He drives toward the school, and my mind is going crazy. “Thank you for this, Ryker.”
He just smiles. “It’s no problem. I’m happy to do it.”
I nod. “Uh, I just wanted to see the swing,” I murmur as if I’m trying to explain why I was lurking outside his house.
His smile gets bigger, and he looks over at me. “You can see it any time you want. I’ll push you on it if you want me to. Like we did in high school.”
I bark out a laugh. “That would be a sight. I haven’t been on a swing in probably… well, probably since I was on that swing twenty years ago.”
His voice deepens. “Well, anytime you’re ready.”
I pull my coat tighter around me. I’m glad I have the bulky coat on so he can’t see my heart about to beat out of my chest.
When we get to the school, Brock and three boys are sitting outside on the school steps. I close my eyes and shake my head. Of course, I forgot that today is the day I pick up Brock’s friends, too. Some moms and I have a carpool thing for basketball season, and I completely forgot that we have a Tuesday night ritual.
I turn to Ryker. “I'm so sorry. We have a few boys to take home. I forgot today was my day. They live close to my house. You can just take us there and they can walk.”
Ryker reaches his hand out, and I think he’s about to touch me, but then he lets it fall to the console between us. “Izzy, stop. It's fine. Anything you need. I got you.”
The boys are all looking at the car, and I realize I'm going to have to roll down my window and holler for them. Once I figure out how to roll it down, I lean out. “Brock!”
My son’s mouth drops open. I’m sure he didn’t expect to see me in a high-dollar, blacked-out SUV. He and his friends run toward us. “Mom, this is sweet.”
He looks through window and sees Ryker.
His hand goes to his mouth. “Mom… Mom, that’s Ryker Kirby.”
I hide a smile. Of course, he’s excited. “I know. Get in.”
The boys all climb into the back. It takes a bit for them to get settled and into seatbelts because they’re all losing their minds. They can’t get over the fact that they are in a car with Ryker Kirby.
I turn in my seat and explain, “My car broke down, and Ryker is taking us home.”
“Mom!” Brock shouts from the second row of seats. “How are you not more excited than this? This is Ryker Kirby. The one that plays for your favorite team.”
I keep looking straight ahead. There’s no way I’m going to look at Ryker.
Ryker’s voice booms in the car. “Favorite team, huh?”
Brock laughs. “Oh yeah, she never misses a game.”
I can feel Ryker’s gaze on me. “Is that so?”
Brock laughs. “Yeah, Dad hates watching baseball. He always turned the channel.”
Ryker tenses besides me, but Brock doesn’t notice the shift in the air. No, because my son is too worried about food. “So, Ryker, are you going to Pizza Haven with us?”
CHAPTER 7
RYKER
As soon as Brock invites me to dinner, Izzy turns in her seat. “Oh no, boys. We will have to rain check on Pizza Haven. I'll make you dinner at home.”
It’s all groans from the back, and I should probably keep my mouth shut, but I don’t want this time with Izzy to end. “Uh, I would love to go to Pizza Haven with you guys. I mean, if that's okay, Izzy?”
She seems uncomfortable. “I can't ask you to do that.”
I laugh. “I would love it. I'll even get you your favorite—pepperoni and sausage pizza with all the vegetables.”
