Page 101 of Deserving Ryleigh
“No,” Ry said without hesitation. Bryce had never been a part of her life, merely one more person in the background that may or may not want to do her harm. If he was telling the truth, he’d done her a huge favor. And she wasn’t going to repay that by dragging him into their father’s misdeeds or legal trouble.
“Right. So, I feel as if I need to ask this again. And I’ll probably keep asking you for a while, just to make sure. Are you good?”
Looking up at the man she loved, Ry realized she was more than good. A huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Her dad was dead, her brother wasn’t waiting in the wings to take up where he’d left off. She could truly live now. Move on with her life…with Tiny. “I’m good,” she reassured him.
Looking around the room, Ry saw, to her relief, that no one was freaking out. Everyone was talking quietly amongst themselves. It didn’t seem as if anyone had left either. They were all still gathered together, supporting each other. “Everyone else seems to be handling what happened all right too,” she mused.
“The guys are pissed I didn’t tell them what was happening and call them in for backup,” Tiny said with a shrug.
Ry frowned. “It wasn’t as if we had time to casually give them a call and tell them what was going on. Besides, we thought if they’d left the bunkers, they’d set off the bombs.”
“I told them that, but they still aren’t happy.”
“Well, they just need to get over it,” Ry said a little huffily.
Tiny chuckled. “They will. They just need some time. Uh-oh, incoming.”
Ry turned and looked at where he indicated with his head, and saw all the women coming her way. Tiny let go of her. “I’m going to go talk to Wolf, but I’ll be watching. You need me to run interference, let me know and I’ll get you out of here.”
“Thanks, but I’ll be fine,” Ry told him, loving that he was both giving her spaceandkeeping watch over her.
He kissed her briefly before heading toward where Wolf was standing with his wife, talking to Woody and Isabella.
Ry braced herself for whatever it was her friends wanted to talk to her about, because it was more than obvious they had something on their minds. But Alaska didn’t give her a chance to say anything, she grabbed Ry and hugged her so hard it almost hurt.
“We’re so glad you’re okay,” Alaska said when she pulled back.
“I’m fine,” Ry reassured her and the others.
“You aren’t leaving,” Reese blurted.
“What?” Ry asked in confusion.
“In case you’re feeling all guilty, or like you’re somehow tainted because of what your dad did…we don’t want you to leave,” Reese said a little more calmly.
“Oh,” Ry said, surprised.
“We know you. You’re probably feeling as if maybe we don’t trust you because of what Harold did. Or we might hold a grudge, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Henley said gently.
“We need you,” Cora told her.
“Yeah, who else will fix the Wi-Fi when it goes out?” Maisy asked.
“Or get rid of the viruses on our computers?” Reese added.
“Or give me the Christmas Tree Cakes Robert slips you because you’re his favorite?” Lara said with a smile.
Ry felt so blessed to have these women as friends. She suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotion. “You all could’ve died. Your kids, husbands, friends and family…” She couldn’t continue.
Alaska pulled her into another hug. Ry felt Henley hug her from behind, then the other women joined the group squeeze. Ry was in the middle of all her friends, and she’d never felt so content, so loved.
“We didn’t,” Alaska said. “Besides, we didn’t even know we were in any danger, so if you’re thinking us being in those bunkers was traumatic, you’re wrong. You were the one who had the horrible experience, not us. And you saved us.”
Ry shook her head. “No, I didn’t. Wolf’s friend Dude did.”
But Alaska pressed her lips together stubbornly. “No,youdid. I don’t know everything that happened, but I’mpositive that you and your super computer skills figured out exactly what information the guys needed to do their thing. Us women, we’re stronger than society gives us credit for. We somehow form tiny humans in our bodies then squeeze them out our vaginas. We feed them, raise them, manage our husbands, work, and maintain friendships. We’reawesome. And you…Ry, you’ve overcome so much. And you’re sosmart. I’m sure you could go anywhere, work for anyone, but we want you to stay. With us. Here. Please tell us you won’t leave.”
“Leave?” Ry said, a little overwhelmed. “Why would I want to leave the only family I’ve ever known? The only friends I’ve ever had? Besides, there’s a lot of work to do around here with rebuilding the cabins, the bunkers have to come out, and so much more.”
