Ready or Not (The Love Game Book 4)

by Elizabeth Hayley

  “Hey, Mom, I gotta go. But I’ll call you this week. Okay?”

  “Can’t wait.”

  “Great. Talk soon. Bye.”

  “Bye, Ransom.”

  I disconnected the call and pushed the phone into my pocket. “That was my mom. Kari.”

  Taylor tilted her head slightly, as if prompting me to go on.

  “We’re going to talk more.”

  “Because you want to?”

  I smiled. “Yeah.”

  She returned it. “Good.”

  We stared at each other for a few more seconds, getting lost in a moment that was charged with so many emotions I couldn’t even discern them all. There were so many things I wanted to ask, but I was afraid of the answers. In a split second, I made the decision to let my heart guide me. It would be on her to tell me to back off.

  Though it probably wasn’t the best time for my heart to guide me in that exact moment, because Cindy was looking back and forth between us like she was trying to solve a Rubik’s cube.

  “Who’s hungry?” I asked to break the moment so I didn’t go over and maul Taylor while Cindy was with us.

  Cindy raised her hand, causing Taylor to chuckle and follow suit.

  “Then let’s get to it.”

  I took the dogs out while Taylor pulled out the ingredients for what she called eggs in a basket. Fifteen minutes later, I learned that meant cutting a hole in a perfectly good piece of toast and cooking an egg in the hole.

  Cindy and I looked at each other warily before taking a bite. It was definitely better than it looked.

  “Told you,” Taylor said before digging into her own breakfast.

  None of us had taken more than two bites when the door flew open and a harried Harry appeared with three kids trailing in behind him.

  I stood quickly. “Hey. Did I miss a text?” I asked, pulling out my phone to look at it. “I thought you said in your last text you’d be a couple more days.”

  “I was. But then…” Harry’s gaze landed on Cindy. “Taryn called me. She has an opportunity to stay on for a couple more days, so Cindy’s going to stay for a few more days.”

  That struck me dumb for a second. Had Taryn really called Harry while he was visiting his sick father-in-law because she needed a babysitter? Jesus. I looked from Cindy to Taylor back to Harry.

  “But… Justin’s dad. Is he…?”

  “Doing better. Justin wants to stay up there a bit longer until he gets released, so he can help him get settled back in at home, but we thought it was important the kids get back to their routine since he’s out of the woods.”

  “Oh. Okay. Um, can I talk to you in the other room for a second?”

  Taylor stood. “Do you guys like eggs in a basket?”

  “What’s that?” Oliver asked.

  “Can you eat it?” Grace said.

  “You sure can.” She started moving around the kitchen as the kids took seats at the table.

  Harry followed me into the living room.

  “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about Cindy,” I said. “I didn’t want to add to your stress.”

  Harry blew out a long breath. “I do wish you’d told me, but that responsibility falls more on Taryn’s shoulders than yours. When she called me last night…” He rubbed a hand over his face. “It’s not that I didn’t know she was safe with you, but Cindy’s a particular kid. Justin and I had already discussed me coming back today, but I may have panicked a bit and left earlier than anticipated after a fairly sleepless night. Taryn should’ve been more responsible.” He hesitated as he cast a look back at the kitchen. “I think it’s time we sat down as a family and faced some hard truths and do what’s best for Cindy.”

  “You’ll let me know if there’s anything I can do?”

  He turned to me and laughed. “I think you’ve done more than enough.” His words didn’t come across as sarcastic. More disbelieving that I’d offer to do more to help him. “But I’ll keep the offer in mind.”

  I nodded, unsure of what else to say.

  “Let’s go get some of those weird egg things Taylor was making,” Harry said.

  “They’re not too bad.”

  “Huh. That…surprises me,” he said. Taylor’s lackluster snack preparations clearly preceded her.

  “I know, right?”

  We finished breakfast, and then Taylor and I excused ourselves to gather our things. When it was time to leave, the whole family saw us off.

