Ryder briefly tookme to Target for the absolute basics. After dropping me off, Dolores swung by to check on me, and we went to grab my car. I also managed to call Dad and Tiffany, who is at the ER on a twelve-hour nurse shift.
Now, I’m sitting on Andrew’s couch, grateful that there are people taking care of me.
I really owe Andrew after this.
Then again, he’s not wrong—the gym’s focus must be maintained, ruined house or not. Warlord won’t wait for anyone, and I’mnotmissing the gala. That’s where the gym will make its debut.
The head coach is out for the night with one of his daughters, and Ryder is somewhere in the basement. I’m on my phone, texting everyone with updates. A slow yawn makes my eyes water.
Ryder’s footsteps echo on the wooden basement stairs, and I glance up when he enters the living room, that broad frame of his standing in the archway.
His gaze connects with mine, the room sparsely lit by table lamps. I hate and love how I nearly lose myself whenever I see him. I don’t know why I let my heart wander with thoughts about Ryder, but I just do.
“Thanks for grabbing me today, by the way. It was really helpful to grab a few things rather than just sit there.”
He sits in the opposite chair, sinking into it. “Hey, I play an ass on TV, but I’m not inconsiderate.”
It’s quiet between us, and I don’t know how to talk to him when we’re alone like this. No gym, no saving my ass, no massage table.
“Enjoy spending your free time down there?” I ask with a faint smile. “Whatdoyou do in your free time?”
It’s not as if I can sink any lower in his eyes. Might as well just be bold with him now.
He sniffs, rubbing his clean chin. “Mostly work out and watch Netflix.”
I grab my water from the coffee table. “Well, whenever you win Warlord, you can retire and gain a hobby. You’ll eventually run out of stuff to watch on Netflix.”
The corner of his lips slightly moves into what can almost be described as a smile, but it’s his vanishing scowl that gets to me the most. “I dothings, just privately.”
“Ah yes, the mystery of Joey Ryder.”
He shrugs, and once again, it’s like he wants to say more but refrains. It makes me wonder why he’s even bothering to sit down with me.
I fold my knees into a bow on the couch. “You do realize I have no interest in sharing anything with Andrew or the press, right? We’re on a team here. You can shoot the shit with me or just chat. I don’t care.”
Even that contemplation seems to get to him, like he’s torn between being friendly or wanting to resort back to our initial extremes of never bringing up the weather.
“Fine,” he concedes, looking at the coffee table. “One thing I did was be a volunteer for troubled youth. Did it with my sister a lot.”
My face reveals more surprise than I intended to show. “I... never would have guessed that.”
He examines those rough, veinous hands of his. “Had a shitty childhood. Kids deserve better than that, so I like to give help where I can.”
As grateful as I am for the break in his rigid character, I can’t stop wondering about the sudden shift in our dynamic. “So why be friends with me out of nowhere? This is all a bit more than small talk.”
He looks my way, his tongue pushing on the inside of his cheek. “The coffee wasn’t good enough, huh?”
I smile back, peeling off the wrapper of my water bottle. “Nope.”
Ryder gives a tepid smile, and he groans. “You’re not as bad as I expected. And fine, I accept you as a full-fledged member of this small team, alright? You’re good at what you do, and you’ve adjusted to my regimen quickly. No point in being shitty when you have Andrew to deal with. And you know, dealing with your house falling apart and shit.”
I wad up the paper I got from the bottle and mindlessly toy with it. I refuse to let my disheveled heart interfere with whatever progress is being made here.
“Well, it’s neat seeing a real professional up close and in person. I’m excited for Warlord, honestly. The sport is fun to watch, especially when competing. At least I have that to distract myself with.”
That seems to catch his undivided attention. “What’s the best fighter you’ve ever worked with?”
“Rory Hart.”
