Fierce-Ryder (Fierce Family Series Book 7) Page 11

  “I’ve got a big family,” he said back.

  “And they should all know where you live by now,” she said. “Ryder!”

  They just got to the back of the house where she saw the streamers and balloons all over the place. “What?”

  “This is so cooooool,” Tommy said, running around looking at everything.

  “It looks like a bunch of nine-year-old’s decorated,” she said, laughing.

  He grimaced. “I just wanted him to like it. I guess I went overboard. I’ve missed all the rest of his birthdays.”

  She put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. You’re right. You have missed a lot.”

  “All,” he corrected.

  “All of them. You’ve got every right to go overboard for this. Even if it’s a little much. But what do you need me to help you with?”

  “Nothing,” he said. “I wanted it done before you got here. It’s being catered by Payton’s deli. Her staff is bringing everything over in about an hour.”

  “What time are we eating?” she asked.

  “I told everyone we’d eat around one. My guess is they will get here around noon, so the food will be here by twelve thirty.”

  “So I’ve got about thirty minutes before the family shows up,” she said. “Guess I should get Tommy’s stuff settled.”

  “It won’t take you long to unpack. But I picked up everything you needed for the bathroom.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “I took note of what you used when I was there and then bought it. All you need to bring now is clothes. Or you can leave some clothes here.”

  “I want to say that is pushing it.”

  “But you aren’t going to because you know it’s the truth. You should at least do it for some of Tommy’s clothes. Or I can pick some up and leave them here. It doesn’t hurt to have one change of clothes or extra.”

  “I always pack extra,” she said. “He’s a wild kid that gets dirty.”

  “Just like my brothers and me.” But he knew enough to not argue with her. He didn’t want any fights on this day. This was Tommy’s day.

  “Who else is coming? I have a feeling it’s more than your immediate family.”

  “It’s everyone. My parents and brothers, my Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Garrett and four cousins. Obviously all of their spouses too. My Aunt Jolene and Uncle Gavin are here from Charlotte. My cousin Ella and her husband, Travis, will be here along with my cousin Cade and his wife, Alex. All the rest are working.”

  “These are the five of Fierce Five beer, right?”

  “You drink beer?” he asked, grinning.

  “You know I do. But I’ll admit I’ve followed your family a little.”

  “Really?” he asked. “And why is that? Could it be you couldn’t forget me?”

  “You’re trying to be cute. It’s funny, but it’s not. The truth is I can’t forget you when I look at the mini version of you on a daily basis.”

  Points in his favor for sure. “Brody, Aiden, and Mason all work on Saturdays, so they couldn’t make it. You’ll meet them in time, I’m sure.”

  “There is going to be more than enough people here. Can you fill me in on the new ones so I don’t feel like a fool?”

  “Mom, can I play with one of the building kits Ryder bought?”

  “Go ahead,” he replied before she could. Tommy didn’t even wait for his mother to answer but ran back into his room to get one. He looked at Marissa to see if she’d correct him, but she didn’t.

  “He’s going to make a mess,” she said.

  “So? It’s his party. He can do what he wants.” She frowned and he tapped her nose. “Relax. My family is used to messes and lots of kids. Not an issue. Anyway, have a seat. You know all about my brothers and cousins here in Durham and their spouses and how they met. The Five...now that is a story I can’t wait to tell you.”

  “I’m not sure I want to know by the grin on your face.”

  “But it’s so funny. My Aunt Jolene and Uncle Gavin set all five of their kids up without them knowing it. It was a riot.” He proceeded to tell her the background of his five cousins, what their jobs were and how they all worked with their spouses.

  “So Ella was the only one that caught on, but she was actually set up first by her father?” Marissa asked, looking shocked. “And no one had a problem with this?”

  “No one knew. If they did, they might have, but they are all happily married with kids or kids on the way. I don’t think anyone is complaining. But trust me, the seven of us in Durham have had our eyes out to make sure our parents didn’t do it.”

