Page 22 of No Rhyme or Roughing (The Golden Guardians Hockey Hearts #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

RYDER

“Welcome!”

The squeal came seconds before a woman I’d recognize anywhere barreled into Sydney at my side.

Sydney let out a squeak of surprise but didn’t return the hug. “Um… hello.”

I coughed, trying not to laugh. “Sam, you’re going to scare her away.”

Sam released Sydney and backed farther into the small townhome she shared with Sullivan. “Sorry! It’s just… you two are so cute.” Her eyes flicked from me to Sydney. “And I’m so excited we’re all able to get to gether for the holiday.”

Teddy stepped out from behind us. “And here I thought I was the only cute one.” He pulled Sam into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for the invite, beautiful.”

She wrapped an arm around Teddy’s waist and led us through the entryway toward where Sullivan was bent over, peering into the oven.

“Now, that’s a sight.” Teddy laughed. “Sammy, you really got Sul to cook? Should we order takeout now or later?”

“Har har.” Sullivan straightened, kicked the oven shut, and wiped his hands on an apron. An apron that had a full-length David—Michelangelo’s David—printed on the front. Headless, as if the apron-wearer were the statue himself.

Lord have mercy. Sullivan was just another version of Teddy, and neither had changed a bit since they were teenagers.

“Beer?” He pointed to Sydney first, and she shrugged an okay. We’d barely spoken in days, but that had been my fault as I tried to get my head on straight, tried to sort out all these thoughts I had about her. They were never-ending, ceaseless.

“Ry, watch out!”

I whipped my head around just in time to see a bottle of Stella flying at me.

“Jesus, Sul.” I caught it, barely.

“My turn next.” Teddy aimed as if he were going to throw his beer—his open beer—at me, but at the last second, he took a sip instead.

“Assholes,” I muttered .

Sydney disappeared into the living room with Sam, who was probably asking her a million questions. Invasive ones. It was in her nature—just like my brother’s. I should have seen how much better suited they were for each other years ago.

I heard Coach Frankie’s voice greet them, and suddenly, I was having Thanksgiving with two of my coaches, even though one was family. Not exactly my idea of a good time.

Sullivan stirred something on the stove then set the spoon down and turned toward the kitchen island, resting his elbows on it and fixing his gaze on me. “Glad you showed up, Ry.”

I picked at the label of the beer before taking a long drink. “Sydney made me.”

Teddy barked out a laugh, and Sullivan grinned. “You really like her, don’t you?”

Again, Teddy laughed. I shot him a shut-up glare.

“About that… We aren’t… She isn’t…”

Teddy’s hand on my shoulder stopped me. “What my captain here is trying to say is that, while he’s over the immense betrayal of our Sammy’s heart belonging to you, Sul, he isn’t ready to fall in love and ride off into the sunset with my sister.” There was a warning in the way he said my sister .

I brushed his hand away. “Right.”

Sullivan studied me, his brow creased, that slight smile of his disappearing for just a moment. He opened his mouth to say something, but the doorbell saved us.

Teddy shot me a panicked look. “I may have done something bad.”

I looked back over my shoulder to where Sullivan headed toward the door. “Who is going to be on the other side, Ted?”

“My mother.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Double shit.”

When Sullivan returned, he didn’t just have Mrs. Valentine at his side—there were two others. The first to notice me was my mother. She shoved the pie she’d been holding at Sullivan and rushed toward me.

“Baby, I missed you.” Her arms came around me, and I relaxed for the first time in days.

Life hadn’t been easy growing up. My dad was dead, money was tight, but Mom was always there—ready to tell me it was okay to be more stoic than the gregarious Sullivan, more serious. It was okay to be me, to want what I wanted.

Then, I saw the third newcomer.

He was leaner than I remembered, grimmer. Exhaustion lined his features, but Mr. Valentine was still the imposing figure who’d once yelled at us boys for letting Sydney ride the ATV with us and lectured us about keeping her safe. He’d always protected her—until he hadn’t.

“Triple shit,” I said, not meaning to. Both Valentine parents here at the same time.

Mr. Valentine coughed. “Hello. My daughter said it would be okay if I…” He seemed lost for words.

Mom, once good friends with Sydney and Teddy’s parents, took over. “Of course it’s okay, Grant. You’re both very welcome in my son’s home. I see you brought some wine—how thoughtful. Ryder, dear, take the wine from Grant. Sullie, you relieve Mina of that delicious-smelling casserole.”

“It’s candied yams.” Mina Valentine lifted her chin. I never heard if she changed her last name after the divorce, but I couldn’t think of her as anything other than Teddy’s mom. Same sour expression, same judgmental gaze.

I set the wine on the counter. Shit. Sydney. “I need to use the restroom.”

I hurried from the kitchen, walking straight into the living room where Frankie and Sam were debating the offsides recall rule while Sydney looked like she wanted to melt into the couch. I stopped as close to her as I could get and lightly grabbed her arm. “Come with me.”

She didn’t protest as I pulled her to her feet, led her to the back porch, and shut the door behind us.

“What’s wrong?” she finally asked.

I turned to face her, ready to ruin her Thanksgiving with this news, but then stopped. She looked so trusting, so perfect at that moment. A full, round face, wide eyes, luscious red lips. God, I wanted to kiss her.

Stepping back, I drew in a breath. “Both of your parents are here.”

She froze for a moment before breath re-entered her lungs. “No,” she hissed. “I only invited Dad, and I never thought he’d come.”

“Teddy invited your mother.”

She flattened herself against the screen door, letting it press in. “They’re inside right now. At the same time? Like… the same room?”

“Yes. ”

Her breaths came fast, shallow. She shook her head. “I can’t…”

“Hey, come here.” I pulled her against me, wrapping my arms around her. Pressing my lips to her temple, I whispered, “You can do this, Syd. If anyone can face them, it’s you.”

“No. You don’t understand.”

I did. Or I was beginning to.

Rubbing a hand down her back seemed to calm her, and suddenly the last few days made no sense to me. Staying away from her. Talking myself out of wanting her.

For what?

“Syd?”

“Hmm?”

“I think I’m going to kiss you.”

She pulled back, tilting her head to look up at me. “You think ?”

My gaze fell to her lips, to the way she drew the bottom one between her teeth. “I know. I’m going to kiss you. If you don’t want me to… well, you’re going to have to stop me.”

She didn’t.

I met no resistance as I closed the distance between us, finally blissfully fitting my mouth to hers. Her mouth was hot, like the caress of a sauna, soothing every ache in me. I scraped my teeth against her lip and yanked her more tightly against me.

Laughter from inside brought me back to reality, and I slowed my kisses, savoring her. One peck. Two. And I pulled away.

“I hate to say it… ”

Her eyes were wide when she looked up at me, her lips swollen. “I should go face the music.”

I watched her straighten her dress and fluff her hair. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth and left me standing there—completely lost.

And completely found.