Page 59 of Lemon Cake
“I better get you to bed. You need to be up early tomorrow if you don’t want to be late for work.” He rolled himself off the couch and helped her stand, his eyes dropping south as the blanket fell to the ground. “Fuck, have you been wearing that this whole time?”
“Yes,” she laughed.
“How the hell did I miss that?” He took her by the handand spun her around for the full view. “Good thing I didn’t see that during the game—I really would have fumbled the ball.”
“Note to self: no more sexiness on game days.”
Rider vehemently shook his head. “Scratch that, I want to see it all.”
“I’ll just keep it covered up until after.” With her hand in his, Gemma followed Rider to his bedroom. “Ina and Clara were super sweet about my prosthesis too.”
“I’m sure they were all over it.”
“Kids are usually much nicer than adults.”
“Is it easier to talk to them about it?”
“Much easier, and I’m not even sure why. I used to show the kids at work but stopped after some of the parents questioned my capability to care for them.”
Rider halted and spun so fast that Gemma collided with his hard chest. His free hand hooked under her chin, his eyebrows fused. “Don’teverlet fuckers like that make you feel bad. Assholes like that deserve to be beaten to an inch of their life.”
Gemma wasn’t sure how to feel about this sudden change in tone. She hadn’t yet seen him that angry. “Please don’t do that. I would prefer not having to visit you in jail.”
He chuckled and his eyes lightened again. “I’m definitely not made for jail.”
Once they changed, Gemma set her alarm and they crawled into bed.
Rider pulled her close, talking into her neck. “Thank you for coming tonight.”
She curled up to his side, tracing circles over his stomach. “I could never say no to you.”
“I hope to never prove you wrong.”
Gemma
That tie turned into a loss. Which turned into another, and then a third. With each one Rider withdrew more and more, though he never neglected her. He wasn’t as easy going, the tough season casting a dark storm over him.
She was just buckling Dan into the car after the loss against L.A. when her phone buzzed.
Come over tonight?
…
Please.
I’ll be there as soon as I can.
Be safe.
“Can we stop for food again?”
“No, sweetheart.”
“Why not? We did last time!”
“Because your mom said she’s going to cook for you tonight.”
Dan pouted, but he knew far too well that there was no reasoning with her. Knowing that Gina wouldn’t be home yet, she stopped by her place first to pack so she didn’twaste valuable Rider time later. She didn’t blame him for his focus on the game, but she did miss him.