Page 13 of When You Stayed
Taryn: Yeah…
Connor’s dad had a cousin who led a motorcycle club in Richland, we grew up knowing him as a pseudo uncle to all of us kids. He was the one who saved Connor’s parents back when they wereshot at during that Christmas we were attacked. Gripping my cell, I typed out a quick reply before sliding my phone into my back pocket.
Me: Can you please give Uncle Giles a heads-up that you’re there, that way if there’s any issues, he’ll be aware of it? Also, I opened your new mascara. Next time don’t leave it on the counter.
I didn’t check to see what she said in reply because my parents were leaving any second and if I wanted a ride, I had to get my ass downstairs.
At least that’s what Dad had called up to me five minutes ago.
Slapping my hand against the light switch, I made my way downstairs. Dad was checking his phone while the car outside warmed up and Mom slid into her coat.
“We almost left you.”
I walked up and pressed a kiss to my dad’s cheek. “You would never.”
Cold, brisk air expanded over my face and down to my exposed neck as I walked outside. I had on a small leather jacket, but it didn’t cover any exposed skin from the cut of my shirt. Sliding into the back seat of my father’s truck, I relished the warmth coming from the air vents.
Wes and Callie Ryan’s home was roughly fifteen minutes from where we lived, positioned up along the hills of Rose Ridge. The location allowed them a breathtaking view of the valley. Which was part of why I loved visiting so often while growing up. The Ryans had significantly more money than I was used to. While my grandmother was wealthy, and my parents seemed to make ends meet just fine, we didn’t have a luxurious home or luxury cars.
The Ryans had both, and more to spare.
This was mostly attributed to Wes Ryan’s television show that he’d had for, in my humble opinion, way too many seasons. Once he finally stopped filming, he began producing and funding other media ventures, which resulted in making him an ungodly amount of money.This was all gossip, of course, via the youngest member of the Ryan family: Ellie.
“When was the last time you came up, Royce?” Mom asked from the front, interrupting my thoughts.
I hadn’t even recognized we’d already reached the Ryans’ driveway. I watched as their solar lights lit up the asphalt to their rather large, four-car garage bay. Off to the side was the house, massive and gorgeous like I always remembered. I loved coming out here as a kid, especially at Christmas when their entire house would glow from the inside out.
“It’s been a while,” I replied nervously.
The reality was I hadn’t been back since I was a teenager. I was fifteen, it was a Christmas Eve party, where our families had all gathered. I would never forget that event because it was the first time I gained the upper hand with the eldest Ryan child. He’d held a card out for me to take, and I’d snubbed him. The look on his face made something in my chest shrink, but I remember burrowing into Connor’s side, pushing the feeling away.
Mom continued talking. “Well, Callie was excited when I mentioned you’d be coming with us.”
That was good. I had no idea if Ellie was still living here, or if she had moved out like her brother. Ellie was twenty-two just like Taryn, so it was possible that she had. What a waste of such a big house. If I lived here, I’d never leave.
Ambient lighting shone overhead as we exited the car and made our way to the front door. Callie really had a thing for solar lights based on her walkway and yard. There was a rather large patch of grass in front, protected by a tall, white fence, which had even more lights attached to the top of each post. With how remote their house was, I guess it made sense to have the added light to help see .
Callie opened the door and immediately stepped out, wearing a soft cotton dress. It swooshed around her ankles, making her look elegant and classy. She pulled my mother into a hug and asked. “Did you bring the salad?”
Mom wrapped her arm around Callie’s middle and sighed her answer. “Of course I did, it’s the walnut one too.” We followed the twoinside, watching as they quickly fell into their own language where they laughed and snarked back and forth, faster than any of us could keep up. Sometimes I forgot that the two had been best friends since before I was born. I’d heard the story several times, but over time I got a few of the details mixed up.
Something about how Mom visited Rose Ridge with Callie. According to Mom, Callie had been left the land the club sits on in her deceased father’s will. Mom was the one who encouraged her to stay here and push the local bikers around until they conceded and gave her what she was owed. I guess things didn’t go according to plan because Wes was the president at the time, and he’d never moved on from Callie.
Their love story was honestly so sweet, but crazy when you really thought of it.
The man didn’t kiss or screw anyone for nearly a decade. Pure insanity.
Even I wasn’t that dedicated to my first love. It took me about a year to date again after my breakup with Connor. I guess that meant what we had wasn’t fated, or true love, not like Wes and Callie.
“Royce!” Callie noticed me as we paused in her foyer. She pulled me into a quick hug, which made me feel like a kid again, poking around her house when I had no business being there. She seemed to know what I was up to and never called me out on it.
“Thanks for having me.”
Sheer, ridiculous opulence expanded before me as we pulled apart, and I slid out of my coat. Floor to ceiling windows that covered the front of their home, and went up, all three stories. Light carpet that hadn’t ever seemed to dull or stain for as long as I could remember, and then throughout the kitchen and dining area was hardwood.
“Hey, Royce!” Ellie suddenly called as she took the last few steps leading to the second floor. She looked like her mother with dark hair and hazel eyes, fair skin and the same exact smile. “I love that band, and the way that’s cropped is so cute!”
I glanced down at my T-shirt that I had modified myself. The band was an all-female group that sang moving songs to powerful rock music. It was like mixing poetry and the best electric guitar sets you’veever heard in your life. “Thank you. It’s good to see you, Ell.” I pulled her petite frame into a hug. She was dancing last I heard. Ballet, or something. Maybe she taught it? I had no doubt that I’d find out during dinner.
