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Chapter 145: I Need Until at least Noon
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Boys of RDA Chapter 146: Fourth Ones a Charm
THE EGG in the center of my pan begins to sizzle more than it probably should, and I reach across the stove to decrease the heat. Of the three eggs I've cooked this morning, all three have broken yolks, but I'm hopeful this next one will make it. Ryland likes his whites cooked and his middles runny. It's an impossible combination to finagle when you possess no real cooking skills.It's been almost thirty minutes and he still isn't back like promised, but I refuse to freak out and walk over to his place to figure out why not. At least not until I cook one decent egg.Toast pops up from the toaster and I reach to a top cupboard to grab plates. The main door opens behind me and I turn almost dropping the short stack of china."What the hell, Ryland?"He stops at the entrance to the kitchen area with a grin taking up half his face. His expression isn't what freaked me out. It's the black tux he's wearing. The jacket is open revealing he's even gone as far as to put on the little bl
Boys of RDA Chapter 147: I Didn't Tell Aspen
I didn't call Aspen.The short train of my bright white wedding dress catches on a door hinge and I freeze, scared if I move I might rip it. I should have called Aspen. How can I get married without my friends and family?"Hang on, sweetie. I've got it for you." A sandy blonde haired woman with the sweetest southern accent and big dark blue eyes reaches down and repositions the dress until I'm free to move through the door.I walk through to the main dressing room where brides get ready in A Garden of Eden Wedding Chapel. The trip here turned out more difficult than Ryland and I thought, but we're minutes away from our wedding. Well, I'm here. Ryland better be on his way here."Thank you." I turn to her sticking a hand out and grin when it only shakes a little. "I'm Marissa.""Rhea Lynn." She reaches out shaking my hand and fixes a strap on her light green dress with large purple roses in the pattern. "Where you all from?"The bell over the door dings and I look around her
Boys of RDA Chapter 148: Upset is Not the Right Word
I miscalculated when I thought Aspen would be upset about my good news. Irate is a better word to describe the ire from my best friend."How could you do this to me, Marissa?" Aspen whines from my couch while Simone sends me sympathy looks from the chair.I pour more wine in her glass hoping another top off will calm her down. Ryland and I arrived home early this morning and caught a few hours of sleep until Aspen and Simone starting banging so loudly on my door it woke us up at Ryland's place. I started with wine. She started with hand flailing.Aspen came dressed in her typical work outfit—a pair of black pants and a yellow blouse once she took off the thick winter jacket she still wears around even in April. Simone gets away with a more laid back look now that she works at Raven Digital Arts, but she still makes an effort, even if I suspect it's for Trey's benefit more than a need to dress up every day. She's paired a dark wash jean with a baby blue button up shirt tucked in w
Boys of RDA Chapter 149: Simone Knew Too
"Anyway." She takes the last swig of her drink. "I am happy for you, Marissa. It was fast, but you and Ryland are adorable together. I knew he planned to ask, but I didn't expect a wedding this quickly.""Yeah, we're going to talk about you knowing and not telling me Ryland had a ring." I look to both girls with a side eye."Simone knew too." Aspen points a finger at poor Simone and I laugh. "Come on. You missed brunch yesterday and got married. Let's go to dinner to celebrate." Aspen stands and motions for Simone to as well.Simone resists. She's still learning how we work around here. "Don't you think we should give Ryland and Marissa their first night together?"Aspen's response is rapid. "No, he gets her the rest of her life. We get her tonight. Amanda should be almost ready to leave work. I'll call her. Let's go."She heads to the door and I shrug at Simone and stand. "Let me at least go tell Ryland I'll be back. We can take the elevator.""Fine." She opens the door an
Boys of RDA Chapter 150: Fresh Pasta and Cheese
Fresh pasta and cheese smells waft their way from the counter where Ryland piles food on our plates. The red and white striped banners in front of Tony's Pasta Palace are so close, less than a fifteen-minute walk from our building, but we do not eat there enough.He's in jeans today and has been since we went to Vegas. His ass looks nice in the fitted dark wash denim, better than the loose workout pants or basketball shorts he wears the most. A simple grey long sleeve t-shirt stretches at his shoulders. Ryland's back side is a great view to have."What's the Internet saying about us today?" Ryland slides a plate across the countertop to where I sit, waiting to be fed.I push the side button turning my phone screen black and tuck it back in my pocket. "Nothing." His fork stops midway to his mouth. Busted. With a sigh I answer, "I'm still a gold digger you married in a drunken night in Vegas. Your latest stunt in a career of mistakes fed by wild nights and alcohol."He flinches.