  I knelt down in front of Cindy. “See you soon, Cinnabon. Thanks for hanging out with me this weekend.”

  She didn’t respond, which I expected. But when I went to stand, she threw her arms around my neck, squeezing tight. I returned the hug, soaking up the affection of this little girl who’d carved herself a special place in my heart.

  “Bye, Ransom,” she whispered before pulling back and falling into line beside the other kids.

  I hurried through the rest of my goodbyes, worried my emotions would bubble over and embarrass me. Then Taylor and I walked in silence to her car.

  “So, that was a pretty special moment.”

  I looked into her beautiful blue eyes. “This weekend was full of pretty special moments.”

  Her cheeks grew pink, and she looked away as a shy smile spread across her face. “Yeah, I guess it was.”

  “Maybe we could have a few more,” I asked.

  She opened her car door before replying. “Maybe we can. See you at work, Ransom.” Then she got in the car and started it up.

  I watched as she pulled away from the curb and drove down the street, hoping we were heading in the same direction.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  T A Y L O R

  The fire pit at the Yard always made everything better. So what if Manny threw up a few feet away from me at work today—thankfully into a nearby trash can—and then I had to run out of the room so I didn’t vomit too? So what if Harry had gotten mad when I’d left the room full of children unsupervised? Most of them were old enough to watch themselves and their younger siblings anyway.

  He hadn’t exactly appreciated that defense, but he’d quickly softened when he’d seen how pale I was and decided it was best to go into the room himself to clean up and take care of whatever other disasters I’d unknowingly run from. I did feel bad about it considering Harry still had a lot on his plate, but not bad enough to clean up vomit that wasn’t mine.

  Second to a hot shower, which I’d taken immediately after I’d gotten home, the fire pit made me feel refreshed. Something about the crackling of the flames and the smell of the burning wood felt meditative. The weather had just started getting cold enough to wear a coat, but thinking the warmth from the fire would be enough, I hadn’t brought one with me, and I was colder than I wanted to admit.

  Ransom pulled me against him, his large hand rubbing over the sleeve of my sweater. “Here, take my sweat shirt,” he offered. “You’re still cold.”

  “I’m okay.”

  Ever since our babysitting gig last week—or more specifically, the mind-blowing sex we’d had—I’d been overthinking everything that happened between us. Every touch, no matter how innocent, the drink he’d bought me earlier, his offer of a sweat shirt. Somehow all of it meant more than it probably should’ve.

  I liked Ransom. There was no denying that. He was sweet and funny, and we made a good team at work and when we’d taken care of Cindy. Ransom was comfortable, familiar in the same way as a favorite pair of sweat pants. You loved the way they felt but couldn’t exactly commit to living in them completely.

  Before I could refuse the sweat shirt again, Ransom was taking it off and handing it to me, and I was putting it on, amazed at how huge it still felt even over my sweater.

  “Woohoo,” Aamee called. “Take it off.”

  I glared at her, my jaw tight.

  “What?” she asked innocently.

  Aniyah glanced between us and then over to Toby and Carter, who looked just as confused. Maybe I shouldn’t have reacted.
I’d drawn attention to the very thing I’d been trying to keep under wraps.

  “What’d we miss?” Carter asked.

  “Ransom’s striptease,” Aamee answered, grinning from ear to ear. “It was quite a show.” She said each word as if it were its own sentence before leaning back into her Adirondack chair and taking a sip of whatever orange drink she was holding.

  “Does your mom know you’ve been sniffing the permanent markers at work again, Aamee?” Sophia asked, bless her loyal heart.

  “First of all, I only sniff Crayola Silly Scents. They smell like jelly beans, and they remind me of my childhood. Second of all, I don’t work at my mom’s company anymore.”

  “Ouch,” Sophia said. “Your own mother fired you? And after only a few months? That probably won’t look good on your résumé.”

  “She didn’t fire me. It was a mutual parting.”

  “That sounds like something someone would say after they got dumped,” Toby told her.

