. I wonder what other expressions I can inspire in him…
Stop, Myra, don’t go down that rabbit hole. You may not make it out unscathed. I am also a woman who hasn’t had sex since before my daughter was born, but even then calling it “sex” was a long shot.
“Your room is right next door and mine is down the hall next to the stairs. I’ll let you guys get settled.” He hands me my bag, leaving me alone with Mia, who is busy trying to open her new toys.
I sit down on the floor, my back leaning against the wall, exhausted. The fear will always be with me until all of this is fully over.
But right now I think I can finally breathe a little bit. I was drowning for so long. I look at my precious baby, who is so innocent, and thinking of someone wanting to hurt her makes me want to kill.
“What’s the matter, Momma?” Mia asks, startling me. She sits down on my lap holding her baby.
I smooth her hair down her back. “Nothing, sweet girl, just tired.” She plays with her dolls and allows me to hold her. I needed this moment to fully catch up with everything.
A couple of hours later I have our clothes put away, toiletries out and it’s time for a snack for her before I put her into her bed.
She walks down the stairs with me holding her hand. We turn the corner to the kitchen and we see Ryan standing over the stove in a pair of sweatpants and a white T-shirt.
Sweet baby Jesus, who knew sweatpants could be so hot? He turns and looks at us. “Ry-Ry!” Mia calls and runs across the room to him. He picks her up and puts her on his hip.
“Did you have a good evening playing?” he asks her and looks up at me, his eyes moving from the top of my head to the tips of my feet.
I see the fire in his eyes; he likes what he sees. I can’t hide the smirk and his expression drops, knowing he’s caught.
“Is that pagettttti?” Mia yells out looking over Ryan’s shoulder at the stove. He plops her down gently on the counter opposite the stove. She claps her little hands together.
“Yes, I had a feeling you liked it.” He winks at her.
He puts some on a plate, using a fork to cut the spaghetti into smaller pieces, and I know right then he’s making it for her.
He’s precious. I know that’s not the ideal word for a specimen like him, but that’s my first thought.
I walk over and try to help. “I can handle it if you want to eat?” I offer.
“If you want, you can make your plate.” He finishes cutting up Mia’s spaghetti and gives her a spoon to scoop it up.
It makes me wonder how he knew that it’s easier this way for kids. “Can I ask you how you know so much about kids?” I can’t resist the urge to ask.
“My sister has two kids. I babysit all the time.”
That makes sense. “How old are they?” I ask, and make my plate along with Ryan’s.
“Jake is eight and Olivia is six. My sister is a single mother, so I try to help her out as much as possible to give her breaks.”
I put the plates on the table and Ryan carries Mia along with her plate, setting her up in the chair along with something to sit on so she can reach the table.
“That’s really kind of you! Your sister sounds like she’s a strong lady.” Ryan studies me like he’s trying to figure me out.
“She is and so are you. You did it alone too,” he points out.
That takes all of the air out of the room. I’m speechless. “Thank you, that means a lot.”
He doesn’t say anything else, leaving me to my thoughts and they’re mostly filled with Ryan and trying to figure him out.
Chapter Three
Myra
One Week Later
I