"Dude, you are a loser," Ryder said, laughing at me, but I just couldn't help but smile.
"I guess I am," I said, and I brought up a chair to sit down next to him.
God, he was such a doll. And I know…I know what I said about leaving him alone, but…my god, it was going to be very hard.
His skin has a few blemishes here and there and now has a couple of scars from the knife that Matteo slashed him with, but he still looks perfect.
His dark skin was this warm color that glowed. It looked so nice.
His dark hair was in the braids I had redone a couple of times.
He has a soft jawline and a slightly chubby face. His cheeks are cute and look so soft.
And he has these honey-brown eyes that look so warm and sweet.
His lips are full and curve into a perfect smile.
His eyebrows are raised, and his mouth is moving."What are you looking at?"
I felt myself jump back as he took me out of my train of thought. "Huh?"
"What are you looking at?" he repeated, this time his full lips pulling back into a smile.
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes," I said, and gulped.
He blinked slowly at me, his long eyelashes framing his narrow eyes.
"What? Do you think I'm handsome or something?" he teased again.
"Yes." I watched his eyes dart around the room and then back at me. He blinked again, but this time faster.
"You're funny," he said, leaning back into his hospital bed.
"It's not a joke," I said, and he blew me off AGAIN as he rolled his eyes.
"You do know that I'm 21, right?"
"Well aware."
"And how old are you?"
"38."
He nodded and smiled.
"What?" I asked.
"You like them younger, don't you?"
I felt my face get hot. "Uh, n-no…" Ryder's laugh got louder as I stuttered.
I, in fact, did NOT like them younger; Ryder just HAPPENED to be 21.
"You are huge," Ryder said as he grabbed one of my hands. He just completely changed the subject, but okay.
I smiled at him.
"Like 6 feet or something, and you are built. Glad I'm on your side," he said, laughing, while looking me up and down.
"Glad to have you."
He went out to grab my other hand, and I felt myself instinctively pull back.
"Sorry," I said, and I rubbed my nose.
"All good."
He laughed. "How tall are you anyway, big poppa?"
Now I'm getting embarrassed again.
Ryder rolled his eyes. "You don't know that song?"
"What song?" I asked him back.
"The one by Biggie. I love it when you call me Big Poppa, throw your hands in the air...damn, you are uncultured as FUCK weirdo," he said and let out a laugh again.
I'm glad I can make him smile like this.
"Well, I'm 6'5, I think," I said, and he gave me the same thousand-yard stare that Leo gave me like a week ago.
His face turned into this perverted smirk as he looked me up and down.
My heart warms every time I look at him.
While he is funny, he's a little mean at times, but it's okay because I am pushing forty and I have a nonchalant 12-year-old, so I think his meanness is endearing.
And well…he's really selfless. The fact that he was so willing to just die for his siblings makes me fall for him like an idiot.
I know I said I would leave him alone, but I'm being selfish because he is way more than I could have ever imagined.
"Dad!" A voice called out that I knew was my baby girl.
I turned and watched the door slam behind her.
"Hi, baby cakes, what aren't you at school?" I asked as she came over and hugged me.
"Wouldn't get out of bed." I looked up as Leo came in.
"Dude, am I your babysitter?"
"Dude, I'm your boss, and I pay you very well. She's a good kid and can take care of herself, so you aren't doing jack shit," I said, rubbing her back.
"You weren't there, so I didn't want to go," Isabella said with a pout.
"Stop lying; it's not going to work on me," I said sternly.
"Okay, I didn't want to go to school, so I made up some sob story, and Leo believed," Isabella said, and I sighed.
"Did I teach you to be a liar?"
"No," she said sheepishly.
"Dominic." I turned back around to Ryder, who was now giving me this nasty look.
"Yeah? What's wrong? Is everything okay?" I asked him, very worried that he was in pain.
He beckoned for me to get closer to him and then whispered in my ear, "Deals off."
"Why?" I asked, as I stepped back and looked at him, confused.
"You have a wife, dude. That's disgusting," he said, looking at me.
I smiled.
"She's my ex-wife, and she left me when Isabella was a baby. She called me some nasty names, and I haven't seen her since," I said, and I watched as his face softened, but he still gave me a side eye.
"Whatever."
"Who is this, Dad?" Isabella asked.
"Your dad's new whore," Ryder butted in, and I watched as Leo burst into laughter, as I felt myself get red.
Isabella looked at him, then at me, and then back at Ryder.
"My dad was ogling you in the school parking lot," Isabella said, and Ryder joined Leo's laughter.
I really want to bury myself in a hole right now and just DIE.
"One, he's not my whore. Two, I, for one, made a statement that COULD have been seen as whatever Isabella said, but I was NOT outright ooggling you…that would be weird," I said, and Ryder just continued to laugh.
