Ryker (The Ride #4) (8 page)

Chapter 7

T
he next morning I started my shift at the day care.

“Morning, Piper,” my boss Joan called from the kitchen when I walked in. “Oh my God, what happened?” she exclaimed when she got a look at me.

Connie’s comment sprang to mind.

“A cat attacked me,” I replied, removing my jacket and hanging up my purse in preparation for the munchkin onslaught.

She winced. “Sorry to hear that. I’m a dog person myself,” she offered, with a smile.

“Me too,” I agreed wholeheartedly.

Joan ran the day care from her home, with the entire first story dedicated to the kids. The space was large and clean with a huge backyard. She’d been doing it for close to fifteen years.

Personally, having a day care in my home would drive me batshit crazy, but Joan seemed to enjoy it.

It wasn’t long before the first little ones started being dropped off, their parents on their way to work.

The organized chaos started soon after that, and I was grateful as always for the distraction.

I still felt Ryker’s lips on mine and found myself constantly daydreaming. It was lucky I made it through the day with how distracted I’d been.

“Dad?” I called when I walked into our quiet house later that evening. I was exhausted and the quiet and gloom of the space felt particularly heavy.

He didn’t answer even after I called again, and my anxiety kicked up a notch. Even in his darkest moods, he always offered up some sort of response, no matter how unintelligible it may be.

I sprinted up the steps, knocking softly on his bedroom door and cracking it open cautiously when he still didn’t answer.

My heart dropped when I found him lying in bed, his face so pale it was nearly gray. His arm was thrown over the side of the bed unnaturally. For a minute I thought he was dead, before I saw his chest lift with a shallow breath.

How long had he been like this?

“Dad,” I croaked, rushing to his side to take his pulse. It was slow—too slow—but there. The open pill containers on the side of the bed had me rushing to the phone to call 911.

I sat with him, stroking his hair back as I waited for help to arrive.

I rode in the back of the ambulance as the paramedics took his vitals and asked me details about his medication. I told them everything I knew, trying to stay calm and was glad I’d thought to bag up the pill containers by the side of his bed.

It all felt so surreal, as they rushed him down the linoleum hallway of the hospital, and a nurse guided me to a quiet waiting room.

The chaos of the last hour suddenly came to a screeching halt and I was left feeling like I’d been hit by a truck as I tried to get my bearings. The evening news was playing quietly on a TV in the corner as I glanced around to find several people with what I was sure were similar deer-in-headlights expressions as I wore.

An elderly man shot me a pained smile and I had to bite back tears from the kind gesture. Who knew what he was going through, and yet he still tried to boost my spirits in some small way.

When Jill walked in, it took me a moment in my dazed state to even place her.

“Piper,” she said quietly, crossing the room and kneeling down in front of me. Her dark eyes were concerned as she looked up at me.

“How did you know I was here?” I responded dumbly.

“I saw your name on your father’s chart. What happened?” she asked gently.

I fought against the lump in my throat and swallowed painfully. “I found him like that when I got home. He must have taken too many pills,” I croaked. “Will he be okay?” I was nearly afraid to ask.

She squeezed my knee. “I don’t have any details yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as I do,” she replied, offering the only assurance available just then.

“Okay,” I sighed, moving a shaking hand through my hair, my eyes widening in surprise as Ryker came striding into the room.

His green eyes landed on me with blistering intensity as he crossed the room to where I sat.

“How did you…? What?” I stammered, confused as I looked up at him.

“Jill called.”

I nodded numbly.

“I’ll find you as soon I know more.” Jill spoke up quickly, no doubt wanting to give us some space.

“Text me if you can’t find us,” Ry ordered over his shoulder as she left the room.

He squatted down in front of me in a similar position Jill had just been in. “How long have you been here?”

“I just got here,” I replied hoarsely. For some reason seeing Ry was making me lose the last vestiges of control, and I felt my eyes fill with tears.

“Baby.” His voice sounded pained as he dropped to his knees, embracing me. Even on his knees, he was still almost a head taller than me and I clung to him, my face pressed into his neck.

