Chapter Eleven

“You’re back!” Emily said when I opened the front door and caught her coming down the hall with a bowl of popcorn.

“Is that Ryder?” Link yelled from the living room.

“Hey Ems,” I said and kissed her cheek as we hugged trying not to spill the popcorn.

“Who’s this?” Emily asked as Link joined her. Ava stood slightly behind me, a nervous smile on her face.

“This is Ava, that’s Emily, my cousin, and Link, my second,” I said.

“Nice to meet you,” Ava said as both of them stared at her.

“Come on,” I said to Ava and headed upstairs with the first two suitcases.

I stopped on the second floor and led Ava to the guest room. I placed her suitcases in front of the dressing room and switched the bathroom light on for her.

“For the time being this will be your room until we’ve figured everything out,” I said as she looked around the room.

“You mean until you have proof that you’re the father,” she said.

“I don’t mean it like that,” I said feeling awkward just standing there.

“Thank you,” she said no