Chapter 25

Scarlet

Watching Ryder interact with his family and talk about Judd makes me miss Gable. I feel bad because I know that there is no comparison to what Judd is doing, but I still miss him. Spending yesterday and today with nana has been the greatest time, even without Gable being here. I hope I get to spend more time like this. As much as I wanted to admit it I was never this close to Dustin’s family. They saw me as more of an employee which was technically true, but in the same respect I was there son’s girlfriend too. I was never invited to family functions like this.

After the guys finish the turkey we come back into the house. Naomi and I start setting the table. I really like Judd’s momma she is so sweet and caring. She treats Ryder like he’s her son. Nana’s friends have arrived and are currently arguing about some show on T.V. they are funny. After we get everything on the table Mr. Abbott calls everyone in there. Ryder grabs my hand motioning for me to sit beside him.

Mr. Abbott sits down at the head of the table. “Before we eat let’s bless the food.” We bow our heads, Ryder and I hold hands as his father speaks. “Dear Lord thank you for the many blessing you have given this family, thank you for wonderful friends. Help us remember the loved ones who have gone home to be with you Lord. Be with Judd as he protects this great nation we call home. Please bless the food we are about to eat and the people who helped to prepare it. In Jesus name Amen.”

I look up to see Nana and Naomi wiping their eyes. Mr. Abbott looks at everyone and says, “Alright y’all let dig in.”

As everyone is wrapping up with their food Ryder suddenly stands up. He looks down at me. “I have a surprise for you.”

I can feel the heat creeping up on my face. “Okay.” Everyone is staring at me now.

Nana speaks up. “Ryder son, you are making her nervous.”

“Oh sorry. I didn’t mean to. It’s just I can’t wait any longer to tell you this.”

I’m really freaking out now.

He puts his hand on my shoulder. “Scar it’s okay. I know that you’ve been missing Gable a lot lately. So he and I have been texting each other. The band is playing up in Hilton Head this this weekend and we are going to see them.”

I jump up out of my seat and wrap my arms around him. I’m crying big tears. “Oh My God! Ryder I love you. I have missed him so much, I can’t believe you two have been working on this together.” Suddenly I remember the rest of the people at the table. “Oh I’m sorry.”

Naomi smiles. “Don’t be. Its sweet how much you love your brother and Ryder that was so sweet of you.” She stands up and walks over to him and hugs him. “I’m so proud of you and the man you’re becoming.”

~*~*~

Ryder and I have spent so much time together over Thanksgiving break. He’s convinces me to spend every night with him, or he keeps me there so late that I fall asleep. I’m so excited that we are leaving this morning for Gable’s show. I’m curious to see how Gable is doing, he’s been so quiet on the phone lately. There is something going on and I intend on getting to the bottom of it when I see him.

My alerts that I have a text from an unknown number. “You should have learned by now to keep your mouth shut.” I don’t know who it’s from, but my phone dings again with a pic of Gable’s car after the wreck.

I’m scared. I’ve been having a bunch of hang-up phone calls lately from unknown numbers and I’ve tried to play it off. The other day on my way out to Ryder’s I swore I thought someone was following me and now this text that I know for a fact was sent to me. But what would I need to keep my mouth shut about?

A knock at my front door startles me. I look through the window and see Ryder. I open the front door and hug him. He chuckles. “Hey I could use greetings like that all the time. You ready to go?”

“Yes!” Maybe while I’m out of town I can figure out who sent me that message.

I read my kindle most of the way to Hilton Head because Ryder is on the phone with Nelson trying to figure out why some of the smaller cows are sick.

We arrive at the hotel the band is staying in. I knock on Gable’s door expecting him, Stoney or Keeg to answer the door, but it’s Ivie the bass player and Gable’s singing partner. She’s in one of his t-shirts, I know it’s his shirt because I bought it. What the hell? She smiles. “Hey Scar Gable’s in the shower.” As if she can sense I’m trying to figure this out, she looks back at me. “The hotel was short on rooms last night so Gable bunked with me. Normally he and I both get rooms to ourselves.”

“Oh okay.” She’s trying to steer clear of something. So I’m just going to leave it for now. About that time Gable comes out of the bathroom in a towel and Ivie slips by him with her overnight bag into the bathroom.

He tightens his towel acting a little uncertain I can tell, but he steps over to hug me. “Hey baby sister, I’ve missed you so much.”

I smile hugging him tightly. “I’ve missed you too.”

I point to the bathroom door where I can hear the shower running, “You wanna explain more about that?”

He shakes his head. “No we are in the same band we crash in the same room sometimes.” He shrugs his shoulders. “Hotel was out of rooms normally we get three because I’m not sleeping in the room with Keeg and Stoney. Neither is Ivie. They are always dragging some skanks back to the room and they both are messy as hell.”

I laugh thinking about the kind of women those two would bring back. I also notice that although both beds look like they’ve been messed up only one looks slept in. I shake my head I’m not going to pry anymore. I know Gable is private, but damn he knows Ivie has issues. I mean don’t get me wrong she’s been in their band forever, she’s an awesome singer and bass player, but she has this way of finding crazy. I’ve only heard stories about her exes and her parents, but it’s enough.

Gable slides on some boxer briefs under his towel, pulling the towel off he steps over and shakes Ryder’s hand. “Hey man how was the drive up?”

“It was good man. Didn’t get much time to talk to Scar because I had to deal with some business calls, but she got some reading done.”

Gable flops down on the bed. “So, what do you guys wanna do today?”

I flop down next to him. “I don’t care, I’m just excited to get to spend some time with you.”

“Well I have to be at the venue by three so we can go grab some lunch and just hang out.” He stands up to slide on some jeans. “I wish I had more time, but I’ll see you in a few weeks at Christmas. I’ll be home for a few days then.” Walking over he taps on the bathroom door and Ivie cracks it open. He steps inside and shuts the door. I hear them speak in a hushed tones. He steps out and she closes the door back.

I look over at him with a cocked brow. “What was that all about?”

“Nothing I was just telling her where I’d be, in case the guys ask.”

“Oh alright well let’s go.” I have a feeling that is utter and complete bullshit but my thoughts are interrupted by my phone ringing I look down at it. Unknown again. I ignore it for now. I’ll talk to Ryder about this later. Right now I want to spend time with Gable.

Ryder looks at me. “You good?”

I smile. “Yeah guys lets go, I’m starving you didn’t feed me this morning.”

“You said you weren’t hungry.”

I push his shoulder. “Whatever. Let’s go dill weeds.”

Gable pulls me into a somewhat headlock. “Why are you calling me a dill weed? This is the first time you’ve seen me in months and I’m taking you to get some food.”

I hug him around his waist. “You’re not. Let’s go.”

He kisses me on top of the head. “I’m glad you’re here kid.”

“Me too.”