He just held me, uncaring of the fact that we weren’t alone. I breathed in the reassuring scent of his leather jacket, of his skin that smelled slightly spicy with a hint of something minty, all overlaying the best part, just pure Ry. I pulled away, wiping my eyes and trying to pull it together.

“Sorry,” I rasped, as he rose and took the seat beside me.

“Don’t be sorry. What happened?”

I shrugged, feeling despondent. “I don’t know if he tried to kill himself or if it was an accident, but he took too many pills.”

“Fuck,” he muttered, his hand reaching out for mine and clasping tight. “I’m sorry, Pipe.”

“Me too,” I agreed, taking a shaky breath. “Thank you for coming. You didn’t have to,” I added.

His gaze narrowed as he regarded me. “Yes. I.
Did
,” he replied through gritted teeth.

Okay then.

He took a deep breath as though he were trying to calm himself. “Pipe, your father is in the hospital. Why the fuck do you think I’d be anywhere else?” he demanded, reaching up to cup my face as his eyes bored into mine. “I want to be where you are.”

I looked back at him with wide eyes. “Oh,” I breathed, unable to come up with anything else.

“Yeah, oh,” he replied, pulling me so our foreheads were touching. “I’ve got you, okay?” he said quietly, his lips mere inches from mine.

I really had no idea what that meant, but based on his intense expression I figured it was probably best just to nod. So I did.

It wasn’t long before Ettie, Mack, Connie, Wes, and Axel came striding in. I was so moved by the gesture that I nearly fell apart all over again.

“What are you guys doing here?” I asked, rising to accept hugs from Connie and Ettie.

“Your dad’s in the hospital,” Ettie replied, as though I didn’t already know that.

“How you holdin’ up, Pipe?” Axel asked, his gray-eyed gaze concerned as he looked over at me.

“I’ll be better when I know what’s going on,” I replied.

“Jill will tell us something as soon as she can,” Ettie assured me, sitting on my left side.

I nodded, feeling overwhelmed and incredibly tired.

They stayed.

Other than Axel, who had to get home to Maddox and a pregnant Sophie, they stayed. I couldn’t believe it. I was so moved by the outpouring of friendship and support.

We waited for hours, during which Ryker never left my side. He never so much as dropped my hand.

When Jill walked in with a doctor by her side, I rose to my feet along with Ry.

“Miss Owens?” he asked, pushing his glasses farther up his nose.

“Yes,” I answered, as Ry put an arm around me and pulled me in to his side.

“Your father is stable,” he began, the news causing me to wilt with relief. “We had to pump his stomach and are monitoring him closely. He’s awake now but a bit disoriented,” he explained, before pausing as though searching for his next words. “Miss Owens, it does look like this was a suicide attempt,” he said regretfully.

The breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding whooshed from my body as I fought to remain standing.

Ry held me even tighter, and I was unbelievably grateful for his strength.

“He should be monitored closely for the next forty-eight hours. After that we should discuss your options.”

“Options?” I asked with a creased brow.

“There is a residential home nearby for people suffering from various mental illnesses, including depression. I think your father would benefit greatly from a program like that.”

I swallowed audibly. “Mental illness? He’s not crazy.” I shook my head.

“No, of course not,” the doctor responded patiently. “But he is deeply depressed. He has been for a long while now. I’m concerned that if we release him and he returns home without serious medical intervention, this could happen again. Next time he may not be so lucky.”

That weighed heavily on my chest as I fought for breath.

I wondered if my dad considered surviving lucky. I knew I had to consider what the doctor was saying. I’d figure out how the hell we’d pay for it later.

“Can I see him?” I asked.

The doctor nodded, gesturing to follow him.

“We’ll be right here,” Ry assured me, squeezing me briefly before letting me go.

I’d been surprised by his presence and yet now… now I couldn’t imagine doing this without him.

“Okay,” I murmured, following the doctor and Jill from the room and down the hall.

My father looked unbelievably frail as I stood at the foot of his hospital bed.

“Just a few minutes, okay? He should rest,” Jill said, squeezing my hand before leaving the room.

I nodded, moving to the side of his bed and taking his hand in mine. “Dad?” My voice sounded scared and small in the cavernous room.

His eyelids fluttered, moving lazily until his gaze reached me. “Piper,” he rasped.