I was really trying to convince myself more than him right now.
"Whatever you say, big poppa," Ryder said, and his laughter calmed down.
After a while, a nurse came in with food, and Isabella stepped back.
"Leo and I are going to get food, since you both have your food and…we are going to wreak havoc, bye, Dad!" she said, and my little girl was out the door.
"Bye, baby doll, be careful."
I turned my attention to the nurse and said, "Thank you."
The nurse looked at me and then at Ryder.
"Make sure you have your husband feed you; I don't want you to strain your body." Everyone is just embarrassing me as much as they can today, my god.
"Okay! Do you hear that, babe?" Now everyone is dumping dirt on my grave of embarrassment.
She walked out as Ryder smiled.
"Feed me," he said, and I smiled and sat down on his bed and started to do just that.
"What are your rules for me, daddy-o?"
"Why does everyone keep calling me that? That's so weird," I said, putting the spoon down as Ryder let out another laugh.
"Uh, rules, let me think," I said and nodded.
"Rule 1: You're going to live with me."
"I'm going to what?" Ryder asked, furrowing his eyebrows at me.
"You heard me."
"Hey now, when did I agree to this?"
"Rule 2: You have a curfew. It's not that I don't trust you. I just don't trust other people, and I'd like you to stay in my sight as much as possible. So curfew at 10 pm," I said with a smile.
Ryder rolled his eyes at me. "Can I take back the whole thing and you just execute me now?" he asked, lying back, irritated.
"Watch out for your arm," I felt myself snap. I watched his expression change. "I'm sorry," I muttered.
"Whatever. What are the other rules?"
"No visitors that aren't your family."
"Easy enough; I have no friends," Ryder said, flashing me a fake smile.
That made my heart ache.
"You don't?"
He gave me this look. "I dropped out at 16, and all I do is smoke and knit. Do you really think I have friends?"
I shrugged.
"Also, regular check-ins. I want to know how you are doing, so it could be just a text or a call, something so that I know that you are safe," I said.
"Meh. I'm going to annoy the fuck out of you," he said, patting my pockets.
"What are you doing?" I said my face was going red.
"Give me your phone, idiot; I can't contact you without your phone number," he said, and I gulped.
I reached into my pockets and pulled out my phone.
I then opened it and handed it to him.
"Aw, cute picture, daddy-o," he said, looking at my wallpaper.
"Next one. No smoking; it's ruining your lungs..."
He cut me off. "That's too far," he said, and he shifted in bed.
He looked me up and down, and his look…changed.
"Can you compromise on that one?"
"No."
He smiled at me and raised his eyebrow.
"Are you sure?" he teased.
"Yes."
"You're a nasty old man, you know that," he said.
I cringed at myself and grabbed one of the pillows that was behind him and sat it nicely on my lap.
He smiled at me again.
"Do I have nice fingers?" he said in this condescending voice, and he stroked my shoulder. I felt myself shiver.
I closed my eyes. I'm 38; I can't react like this.
"What's your compromise?"
"Let me at least smoke outside," he said.
"Not happening."
"What about one cigarette a day, outside?" he asked.
I'm easily persuaded by good-looking people.
"Fine."
He smiled and leaned back.
"Ask the nurse for another pillow when she comes back," he said, grabbing the second pillow from behind him and smacking me with it.
"Hey, watch out for your arm and your legs," I said sternly, and he rolled his eyes.
"You're no fun."
"I've been told. Also, no drugs."
"I don't do drugs or smoke weed. I only smoke cigarettes," he said, and I nodded.
"I want respect and obedience," I said.
His face turned a light pink color.
"Obedience? Like I'm a dog?"
"Like you're my bitch." I felt the words coming out before I could even think.
"Calm down, daddy-o," he said, laughing, and he looked, well, he looked like he was embarrassed. I think I might be seeing the things I want to see, though.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that," I said with my head down.
"It's fine; it was funny," he said.
"Anyway, adding on to that. I prefer it if you didn't question every fucking word I have to say. And I want you to join me for family dinners and come to events with me..."
"As your bitch?"
I sighed as Ryder laughed again.
"Moving on from that. The last rules are self-improvement, continuing your knitting, and other things that you enjoy that aren't smoking. I also want our communication to be open; tell me everything, please, because I care about your safety more than anything," I said, and he nodded.
"You understand?"
"Yes, I do, daddy-o."
He looked at me with these tired eyes.
"Too much of my talking for one day, huh?"
He nodded as he yawned.
"Okay, you sleep," I said, and he nodded.
"Are you going to stare at me like that while I sleep?"
"Always," I said, and he sighed.
I watched as his eyes shut and his mouth calmed.
God, he was perfect.