Chapter 249: Zee
*I couldn’t imagine going through life without friends. They make it fun. – Zee*
Rye poured her coffee in the dining room before walking into the kitchen. Smiling, Zee finished packing the white bag with Rye’s breakfast. She had her question ready, along with her secret ulterior motive. But when she looked up and saw the other woman, types of cookware no longer seemed important.
Rye’s face was pale, and her eyes were red rimmed from crying. Dark circles were under her lilac eyes that were still filled with tears. Her hair was smoothed down and her work uniform was spotless. That was more out of habit than her intentional actions.
“Rye, baby girl, come sit down.” Zee quickly came around the stainless-steel workstation and guided her to a stool.
The pale woman sat where she was told. She accepted the water bottle from Zee and continued to look down at the floor.
“Baby girl, tell me what’s wrong.” Zee brushed a stray tear off the other woman’s cheek.
“I’m too messed up to raise a child.” Rye whispered.
Zee wrapped her arms around the other woman and held her close. “We’re all fucked up. What brought this on?”
“One of my classes, psychology, we had to list our support system. I have you and Karan. And after so many years of keeping people at arm’s length, I don’t know how to be a friend.”
“You’re not alone. You have the Saints. They will never let you be alone.”
“I don’t have anyone.” Rye said and slumped forward into Zee.
“What about Tank? And ink? Evie? You’ve been out to their house, think that they let just anybody out there?”
“I don’t know.”
“Trust me, they don’t.” She rubbed her hands up and down Rye’s back. “And Cookie. He found a house for you.”
“That’s business.”
“He has never done a rent house before. But he is for you.”
“There’s Chance.”
Rye shook her head. “I don’t know any of you.”
“What do you think the morning question is for?” Zee moved some hair behind Rye’s ear. “We’re getting to know each other.”
“I don’t know how to be a friend.” Rye whispered.
“You pick a human and say this one is mine. Why don’t you come to girl’s night? We watch a movie and hang out every Wednesday.”
“I’m not very good with people.” Rye said quietly.
“You were a waitress.” Zee pointed out. “You work with kids. You’re good with them.”
“Kids are easy. Give them goldfish or cheerios and you’re a god.”
Zee laughed. “True. You give my kids goldfish or cheerios and me ten minutes of peace and I’ll think you’re a god.”
“What if I screw up with Michael?”
“Then you’ll be like the rest of us mortal mothers. Only grandparents are gods.” She chuckled. “Even Repeat is learning that uncles aren’t immune to temper tantrums.”
“Thanks.” Rye whispered.
“For what?”
“This. Being here.”
“I’m a friend. I’m always here. Plus,” she gave Rye a crooked grin, “I work here.”
“I’m going to miss your muffins in the morning.”
“Then you’ll just have to come by in the mornings to get one.” Zee stepped away and grabbed the bag. “Cranberry walnut.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me. Mia gave us the recipe. It’s Chance’s favorite and today’s his birthday.” She smiled. “He’s a good guy. A bit of a slut, and a horrible flirt.”
“Guys flirting with me makes me nervous. Too many bad experiences.” Rye said and Zee watched as she shut down and her guard was put back in place. Not for the first time, Zee wondered what was in the other woman’s past that hurt her so much.
Watching the younger woman walk out of the kitchen, Zee debated with herself. Then she did what her gut told her to do. Even as she typed the message, her head was telling her not to. Pressing send, she decided that it was too late.
In the Pink Pussy room of his mother’s condo, Chance reached for the phone that was chirping too damned early in the morning. Expecting it to be a birthday message, he almost dismissed the message from Zee without opening it. But three words caught his attention.
*Rye needs you.*
He did his pattern on the screen to unlock it and pulled up his messages. It was early enough that Zee’s message was the only one that he had received. That was the whole message.
*Rye needs you.*
Quickly, he sent a message back asking what was going on and then Chance jumped out of bed and headed for the shower. He took what had to be a world record short shower. Even the two-minute showers during boot camp seemed like they had been longer. As he stepped out, his phone was chirping with messages received. Dressing in record time for that also, he grabbed his phone and headed for the stairs.
Pausing at the top of the stairs, he read the string of messages still pinging on his phone.
*Rye needs you.*
*She had an assignment in class, psych/socio one of those, had to list her support system*
*Listed Karan and me*
*That’s it*
*Feels like she has no one*
*Was crying when she left*
*I know everyone tells you to stay away from her*
*She needs you*
*Just… don’t hurt her*
He quickly wrote back that he wouldn’t and started to head down the stairs when his mom’s door opened. Expecting to see Alana, he was a little shocked to see Ryder in the doorway.
“This is awkward.” Chance whispered.
“I always spend your birthday with your mom.” Ryder replied with a smirk. “Don’t expect any special treatment or nepotism promotions.”
Chance’s eyes widened as he realized what his boss was telling him. “Well, shit.”
“Yeah.” the older man agreed.
“I gotta go. We can do the father/son bonding thing later.”
“Everything okay?”
Chance sighed. “I don’t know. Can I come talk to you about something? Maybe not today. I… I..”
“Is it about your woman?” With a lump in his throat, Chance nodded at this question. “The best addvise that I can give you, is to be TJ, don’t be Chance.”
“Thanks.” Chance said as he headed down the stairs, halfway down, he stopped and looked back up. “I’m named after you, aren’t I?”
Ryder chuckled. “Yeah. Both of you are.”
With a quick nod, Chance continued down the stairs and grabbed his jacket from the hook by the front door. Honestly, he wondered who else he shared a dad with. As he rode through the streets to get to the hospital, he wondered if he really wanted to know. And if they knew.
Cruising through the hospital parking lot, he did not see that godawful brown Volvo with Georgia plates. There was only one other place she would go. Turning out onto the street, he headed for the daycare.
There it was, in the employee parking lot. Rye was still sitting in the driver’s seat. He parked and walked over to her door. The engine was already off, conserving gas, saving money. Her small body was racked with sobs.
Gently, Chance opened the door and undid her seatbelt. He grabbed her keys and backpack before pulling her out. With an arm around her shoulders, he walked her to the backdoor and unlocked it. Punching in the security code, he reset the alarm, not knowing that his brother and Karan were now watching them on their tablets.
Leaning against the wall, Chance dropped her backpack and pulled her into his chest. One arm anchored her to him as the other hand removed his helmet and let it fall to the floor. His now free hand cupped the back of her head to his chest as she cried.
“I’m sorry.” She eventually whispered.
“For what”
“This.”
“Nothing to apologize for, duchess.” He told her gently and for once, she didn’t object to the nickname.
“I just felt so overwhelmed.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I found out that my boss is sleeping with my mother.” Chance gave a dry laugh. “*And* he’s my biological father.”
Rye could not help the laugh that escaped.
“That’s a better sound.” He said and brushed a kiss against her hair.