  “Do you think they did?” she asked.

  “Nah. I told you how they all met. My mother is famous for trying to set us up with people that have similar careers or interests as us and she’s always been in our face about it. Dani and Payton are complete opposites of Sam and Bryce. No way. My parents couldn’t have anything to do with it. And my Aunt Carolyn never interfered with her kids. Looking at it all, there is no way they were involved.”

  “How can you say that?” Marissa said. “Didn’t you say your mother is the one who sent Sam to Dani and Bryce to Payton?”

  He paused and then thought. “But they have nothing in common with my brothers.”

  “Exactly. Maybe she was trying something different because everyone else didn’t work out.”

  “No,” he said firmly. “Maybe? I don’t know. I don’t believe it.”

  She laughed. “I have no idea, but I’m just saying it as an outsider. Drake works with Kara, so I get they knew each other. Noah and Paige seem farfetched based on how they met with Sebastian. Wyatt...well, you said your Aunt Carolyn did ask Wyatt to talk to her. And Jade and Brock...though they’d met at Ella’s wedding, didn’t your father and uncle put Brock and Jade together on that project?”

  “Yeah, but…I don’t know. Now I’m confused. It doesn’t matter. No one else thinks it that I know of. We’ve all brought it up in the past too and our parents laugh at us and say we are nuts.”

  “Did your Aunt Jolene and Uncle Gavin do that when their kids brought it up?”

  “Shit,” he said. “They did. Oh my God, I’m going to have to talk with my brothers and cousins soon and see what they think. Jade first. If anyone had an idea it was Jade.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Trust me. She is the most like Ella. I guarantee it.”

  “Has your mother tried to set you up with anyone?” she asked.

  “No. They stay out of my life.” He wasn’t in the mood to tell her why. That they’d given up hope because of the type of women he brought around. If his mother even brought up setting him up with anyone he’d find an even more annoying woman the next time.

  Looking back, he realized he did it all because he didn’t like being alone, but he wasn’t looking to settle down either. Everyone he dated was a person he’d never see himself with long term.

  He wanted fun and no stress or commitments. But watching his brothers and cousins all take the fall, he started to realize what he was missing in life.

  Now what he always wanted and lost was in front of him and he was determined to win her back.

  On his own!

  16

  On Your Toes

  Marissa hadn’t expected to see Ryder’s house looking like Tommy decided he was having a party and picked out all his decorations. Especially since the only kids were Tommy and Sebastian, who was a teen.

  But there were balloons, streamers, a pinata hanging from a beam on the patio. A table set up with more chairs outside on the patio. It was going to be an indoor and outdoor party since the weather was nice enough.

  She was already nervous about having his family all here again, but then to find out there’d be more was extremely daunting.

  Not to mention that his family was aware of the falling out she and Ryder had and how it was such a huge misunderstanding. And though Ryder had said his mother was livid with how her son treated her that day, she suspected none of t
hem felt it was an excuse to not tell him she was pregnant.

  That was one thing she was going to have to accept, that no one would forgive her for it.

  The other concern she had was that Tommy was going to be spoiled rotten with gifts. More than she’d ever given him. More than he ever got at one time.

  But she’d told herself she couldn’t say anything about it. She had to accept they were all making up for what they’d missed in the past and she had to bite her tongue.

  She and Tommy had talked about it on the drive down. That he was to thank everyone for everything, which she knew he would. But that he might feel overwhelmed and it was understandable.

  Maybe she was more concerned she was the one who was going to feel overwhelmed.

  And when Ryder’s house started to fill up, everyone came forward and was nice to her.

  “I’m so glad that Tommy is feeling better,” Diane said. “We were so worried when we found out he was sick again. How stressed you must be with it all. But please, if there is anything we can do, don’t hesitate to call us.” Then Diane put a piece of paper in her hand with some cell phone numbers on it.

  She’d already had Sam’s office and personal cell number in her phone.

