Page 63 of Milked

Knox took one of my hands as he sat across from me. “We are happy to know you, Ryder. And we’re happy to take care of you. You make us happy, too, with you in our lives.”

Soon, Finn came out with a travel mug full of coffee and sat next to me. I took the drink and sipped it, with the perfect amount of cream and sugar. It was weird to have so much sugar and cream, but it was the way I liked it. “That’s really good.”

The two men sat there and stared at me from behind their sunglasses, no doubt waiting for me to tell them what the hell happened. With a deep breath from my tight lungs, I told them my story. I owed them that much.

“You don’t know this… no one does other than anyone from back home, but I had a twin sister,” I started as my gut twisted, telling me to shut up and bury the pain deep inside, but I pushed on.

“Twin? Jesus,” Knox breathed.

“Had?” Finn asked softly, quickly figuring out who I’d lost.

“Yeah…”

I took a few more sips of the coffee to give me strength and fuel as I plunged forward with my story.

“Her name was Rowan.”

“What’s up, Bug Face?” I say when I answer Rowan’s call, loud country music playing in the background. I used to call her that when we were little to irritate her. Now, I use it as a term of affection. “It’s kind of late, isn’t it? I thought you were dancing with Bryce.”

“C-can you come get me?” Her voice is shaky, like she’s suddenly about to cry.

I’m instantly on high alert and in protective mode. “Where are you?”

“Broken Barrel Saloon in Omaha.”

“Tell me what’s going on?”

“Bryce has had too much to drink. You know how he gets sometimes. And if a man talks to me, he gets all jealous and takes it out on me as if it’s my fault.”

“Enough is enough, Bug Face. Let’s get you home. Move in with me until we can get a place for you. Then we can tell Mom and Dad what’s happening.”

“No! I’m fine. We just have our arguments, like all couples do.”

Not like all couples do, but I don’t tell her that because she always gets mad at me.

“And please don’t tell Mom and Dad. We’re just fighting. There’s no need for them to know all my arguments with Bryce. Please. Just come and get me. I’ll stay with you until he calms down like he always does. But… I’m tired of this, Rye. It’s getting old.”

“Where is he now?”

“I… I’m not sure. Outside, I guess. The bouncers kicked him out when he punched the guy hitting on me and then started yelling at me for it. I’m assuming he’s blowing off steam outside until I come out.”

“Okay. Stay inside with the bouncers. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

“Thanks, Stink Butt.”

I smile at that, which tells me she’ll be okay. “Are you safe?” I ask, just to be sure.

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I’ll text you when I’m close.”

We hang up, and I grab my keys and toss my boots on. I run out of my apartment and rush down three flights of stairs and into my old2005 Ford F-250.

As I drive as fast as legally possible toward Omaha, I hope Bryce has gone on home.

They started dating during our senior year at the University of Nebraska. He played football for the Huskers. It didn’t take them long to fall for each other.

I never liked the asshole, and I’ve told Rowan as much, but she never listens. Bryce is an arrogant prick, but whenever he’s around Mom and Dad, he puts on the charm, so they have no idea when she’s having problems with him; then she begs me not to say anything, so I never do. He tried his bullshit with me at first, but I saw right through him.

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