  “You don’t even know what it’s like to be dumped because that would involve someone wanting to actually date you in the first place. So maybe stick to things you know, like…the planets and anime porn.”

  Toby probably realized it wasn’t worth arguing with her, so unfortunately, he let her continue talking.

  “Didn’t Brody tell you I’m moving back here in two weeks?”

  Judging by most of our expressions, Brody had not told anyone. She’d been coming up on weekends more frequently, but this was the first I’d heard about her moving back. I turned to Ransom.

  “Don’t look at me. I had no idea.”

  “Really?” Aamee seemed shocked. “I mean, when I told him, I asked him not to mention it, but it’s Brody, so I figured acting like it was a secret would ensure he’d tell everyone so I didn’t have to. He really didn’t tell any of you?”

  “Nope,” Carter said, and the rest of us shook our heads. “I think that’s something we’d remember.”

  “Seriously?” Aamee craned her neck and looked toward the bar like a turtle searching for food until she spotted Brody. “Brody! Brody!” she yelled before he’d even had a chance to answer. She waved her hand for him to come over, and when he was done serving the customer he was getting drinks for, he came out from behind the bar and jogged down to where we were sitting like a labradoodle hoping for a treat. She really had that puppy on a short fucking leash.

  “What’s up?”

  “Uhh, you didn’t tell anyone I’m moving back.”

  “Right. You told me not to, remember?”

  “Yes, I remember. That’s why I told you not to tell people. So you would.”

  Brody looked more confused than usual. “I don’t get it. Did I do something wrong? You told me not to say anything, so I didn’t.”

  “Since when can you keep a secret?” Aamee asked.

  “Since Ransom asked me not to tell anyone he was a stripper.” He seemed proud for a split second before the reality of what he’d said sunk in. “Shit! I mean… I didn’t mean… Sorry, man.”

  Shaking his head, Ransom laughed. I wondered how long Brody had known. “It’s all good. Aamee kinda outed me already anyway a few minutes ago.”

  “Aamee? How did she know? I swear I didn’t tell anyone, even her.”

  “Yeah. I know you didn’t. I ended up getting booked for a bachelorette party that turned out to be the one Sophia’s sorority sisters were throwing for her.”

  Brody turned back to Aamee, appearing just as surprised as the rest of us. “You didn’t tell me that.”

  “Well,” she said, sounding prouder of herself than she should have. “You’re not the only one who can keep a secret. For a little while,” she added.

  “Okay, so does everyone know now?” Ransom asked.

  “Drew doesn’t,” Sophia said. “I didn’t know how he’d feel about me seeing your…you…like that. Plus, it’s not my business to tell. And I guess Xander doesn’t know either.”

  “He knows.” When we all looked to Aniyah, she added, “I texted him as soon as Brody said it.”

  Aamee looked around at the group. “Okay, so is that it for the secrets, then? We’re not gonna find out you two fools are dating each other or something, are we?” she asked Carter and Toby.

  “Well, if that’s the case, it’s a secret from us too,” Carter joked.

  He and Toby laughed awkwardly, and I couldn’t blame them. Aamee really knew how to put people on edge.

  “I’m gonna go to the bathroom,” I said. “Soph, you wanna come with me? We can stop at the bar to grab another drink and say hi to Drew on the way back.”

  We both got up, and after hitting the restrooms, we made our way through the crowd to the bar where Xander and Drew were working.

  “Can you tell Brody to come back when you get a chance?” Drew asked. “We’re swamped here.”

  Sophia texted Brody, and he was back in a minute, overly apologetic and mumbling something about Aamee that none of us could decipher.

  Drew came back over a couple of minutes later with our drinks, and before we headed back to the group, Sophia asked, “So what’s up with you and Ransom?”

  I hadn’t told her about what happened between us, but I knew better than to lie about it. Besides, she already knew something was going on, or she wouldn’t have asked. And she was asking about more than the sweat shirt he’d loaned me or the fact that he’d been rubbing my arm to warm me up. She was asking about feelings. And I didn’t know if I had an answer for that.