Boys of RDA Chapter 151: The Agent's Call
Eyebrows narrowed in question. One slightly raised in intrigue. Both eyes wide in surprise. His nose scrunched up with a line forming on his forehead when he finally speaks."Are you sure? Would it be a long-term agreement or until the season ends?" Ryland asks. "Yeah, I'd sit down and talk with him. Honestly, James, there's not another team I want to play for, but I'm worried about the players' feelings on the matter."He's quiet again until a small chuckle starts. "Yeah, that's because Obreski's an asshole. I didn't do anything every other player on the team wished they did." Now it's easy to figure out he's talking about the goalie he hit. The final straw before the general manager kicked him off the team.Other than the goalie issue, the rest of the conversation goes over my head. I have no idea what team Ryland wants to play for. He hasn't made any preference known to me over the last few weeks besides not staying in the US."What time is the flight out?" Ryland checks his
Boys of RDA Chapter 152: Interrogation
For a comic book store Cosmo's Comics and Café is a well-lit open space. It's a thin narrow building, longer than it is wide, but the large shop window and glass front door make one entire end open to the early Sunday morning sunlight. It smells like coffee and paper, and who doesn't love those smells?When Aspen first suggested our new location, I was hesitant. My appreciation for Cosmo's has grown since then to a point I enjoy our Sunday brunch dates here.Well every week except this one. Today dragging myself to Cosmo's feels like a walk into my own execution. Aspen will drill me on Ryland and what's going on in England. I haven't talked to Ryland since he boarded a plane for London yesterday morning. After the eight-hour flight and time change, I'm not even sure where he is. Late last night he sent me a text with a simple "I love you. Sleep well." and nothing more.It takes a deep breath, but I gather the courage to open the door. Cosmo's is gloomier today, not all the overhe
Boys of RDA Chapter 153: He's Not that Dumb, Is He?
Divorce.It's a nasty word. Especially when you've been married less than seven days. I guess if I try to stay positive, it's longer than some celebrity marriages.I flip the channel on the television again and scowl at the innocent black box when I stop on a soccer tournament. Look, the wives of those men know where they are. What a novel concept.The last message I received from Ryland came last night, almost twenty-four hours ago. I've been to work. I've had dinner. What I haven't had is a conversation with my husband. The day started with me irritated, by lunch I hit frustrated, at dinner I became highly annoyed, and now I'm livid.My fingers tap on the edge of the couch, but the motion loses effect when my nails don't make sound on the soft fabric. I'm about to turn off the television when my phone vibrates.Ryland: Where are you?He didn't? He didn't text me demanding to know where I am. Did he? He's not that dumb?Me: My living room.Ryland: Why are you over ther
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Boys of RDA Chapter 246: Series Epilogue
Six months later"I thought you were painting this room silver?" Hudson asks dropping his half of the couch inside of our brand-new tiny living room. That's not fair. It's bigger than the apartment when I lived with Marissa. Living here will be like me having my own special mansion. Except this time the rent is higher.I put my end of the couch down and then promptly sit at the end of it. I've done my part of moving. This is why we hired movers. I don't know what it is about men wanting to lift heavy objects. Plus, it's not like there's much furniture to move. The old apartment came furnished. This stuff is new.I look at the wall, which shimmers in the bright light from our large open window in the new living room. "I did. It's Silver Fox.""This color is gray.""No, it's Silver Fox.""It looks gray to me."I shake my head in dismay. "Gray is darker."He nods slowly. "Uh-huh. Whatever you say."Hudson and I have been living together since he made the permanent move t
Boys of RDA Chapter 245: Finn Hooked You Up
A few weeks later"Wow, Finn hooked you up." My eyes blink a few times trying to adjust to the overpowering glare of so many television screens in one room.Hudson laughs as he steps behind me. "Ridge taught me you can never have too many cameras.""Well, you definitely put his words into practice." No less than thirty flat screen TVs line a wall in the room Finn and Hudson started calling the war room. I'm pretty sure Finn has a camera everywhere Aspen may go in San Francisco. There is even one in the comic shop. The transition has gone well for the most part. Finn and Aspen had a heated debate over her bodyguard situation.Once Hudson accepted the position, he didn't waste time. It's been less than three weeks and he has a war room set up and is spying on half the residents of the city. My man gets shit done."Are you happy?" I ask turning around so we are face to face.Hudson rolls his eyes and says something silently to the ceiling of the room. He's recently taken up pr
Boys of RDA Chapter 244: Full Marissa Style
The glass automatic door at the airport entrance slides open and I saunter in with a purpose. No woman has ever been as determined as I am to put a man in his place. Full Marissa style.And then maybe win him back. It depends on his response. I've been through tons of shit the last few weeks. I need someone who can handle me and won't chicken out.Aspen and Finn checked me out of the hospital and then took me back to my apartment making me promise I wouldn't leave when I asked to be alone. My mother even listened when I told her it was a great time to visit my brother in Washington. He'll love it.Besides my shattered heart, I'm medically fine. There's no reason for people to be stuck hovering around me. Hurt or not, I've still peopled too much these last few days, so it wasn't hard to press that I needed quiet time. I promised to head right into bed and sleep for a few more days.But I've broken many promises lately. And kept secrets. I am not the same girl I was last year. An
