squints, looking outside. I follow her gaze. “What do you see?”
She sits back and waves me off. “For a second, I thought I saw my dad. It was weird.” That would be more than weird. I dart my gaze back outside, searching. There’s a ton of people, but none that look like her dad from what I can see. “I mean, I know it’s not him. Maybe my subconscious is feeling bad I left without telling him.”
“You probably saw someone that resembled him. Have you talked with him at all?”
She hangs her head and shakes it, her guilt seeping into mine. I didn’t think she’d hop on an airplane without telling her dad. As if he didn’t hate me enough. “Truthfully, I’ve been having so much fun, I haven’t thought much about home. Mama Doe hasn’t called you, so I know he’s okay.” She chews on her inner cheek. “But this is good. I’m twenty-five years old, I shouldn’t feel bad for wanting to live my life.” A glimmer of hope that she might want to stay fires up in my chest. “And it’s for only two weeks,” she adds, throwing water on the flames.
I take a long pull of beer until it’s empty, hoping she doesn’t read the disappointment on my face.
“What were we doing before I had a dad lookalike scare?” she jokes.
I point to her half-eaten dinner. “Watching you eat steak like a boss.”
Her smile grows. “I do like my meat.”
With a low, rumbling chuckle, I yank on her chair to move her closer to me. Dipping my head into her neck, I whisper, “Any time you want it, all you have to do is ask.”
Chapter Twenty
Aspen
“Hey Mo, what’s your drink of choice?” I stare at the enormous man speaking to me and I angle my head in confusion. Out of the corner of my eye, Ryker drops his, shaking it. We’re surrounded by five of Ryker’s teammates. I’m the size of an ant compared to everyone at the table. He wanted me to meet some of his buddies. Well, the ones that didn’t leave town. I try to ignore all the eyes on us from around the bar. Even if these guys weren’t famous, they’d stand out. They’re huge. The last three days in the mountains was a reprieve, not having everyone interrupt us every few moments for pictures or autographs. And I had Ryker all to myself.
“Is he talking to me?”
“Yes, island goddess, I am. What would you like to drink?”
“Um,” I start, still confused, but order since he’s staring at me. “Pineapple and rum is fine. Thank you.”
“Ignore him,” Ryker mutters, leaning into my shoulder. He tucks his head into my neck and takes a deep inhale, making me silently laugh. “What? I love how sweet you smell.”
I rotate my body in the seat. “Why did he call me Mo?”
He twists his lips at first, followed by a devilish grin. “What are you going to give me if I tell you?”
My mouth gapes open as he tries to negotiate. “How about what am I not going to give you if you don’t tell me?”
He licks his lower lip, flashing confidence that suggests he doesn’t believe me. He’d be correct. I’ve learned I have zero willpower when it comes to Ryker, yet he’s made me feel stronger in my skin, as a woman.
But my fantasy vacation ends in two days. Each second that passes is like a ticking time bomb, and it ends in devastation. Again. The past two mornings I’ve woken up with tears in my eyes. Dread pressing on my chest for the coming days. Even if I could stay, Ryker has mentioned nothing past my departure date. There’s no sadness in his eyes over us coming to an end. That stings more. But I push those thoughts from my mind, focusing on the now. I’ll deal with my broken heart when I’m home.
I thank Donnie again when he puts a drink in front of me. Since Ryker doesn’t want to tell me, I ask Donnie. “Donnie, you know my name is Aspen, right?”
He smirks, nodding his head. “Mo suits you better.”
“Why?”
“Yeah, Donnie. Admit your Disney fetish while you’re at it,” jests Hudson, sitting across from me.
“Shut the fuck up. Those movies are the bomb. If you’d ever watch ‘em maybe you’d figure out how to treat a woman.” He turns his attention to me, ignoring Hudson’s rebuttal about how he treats women like queens. “You’re the living Moana.”