Page 20 of Daddy to Go

Just as he leaned forward to kiss me, the music changed, and the lights went up just a tiny bit. We both stepped back, looking to see if anyone was paying any attention out there. We weren’t necessarily doing anything wrong, but in a town like Farmington, tongues will wag. With Ryder’s career, he didn’t need that. But it was going to be a really long night if we had to act like kids with a chaperone.

He took me by the wrist and pulled me to the side. “Why don’t we get out of here? This is fun, but I want to be with you. Just us.”

My eyes shimmered. “Where do you want to go?”

He looked at his watch.

“Well, I was staying at the hotel, but they were pre-booked starting tonight, so they apparently moved me over to a service apartment that visiting doctors stay in when they come here for conferences. They were going to move my stuff over there for me, so I haven’t actually been yet. It shouldn’t be too bad though. Do you want to give it a try?” He carefully trailed his finger down my arm. “And Abby, we haven’t had real time alone yet. It would be nice, don’t you think?”

I smiled sweetly.

“Sounds good, Doc. Let’s go.” Inside, my heart thumped. More alone time with this man? Sign me up!

10

Abby

Iheld back a grin as Ryder slipped his hand into mine, walking down the street toward his new apartment. The night was gorgeous and his place was only four blocks away so a stroll was in order. I figured it was probably a good idea to get in some exercise anyway. After all, I just devoured an entire pizza, or at least a huge portion of one. Yet, Ryder didn’t seem disgusted and swung my hand forward and back playfully.

“So, are you and your sister really close?”

I shook my head. “Not really. My sister has been kind of standoffish with me since she hit high school. I’m not sure why. I think maybe we are just two completely different people. She’s in her senior year of high school too, so that could play a part in it.”

Ryder laughed.

“My sister and I used to fight, but then one day, we realized we only had each other in this world,” he explained. “But not everyone has a bond with their sibling. Ours was out of necessity at first. Then, as time went by, we genuinely began to care more about each other.”

I smiled at him.

“That’s nice. I hope one day me and my sister get along better but it’s up to her. I’m here if she needs me, and she knows that.”

Ryder was quiet for a second, looking all around.

“It sure is really quiet in this town. I feel like I’m in some zombie movie or something.”

“Ha,” I burst. “If I didn’t grow up here, I would feel the same way. But I get it. It’s so quiet, with no crowds. It’s just a sleepy little place. I went to Chicago once with my aunt when I was younger and I didn’t know how to handle so many people. I didn’t sleep the entire time I was there because it was so loud! I think I was just made to be a small town girl.”

“That’s not a bad thing,” he replied, squeezing my hand. “That means you care about the small and simple things just as much as the big ones. That’s hard to find in a woman.”

I put my hand up. “Here I am!”

We laughed as we walked up to the front of an old brownstone converted into apartments. There were some flyers scattered on the stoop, and I stood to the side as he opened up the mahogany front door. The place was older but well maintained and in a really nice part of town. We were quiet in the shared hallway, holding back laughter when we saw his neighbor’s doormat. It was pink and fuzzy, and decorated to the hilt with cats.

“I have a cat,” I said as he fiddled with the lock.

Glancing up at me he smiled.

“Oh yeah? I’m never home long enough to have any pets.”

“I don’t know, I think pets are essential to sanity,” I explained. “Mr. Bugle, he always knows how I feel.”

He got the door open and stood to the side to let me through. “Mr. Bugle, huh. That’s a funny name.”

I stepped in the entryway of the apartment and stood to the side, my hands in front of me.

“I found him in a junk yard, sleeping in the side part of a tuba.”

Ryder paused, closing the door and throwing the keys in the bowl next to it. “So is that why he’s named Bugle?”