“We’ll see everyone at our place!” Mason called out as he and Scarlett separated from the group. Little by little, people began to leave and Peyton was anxious to follow too.
“Peyton?”
Turning, she saw Ryder’s mother walking toward her. She looked great and apparently was feeling a little better as she got closer to her surgery.
“Hey, Helen!” she said, giving her a hug. “Thank you so much for coming out for this.”
“After listening to you and Ryder talking about it last week when I called, I knew I had to be here.”
“Thank you. I know it’s not much–just some dirt getting moved around–but…it’s a lot to me.”
“As it should be.” Helen gave her a serene smile. “I want you to know that I am beyond grateful to you.”
“To me? Why?”
“For starters, I’ve never seen my son so happy. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone quite as happy as Ryder.”
Blushing, Peyton nodded.
“And I’m grateful for all you’re doing for me. You’ve…you’ve welcomed me into your life, your home, your family and…it means the world to me, Peyton, so…thank you.”
“You’ll always have a place here with us,” Peyton assured her. “I wish the new house was going to be done sooner so you could come and recuperate here, but…”
“It will be nice to know I can come and see all the wonderful work you’ve done when I’m feeling stronger.” She kissed Peyton on the cheek. “We’ll see you at your brother’s house.”
Looking around, it was down to just a handful of people, including herself and Ryder. Parker came strolling over and hugged her again. “I am so proud of you!”
“Thank you! I’m so glad you’re here. It would have felt wrong without you.”
Pulling back, her sister grinned at her. “And I appreciate you keeping the bungalow for me to use. It was nice having the bed to myself this time and not having to go and sleep in my childhood room while getting pressured by Mom to move back.”
“Well, damn. I was about to pressure you to move back.” Peyton teased.
“Ugh…not you too. Not today…”
“Okay, fine. But I can’t guarantee the bungalow will be here the next time. I’m almost completely moved in with Ryder and there’s no reason to keep it.”
“Can we put that on hold for today?” Parker asked. “I don’t want to talk about my messed up life when today is your big day.” She squeezed Peyton’s hand and smiled again.
“What? What are you smiling at?”
“Your ring! My God, how is it possible for one man to have such good taste in everything? Jewelry? Women? Clothes? I mean…just look at him, Peyton! Ryder is just…”
“He’s like James Bond,” she said with a small laugh. “The first time he walked into the café, that’s what I thought. And I can say with great confidence that he is the best in every single way.”
“TMI, Peyton,” her sister murmured, kissing her on the cheek. “I’m going to go. I’ll see you over at Mason’s.”
They hugged again and Peyton stood and watched as Parker ran over and hugged Ryder.
And possibly whispered something in his ear.
Ryder nodded and Parker turned and walked to her car while Ryder walked directly to her.
“What was that all about?”
“What was what all about?”
“My sister. What did she say to you?”
He waved her off and began to lead her over to his car. “Just telling me how awesome I am and how nobody’s better than me,” he said with a laugh.
“Somebody’s rather full of themselves. Again.”
“Part of my charm,” he replied, helping her into the car.
“It certainly is,” she agreed. And as Ryder walked around the front of the car, she couldn’t help but smile. When he climbed in beside her, she was nodding.
“What? Now what did I do?” he asked.
“Everything. You truly are the best, Ryder Ashford, and I love you.”
“I love you too. Now let’s go celebrate!”
A Look Back at the Bishop Family with
In Case You Didn’t Know
“Success.” Mason Bishop looked around the room with a satisfied grin. Sure he was alone and talking to himself, but he was alone in a place of his own and it was beyond exciting. It was something he should have done long ago, but he’d let himself be guilted long enough.
Collapsing down on his new sectional, he studied his surroundings with a sense of accomplishment. It was something he was always going to do, but a week ago he had hit his limit at home and decided the time had finally come.
Of course the fact that his cousin Sam kept poking at him because he still lived with his parents had helped, but…
As if on cue, his phone rang and there was Sam’s name on the screen.
“Hey!”
“So?” Sam asked giddily. “Is it glorious? Please tell me it’s glorious!”
Mason couldn’t help but laugh. “I just put the last of the boxes in the trash so I haven’t had the time for it to feel particularly glorious yet, but…”
“Okay, fine. Pretend, for crying out loud. You’re in your own place and it’s filled with your own stuff. Doesn’t it feel great?”
It would be fun to keep needling one another, but to what end? “You know what? It does,” he said with a big grin. “I slept here last night but there were boxes and crap everywhere. Now everything is put away and...yeah, I guess it is kind of glorious.”
“There you go! Now don’t you feel like a complete idiot for waiting for so long?”
“Weren’t you living with your mom up until a couple of months ago?”
“Dude, that was totally different. I’d been living on my own up in Virginia for years. It was only when I was forced to move here that I chose to live with my mother. Apples and oranges.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybes about it,” Sam countered. “And now Shelby and I are living together and it’s awesome.”
“You sure that’s a good idea? Moving in together so soon? Her father’s a pastor. The gossip mill must be going crazy with the news!”
“Thanks. Like I needed the reminder,” Sam deadpanned.
“And?”
“And what?”
“C’mon, are you telling me there’s been no backlash? No one spouting how you’re living in sin and whatnot?”
Sam let out a low laugh. “Oh, they spout it all the time, but we’re good with it. We both know this is it for us and if anyone really starting hassling us, we’re more than okay with going to the courthouse, making it legal, and shutting everyone up.”
Mason was pretty sure his jaw hit the floor. “Wait…what? Are you serious? Making it…? Who are you and what have you done with my cousin!”
That just made Sam laugh harder. “When you know, you know. And with Shelby…I know.”
And damn if he couldn’t hear his cousin’s smile.