I nodded my head. “I think I should involve him somehow though just so he feels like he is part of the decision. What do you think?”
Ryder mulled it over for a few seconds. “I like it, it will give him peace of mind.”
“I agree,” I said then blew out a big breath. “I’ll bring him apartment huntin’ with me.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I nodded my head. “Let’s just hope it’s a good one.”
Ryder smiled. “Trust me, Kane will be good at apartment hunting. Everything will be fine.”
“This comin’ from the man who is on anythin’ but fine terms with his missus.”
Ryder’s face hardened. “We’re just going through a rough patch, it’ll get better.”
He didn’t sound like he believed his own statement though.
I raised my eyebrows. “Your rough patch has been goin’ on awhile. Are you sure everythin’ is okay with you and Branna?”
Ryder stared at me for a long moment then in a lowered voice he said, “No, I’m not sure everything is okay with Branna.”
Fuck.
“Don’t tell me you’re both gonna break up?” I asked and held my breath.
Ryder lifted his hand and rubbed his face before dropping it back down. “I don’t know, Aideen. I’m not sure about anything right now when it comes to us. All I know is we’re fighting a hell of a lot. It’s more than childish arguments, it’s just... anger. Pure anger. We can’t be in the same room longer than ten minutes without someone blowing up.”
I swallowed. “You’re both stressed with Kane bein’ ill—”
“It’s been going on for months now.”
Oh.
“I didn’t think it was this serious.”
Ryder nodded his head. “It’s bad. We don’t even have sex anymore, and I can’t remember the last time I kissed her just because I wanted to.”
Shite.
“There... there isn’t anyone else, is there?” I asked, my stomach rolling as the words left my mouth.
Please say no.
“No,” Ryder replied. “Nothing like that. We’re just growing apart I think.”
I felt a lump rise in my throat.
“You have to talk to her about this.”
He nodded his head. “I know. I’m just going to wait awhile to see if things change.”
“It won’t change if you both don’t make changes—it needs to be discussed. Now.”
Ryder held up his hands. “I will, eventually, I promise. I just have a lot going on right now.”
He did?
“Like what?” I asked.
Ryder smirked. “Never you mind.”
Oh, he was up to something.
“Why are you up and dressed this early in the mornin’?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him suspiciously.
He snickered, “I’ve got to go and take care of some business, nosey.”
I feigned offence. “I’m not nosey.”
“Sure you aren’t.”
I grunted and Ryder smiled.
“Promise me you’ll keep our conversation between us, okay?”
I groaned, “You’re askin’ me to withhold information from me oldest friend?”
“Yes, to keep her from unnecessary hurt.”
Bastard.
“Okay, fine,” I sighed. “I’ll keep me mouth shut.”
Ryder winked. “Later, mama.”
The kettle boiled just as Ryder walked out of the kitchen. I told Ryder I wasn’t nosey, but I really was. I followed him down the hallway and looked out the small window next to the door to see where he was going. I raised my eyebrows when I saw him climb into a Jeep. Nico’s Jeep. I could see Nico in the driver’s seat, he laughed at something Ryder said then drove off seconds later.
Where the hell were they going at six in the morning?
I turned around and walked back into the kitchen feeling puzzled. I didn’t like when people kept secrets, especially when I wasn’t in on what the secret was. Kane was hiding something about a person called Big Phil, and Ryder and Nico were going places at six in the morning in normal clothes, not workout gear.
Hmmmm.
I shook my head and walked over to the kettle and made myself another cup of tea and chuckled to myself.
Maybe Ryder was right; I was nosey.
I woke Kane when I climbed into bed next to him three hours later. I was sat upright eating some cereal from a bowl that I balanced on my belly. He opened one eye, smiled at me, and rolled onto his back.
“That’s a pretty sight to wake up to in the morning.”
I glanced at him and snorted, “Yeah, I’m a real catch.”
I flicked on Kane’s television and turned on Netflix. “More of the Sons?”
Kane stretched, sat upright and nodded his head.
He had that just-awake-fuck-me-now bedhead that did things to my vagina and I just wasn’t happy about it.
“Have you been awake long?”
I shrugged. “About five hours.”
“Five hours?” Kane asked with wide eyes. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
I glanced at him then back to the television. “Because I woke up at four in the mornin’.”
“So?” Kane clicked his tongue. “You should have woke me.”
I rolled my eyes. “I was fine. I went downstairs, had a lot of tea, some food, then more tea and some more food. Then I came up here. No big deal.”
Kane grunted, “Just wake me in the future.”
“In the future?” I laughed. “How frequent do you think these sleepovers will be?”
Kane moved closer to me. “I’m hoping frequently.”
I swallowed. “Kane...”
“I feel better with you here, so humour me and stay with me awhile.”
I looked at him and raised my eyebrow. “How long is awhile?”
He smirked. “How long have you got?”
“All day. It’s Saturday.”
“All day then.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Is this like a bondin’ exercise?”
“Yes.” Kane replied, his lip twitching.
I laughed, “Okay. As long as I don’t have to move I’m cool with bondin’ time.”
Kane grinned at me then turned his attention to the television. Five minutes later I finished off my cereal. I placed my now empty bowl on Kane’s locker next to me and shimmied lower while pulling the blankets over my body. I groaned when I discovered it wasn’t a comfortable position to watch the telly in.
“What’s wrong?” Kane asked.
I didn’t reply. Instead, I tested out a few different positions and settled on lying on my side. My pillow was too soft to prop my head up to so I looked at Kane and said, “Can I lie my head on your chest so I can see the telly?”
Kane gestured to himself. “Use my body as you see fit, babydoll.”
I snorted as I placed my head on his bare chest and cocked my leg over his. There. That was better. Much better.
“Are you comfortable?” Kane asked.
“Uh huh.”
“Good... but just so you’re aware, you are lying on me, and your leg is pressed against my dick. I can’t control it if it gets hard, okay?”
I laughed, “Okay.”
“I’m serious, I don’t want you to freak out on me.”
I placed my hand on his faint, but still visible abs—they were becoming more visible now that he was working out again.
“I’m too comfortable to freak out, sweetie.”
Kane’s body relaxed. “That’s good to know.”
I shushed him, “Jax is on the telly. Close your mouth.”
Kane grumbled to himself about Jax Teller, but did as I asked and shut up. We stayed quiet and wrapped around one another for two episodes. Kane had to move when the urge to go to the toilet became too much for him.
“I’ll be right back.”
I waved him on. “Go get yourself food and what not. I’m not goin’ anywhere, Kane.”