  “We can’t wait to celebrate our grandson’s birthday,” Grant said. “Forgive us if we spoil him too much, but we are trying not to infringe on Ryder’s time with his son too.”

  They were making her feel guilty and she had it coming. “This is Tommy’s day with his father’s family.”

  Sam was talking with Tommy and asking him how he felt, joking with him too. Wyatt was there with Adriana and Marissa could hear them talking pretty nonchalantly about the up-and-coming surgery. She was grateful that everyone was being so good about relieving her son’s mind.

  “Let me help you set up.”

  She turned to see Payton standing there. “Thanks.”

  “I’m a little particular about how the stuff is set up. Ryder is a great cook, but his style and presentation leave a little to be desired.”

  “You don’t like how he decorated?” Marissa asked, grinning. She’d liked Payton the last time they talked. She was very down to earth.

  “He’s a little out there, but he’s excited too. I understand that. You’re probably feeling pretty out of place and I just wanted to let you know I understand. This family was a lot to take in, but they are so welcoming and understanding. I’m not used to this lifestyle, but they aren’t in your face about it either.”

  “It is a lot. Tommy isn’t used to this either.”

  “And you’re worried he’s going to want it,” Payton said, moving things around, but stopping to pat her hand. “It looks like you’ve done a great job grounding him. I don’t see him wanting anyone other than his mother, and he is a kid. Let Ryder do this. I know you haven’t seen or talked to him in years, but he’s got a good heart.”

  “He always did,” she said.

  “We all heard what happened. I can see Ryder being that way. Maybe. What I know of him is he takes nothing seriously and I have to wonder if maybe his heart was broken back then and that’s why he is the way he is now?”

  Just what she needed on her shoulders. And though she wanted to ask what Payton meant about how Ryder was now, she didn’t. “Mine was too,” she said.

  “Maybe it can be repaired.”

  “I have to put Tommy first,” she said.

  “It doesn’t mean you can ignore what you and Ryder might have.”

  When Payton was done she moved away and then the front door opened and a small woman came rushing in. “Where is he?” she heard and turned to look and see a much bigger man following. This must be Gavin and Jolene Fierce. “I want to see my great-nephew.”

  “Jolene,” the man said. “Slow down. Grant, where do you want this stuff?”

  Gavin was loaded down with a few bags full of things. The same as everyone else that came in the door. This was getting out of hand, but she kept her lips sealed.

  “Ryder has it all over in that corner,” Grant said, moving forward.

  “Ella, Travis, Cade, and Alex are behind us. They drove together. Well, Cade drove because otherwise he’d be green when he got here.”

  “You mean if he didn’t throw up a few times on the way,” Ryder said, moving forward and stopping by her side. “Aunt Jolene, Uncle Gavin, this is Marissa. Tommy’s mother.”

  She shook hands with both of them and noticed that the woman that had set all her kids up was eying her up and down more like Ryder’s girlfriend than his ex. Oh man, she was going to have to keep an eye on things here. It was the last thing she needed. She hadn’t gotten that vibe from Diane... at least before today.

  Things could get a little bit messy and she wasn’t good at cleaning up.

  A few minutes later Ella walked in—more like waddled in—with her husband who was the biggest man in the room. Good grief. Travis was massive and she’d heard that Brock James had been his commanding officer as Navy SEALs, but Brock wasn’t as big as Travis. This family was intimidating on its own, but add in the spouses and it was more so.

  Ella was just like Jade. Dressed more than the rest, beautiful, but very polite even if she looked slightly uncomfortable and ready to deliver her child any day. Ella pulled her aside and said, “Stay on your toes in this family.”

  Marissa smiled and thanked her. It was similar to what Jade had made comments about now and she was starting to suspect there might be something going on behind the scenes with the parents that even Ryder couldn’t out.

  How could he not figure it out when she did?

  Was it only the women who could see it?

