Page 36 of Ryder

“It was sore,” I admit. “I couldn’t get my backside out of bed.” My mind wonders to Neve. She was right to be pissed last night. I didn’t even call to tell her I would be so late. I was too wrapped up in impressing Sass so she’d let me see my kid. I pull out my mobile and check for messages, when I see nothing, I dial the prospect. “Just gotta make a quick call,” I tell Sassy as she stirs the coffee.

He answers straight away, “They’re both home Pres, she picked the kid up early from school and she’s been in the house since.”

“Thanks, I’ll be there later. Stay posted until I arrive.” I disconnect and Sassy hands me a coffee.

“Everything okay?”

“All’s good.”

“You seem distracted,” she pushes. “Is it anything to do with Harlee and her Mum? I noticed she was back in school today.”

“I’m not distracted, I’m fine,” I snap. I take a calming breath. “I just want to meet my kid.”

“We can do it another time if you’ve got places to be,” she says, arching a brow.

I exhale, “It’s been a long day, not helped by the hangover. I’m not in a rush, I’m just tired.”

Before she can reply, Alfie runs through and Sassy gathers him in her arms, placing kisses over his face. “So, remember I told you that a special person was coming to meet you tonight?” she asks. Alfie nods, staring at me with curiosity. “Well this is Mummy’s friend, Ryder.”

“You have a funny name,” says Alfie, his voice barely a whisper.

I smile. “My real name is Ethan. Ryder is my biker name.” I slide the present across the worktop towards him, “I got you a present.”

Sassy places him on the worktop and he opens the paper wrapping, gasping at the cuddly dog. “Wow, that’s the one you wanted,” says Sassy, looking impressed. “Good gift.”

“Thank you,” says Alfie, grinning whilst cuddling the toy.

Neve

I tuck Harlee’s blankets around her soft, warm body, adding a gentle goodnight kiss to her forehead before turning out the lamp. She’s spent the last half hour crying for Ryder, and I’d almost caved and called him for her, but then realised I couldn’t spend the next few weeks doing that, I’d never get over him. I guess we both need to get used to not having him around.

I get downstairs and do a quick tidy up of Harlee’s toys before sitting at the kitchen table and opening my laptop. If I’m going to be an independent woman again, I need a job. Part of me wants to leave London and start again, but the thought of that is scary, especially alone.

Emails ping, getting my attention and I open the link, realising they’re from a dating app I’d signed up to one drunken night after my split from Finn. I smile at the email telling me I have new activity on my account and my curiosity peaks. It can’t hurt to look. I make myself a coffee then begin sifting through the men I’ve been matched with.

“You moving on already?” Ryder’s deep voice rumbles through me and I scream in fright, jumping up off my chair to find him standing at the back door.

“Christ Ryder, you scared the shit out of me.”

He saunters over, peering at the laptop. “Like’s walks in the park and romantic nights in,” he reads aloud. “Looking for younger woman to put the spark back into life.” Ryder rolls his eyes, “Desperate.”

“How did you get in?” I demand, even though I’m secretly thrilled to see him.

“Why are you on dating sites?”

“It came up on my email, it’s an old profile, I was just being nosey.”

“Or looking to replace me?” He arches an accusing brow as I lower back into my seat and click off the site.

“Did you see Alfie?”

“He’s the double of me when I was that age,” he says with a smile. “He’s a cute little kid.”

“You’ll get to see him more then?” What I’m asking is if he’ll see more of Sarah, which is stupid because of course he will.

“Siren I’ve told you over and over, you have nothing to worry about. Let’s talk about today and you going AWOL.”

“Let’s talk about you going out last night and going AWOL until the early hours, at which point you returned drunk.” He smirks and I know he’s turned on by my anger. I sigh, “I need my job, I need my independence and I have a responsibility to Harlee.”

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