  So I did the best I could to fill her in on the time we’d spent together, how…domestic, how right all of it had felt. And I told her about the sex, keeping only a few details for myself. She listened to all of it without saying much of anything until I felt like I’d told her all I could.

  “Wow. That’s…a lot,” was all she said.

  “I know. When I moved here, I had zero intention of getting involved with another guy. Not after Brad.”

  After I’d told Ransom about the picture Brad had sent, Sophia was my next stop, and she’d been equally concerned, though she definitely wasn’t as visibly angry. She seemed to understand how much the situation with Brad broke me and that it would take more than a hot ex-football player to make me whole again. I needed to make myself whole before I could share any part of myself with someone else.

  Which was why it surprised me when Sophia said, “Well, you don’t have to make any final decisions right now. Just do what feels right and see what happens.”

  It seemed like simple enough advice, but the ambiguity of it left too much open for me to fuck up. If I decided to begin something real with Ransom, I risked getting myself in too deep too quickly, and if I decided not to be with him, I risked losing out on something that I felt had the chance to make me happy. Really happy.

  And if I just waited to see what happened, like Sophia suggested, I risked dragging both myself and Ransom along until I eventually broke both our hearts.

  I took another sip of my drink before suggesting we get back to the rest of the gang. When I arrived, I sat back down in my chair next to Ransom and put my phone on the large armrest.

  Somehow, I still managed to knock it over onto the grass. Ransom leaned over to retrieve it, but as he brought it up toward me, the text on the lock screen glowed in the dark like a neon sign on a desolate Las Vegas highway.

  Miss you, babe. See you soon.

  When he handed it to me, his face fell. There was no doubt he’d seen the text too, even if he hadn’t meant to. And though I was sure he wanted to ask about it, I was also sure he wouldn’t.

  Brad.

  “That’s not what it looks like,” I offered as an explanation, albeit an extremely poor one.

  “What is it, then? Who is it?”

  “It’s not…not anyone important,” I settled on, feeling somewhat satisfied that at least I hadn’t lied.

  Ransom was quiet for a moment as he focused on his hands, which were clasped in front of him as he leaned forward onto his t
highs. “So is that someone you’re talkin’ to or…?” he asked, bringing his gaze up to me.

  “No.”

  “Taylor, come on. I think I deserve more than that—”

  “Deserve? Really? And just what is it you think you deserve from me, Ransom?” Brad had thought he’d deserved things from me—more than I’d ever wanted to give.

  Ransom looked around at our friends, obviously wanting to make sure we didn’t garner an audience.

  I didn’t want that either, but I kept my eyes on him, waiting for his answer.

  “Look, if it’s someone else you’re dating, I just want to know,” he finally said.

  “Someone else?” I scoffed. Like I had time or energy for that. This annoying man in front of me had taken up all the mental space I could spare for weeks, and now he was accusing me of dating other people and not giving him what he felt he deserved? Well, screw him. “I’m not even dating you, let alone someone else.”

  “Wow,” he said, the word holding more sadness than anger.

  He leaned back into the chair, silent. And against my better judgment, my eyes followed his movements.

  Rigid.

  Detached.

  I regretted that my comment had hurt him, and I did my best to control my urge to leave when Ransom’s beautiful face seemed to break in front of me. But that only made my need for distance grow. I did that to him. I made him feel like… I didn’t want to think about what that made him feel like. I was too concerned with my own feelings, which consisted mostly of panic with a splash of fear.

  Okay, maybe more than a splash.

  And sitting here, witnessing the internal monologue I knew was happening inside his head did nothing to help my own.

  The rest of our crew were still sitting with us, but they’d been debating whether it would be more embarrassing to fall up the stairs or down them, so they thankfully seemed oblivious to the tension. Well, maybe everyone except Sophia. And even though she knew better than to interject, I still felt exposed in a way that made me feel like ants were crawling beneath my skin.