Boys of RDA Chapter 243: Horrible Timing
I hate to be a bad friend — who am I kidding, I'm always the bad friend — but Aspen could not have picked a worse time to make her visit. And I love her. She was here all day yesterday. Getting water, refilling water, fluffing my pillow and accidentally pulling on my IV before doing it again while apologizing for pulling on the IV. Hudson and I haven't had two minutes to ourselves. I tried to fake sleep yesterday afternoon, but then they stood around the bed looking and me and whispering."Do you need your pillow fluffed?" she asks for the thousandth time. It's become her filler question. What she asks me if she doesn't know what else to ask.I shake my head, giving Finn my best "calm her down" look, but he doesn't notice. He's so madly in love with Aspen he thinks everything she does is adorable. "I'm fine, Aspen. Relax."My best friend is definitely more put together than Hudson in the last two days, but not by much. Her hair is flat on one side, a little curly on the other, an
Boys of RDA Chapter 242: A Scene I Never Want to See Again
A STEADY STREAM of beeps wakes me up to a stream of light.A hospital. It's the place I've woken up the last two days. I can't complain. It's one hundred times better than a concrete floor in an abandoned factory in Oakland. Even still I fight the panic as my brain comes into consciousness. The hospital therapist says eventually there will come a day when I don't wake up ready to flee, but I'm not sure I believe her.My awake body is heavy and sluggish. Yesterday I spent most the day sleeping as my conscious mind worked around what happened after I was taken from the sidewalk in front of Cosmo's.Hudson was shot. I watched it with my own eyes. What I didn't know at the time was the bullet grazed the side of his body and most of his injury was due to the shock of being shot. Even though my mind didn't want to believe it at the time, he led the charge to rescue me. And yes, he absolutely shot Jimmy in the head — a scene I never ever want to see again, but one that plays on repeat e
Boys of RDA Chapter 241: Kidnapped
Breathe. I hit reality with a start. Tears form as I blink my eyes to open them. My shoulder hurts, a tingling stiff sensation like I slept on it wrong. At one point I must have broken out in a cold sweat and my skin is clammy, moist yet chilled. My knuckle scrapes the hard ground underneath my body as I sit up and the events of what happened flood back. It wasn't a bad dream. I've been taken right from the front of Cosmo's. Kidnapped.They shot Hudson.I have no idea how long I slept or where I am. No longer in the van, the room is dark around me and it takes longer than I want for my eyes to adjust. Of course, there's no positive to be found when they do. Sawdust and dirt smells permeate the air. On the ground there's not only cold hard concrete but sharp pieces of wood. I wipe a few from my pants legs only to have them stick to the skin of my fingers.As I try to stand, there's a clink of metal. I tug my foot to find it doesn't move. My leg is bolted to the ground with thick m
Boys of RDA Chapter 240: Forgive and Forget
"Are you sure you won't walk in there and start crying?" Hudson asks as we stop in front of Cosmo's Comics and Café.I take a deep breath and check myself before I answer because frankly he's probably right to be worried. It's been two days since we met with Drew at the restaurant in Oakland and I spent most of that night crying. I haven't talked to anyone since then. More than likely they think I've been taking this time to apologize to Hudson. He promises he's forgiven and forgotten and even understands why it took so long.Hudson spent the last few days consoling me as I came to terms with finally admitting what happened that night and saying goodbye to Drew if only in my own mind. He's been perfect. He didn't push or yell at me to do it faster or tell me I was being ridiculous. He listened and held me when I needed him. I couldn't ask for a better man.Hudson is everything I've ever wanted in a guy. Sensitive enough to figure out when I'm hurting, but strong enough to tell me
Boys of RDA Chapter 239: Final Answers
"That's your answer?" Hudson's eyebrows lift.I hit my knee against his. "Hudson."He sighs in agitation."Well, Drew, the way I look at it Amanda doesn't have much to tell. It sounds to me as if in her story you were a friend who was there to help her out. Who didn't want to get involved in a police investigation. But before I can trust her opinion that you're a nice guy, I need proof."Drew laughs even though it's inappropriate for the time. "I don't think I'm a nice guy, but thanks, Amanda.""Um, you're welcome?""I started working construction jobs part time when Clare and I were in foster care." He stops talking right as the story gets good."But you don't do construction work now, do you?" Hudson asks the exact question I've been thinking.It's like pulling teeth to get facts out of Drew, but what he doesn't understand is Hudson will have no qualms telling Ben if he's not satisfied with his answers."Yes and no. From time to time my boss asks me for extra favors
Boys of RDA Chapter 238: Truthful Memories
"Sorry, Dean, I've got to get home. Lots of Christmas prep to do."There's no time to chase another raid with so much work to do for Aspen's Christmas celebration. They overdo it for most holidays, but the big ones are the worst.He nods, accepting the answer. I rarely take him up on offers for more raiding or the hundred times he's asked me out for coffee. "Okay, see you next time." He waves, following a large group of people making their way to cars and bikes before heading toward the wharf.I step onto the sidewalk outside the baseball stadium to look for a cab. The road is eerily quiet since there isn't baseball in December and the people from the raid snatched up the cabs. Even though Grant, Clare's boyfriend would kill me, I scroll through my phone and find the Uber app. If I have to call for a ride anyway, I should at least make it a cheap one. He'd be pissed over how close I am to his neighborhood without someone here with me, but it's too late to worry about that now.