“You’re okay. You’re in the hospital,” I told him.

“I’m not okay,” he replied, squeezing his eyes shut before opening them again.

My eyes filled with tears, as I tried hard to hold it together.

“I’m so sorry, Piper. I love you more than words can say. I just… I miss her more than I can bear,” he said, his halting speech breaking my heart.

“I know, Dad. We’re gonna get you some help,” I told him, squeezing his hand. I knew he loved me. Perhaps later I’d feel some sort of resentment that he’d chosen to leave me. For now, all I felt was a driving need for my father not only to live but to want to. “I’ll be back in the morning, okay?” I said, quickly wiping an escaping tear.

“Okay.” He nodded. “Love you, honey.”

“Love you too.” I spoke over the lump in my throat and practically dashed from the room.

A loud sob escaped as I looked right and then left, desperate for some privacy. I knew my friends had been nothing but supportive, but I couldn’t fall apart in front of them like this.

Jill appeared soundlessly at my side. “Come in here,” she coaxed quietly, and without another word led me into an empty hospital room. She took my hand, guiding me like a child across the room. She sat me on the bed, leaving the lights off as the door clicked shut behind her, allowing me the space to fall apart.

I’d never felt so grateful.

Chapter 8

I
sat on the edge of the small hospital bed and allowed the huge body-shaking sobs to take over. I couldn’t seem to stop the onslaught even when my breathing became labored and my chest ached.

When the door edged open, I barely noticed until I was lifted up and cradled in strong, familiar arms.

Ry sat us in the chair in the corner with me curled into his lap, as he pulled me close against his warm body.

We sat like that for an immeasurable amount of time until my sobs faded into quiet hiccups, and my breathing slowed.

“Let me take you home,” he murmured in my ear, as his hands ran over my hair and down my back.

I nodded, my face still pressed to his neck.

“You gonna be okay on the bike?”

I nodded again, pulling away to wipe my eyes. I spotted some tissues on the counter behind us and grabbed them gratefully. My face had to be a complete wreck. I was fairly sure a good deal of snot had been expelled during my little breakdown.

We stood up and he took my hand, guiding me into the far too brightly lit hallway. I squinted at first, my eyes burning from all the tears, as he led us toward the exit.

I thought about my friends, who’d spent their night waiting with me. “Shouldn’t I say goodbye?” I protested, as the crisp night air cooled my overly heated skin.

“Nah, they took off. They get it,” he assured me, as we neared his bike.

“It was so kind of them to come,” I said quietly.

“They care about you.” He shrugged as he handed me a skullcap helmet. “I thought this would be easier with the scratches,” he explained.

“Thank you,” I murmured gratefully as he clipped it under my chin.

The bike’s motor roared and I hopped up behind him.

The cool air whipped over my face while the motor rumbled beneath me. I felt revived and alive. I held on to Ryker, pressing my body closer than I needed to, wanting to feel his warm body against mine.

It felt like mere moments before we were pulling up to my parents’ house. He didn’t get off the bike as I’d hoped he would. Instead his green eyes tracked my movements as I swung off and unclipped the helmet from under my chin.

I wanted him to tell me he was coming inside, that he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I wanted him to be bossy and to make decisions for me so I didn’t have to. But his gaze simply held mine, waiting.

“Would you…” I trailed off, clearing my throat, my voice hoarse from crying. “I mean, could you come inside with me for a while?” I asked, praying that he wouldn’t say no.

I couldn’t stand the thought of being without him.

I thought I saw relief flash in his eyes as he nodded, killing the engine. “Yeah, baby.” He nodded, taking my hand and leading us inside.

Baby
. I squeezed my eyes shut, the endearment was music to my ears.

“I didn’t even think about how you’d feel being here—do you want to stay at my place?” he asked, sounding concerned, as we stepped into the dim foyer. “We can take the dogs,” he added, as they leapt around us, desperate to be loved and let out, in that order.

I shook my head, taking off my coat as he did the same. “It’s weird.” I swallowed, looking around the empty feeling space. “The house has been so depressing since Mom died, but I feel like I owe it to her to try to change that, somehow,” I muttered. “She loved this house.”