  Cade came in followed by his wife, Alex. She was just stunning and she was saying, “I can walk just fine, Cade. You don’t have to hold my arm.”

  “But you’ve got my two prodigies in there. I want to make sure you don’t fall.”

  Everyone started to laugh that heard that statement. “Prodigies. Please. I’m just hoping they don’t come out puking like you did this morning.”

  Jolene stopped and turned. “Cade. Are you sympathy puking still?”

  “I can’t help it,” Cade said. “Alex started to eat something and turned green and ran to the bathroom.” Cade started to shiver. “Once she started to gag I was done. I had to go to the other bathroom.”

  Marissa laughed. “I know that feeling,” she said to Alex. “I was sick the entire pregnancy with Tommy. It was horrible.”

  “You didn’t tell me that,” Ryder said. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

  “I don’t know. It hasn’t come up. But trust me, it was horrible. I’d be sitting at my desk working, get up, go puke, then go back to work. There was no rhyme or reason for it.”

  “I’m not that bad,” Alex said. “Thank God. Just certain foods do it and I try to stay away from them. But Cade made mushroom omelets and for some reason they were slimy in my mouth and that was it.”

  “Let’s stop talking about this,” Ryder said. “Cade just made a dash for air outside. He looked like he was turning green again. I thought he got better, not worse.”

  “He was fine,” Alex said, “but this pregnancy is making him nervous. He’s driving me insane. I’m fine. He needs to get over it.”

  “Maybe it’s hard for a guy to understand since they aren’t the ones going through it but just watching,” Ryder said.

  “Probably,” Alex said and then moved away.

  Marissa looked over at him. “I can tell already you would have driven me nuts.”

  “I guess we’ll never know,” Ryder said and then moved away. It was probably the worst thing she could have said and reminded herself to not let her guard down.

  The party was going well. Tommy was having a ball talking to everyone and filling his face with a ton of food.

  When Ryder brought out the cake decorated in baseball players, Tommy thought it was the best thing ever. He loved the trick candles too and laughed when Ryder said it was Wyatt’s idea.
r />   The pinata was a huge hit, with everyone taking swings but letting Tommy break it. Even the candy got shared by all, herself included.

  It was when Tommy started to open gifts that she had to sit back and just let it go. She made Tommy tell her who the gift was from and she was writing it all down so they could send thank you cards. She couldn’t rely on him to put the card back with the gift and didn’t want to get any wrong.

  And there was a lot of stuff. She wasn’t even sure she could fit it all in her car to bring back and had to consider maybe keeping some of it here to get next time, or keep it here for Tommy to play with when he visited. Ryder wouldn’t have a problem, she knew that, but would Tommy?

  Once Tommy was done with the family’s gifts, Ryder brought his out. He got a new glove and bat and a jersey of Tommy’s favorite player that had Tommy cheering.

  But the last gift had Marissa wanting to scream.

  “An iPhone,” Tommy yelled. “Mom, Ryder got me an iPhone.”

  “I see that,” she said, wanting to grind her teeth. That was something he should have talked to her about. “We are going to have to have rules for that.”

  “I want him to be able to call me when he wants,” Ryder said. “That’s what it’s for. Listen to your mother on the rules, but this way he has a direct line to me and everyone in my family. Including his doctor.”

  “We all put the number in our phones,” Diane said. “You can call or Facetime with any of us any time you want now.”

  Marissa closed her eyes and realized that she was overreacting. “That’s nice,” she said. “Tommy, what do you say to Ryder?”

  “This is awesome,” Tommy said, putting it down and running toward Ryder and giving him a hug.

  She saw Ryder’s eyes get a little misty and realized it was the first time Tommy had done that.

  Her son had been pretty accepting of Ryder and his family, but he was still Ryder to him. Not dad.

  Though Tommy knew Ryder was his father, he was more his friend at this point.

  Not after today though. Now Ryder flipped over to father status and one that she might not be able to compete with.