Appeal to You (A Beyond the Cove Novel Book 3)

by Jaclyn Quinn

  Ryder dropped Avery’s hand and clenched his fists on the table, glaring at Chase. “And what if it is? I’d say that means I’m pretty damn qualified.”

  Chase chuckled, letting out a bored sigh. “It’s all coming together now. You always did love a charity case, Avery.”

  Avery slammed his hand on the table. “Don’t you dare call him that!” His mother and Deirdre both jumped. Avery looked around the table, seeing his father’s stubborn scowl, his brother and sister-in-law’s judgment. His eyes landed on his mother, sympathy and understanding reflected back.

  Then he let his gaze drift to Ryder. The man’s eyes were empty as he tried to push aside emotions Avery now knew were there just under the surface. Jesus Christ, this is your fault. He’d let Ryder come with him. Hell, it may have been Ryder’s idea to piss off Avery’s family, but what message was that sending Ryder? That he wasn’t good enough? That he was only worth what Avery’s brother and father thought he was? That who he was, was somehow offensive to Avery’s family?

  Avery glanced one more time at his mother, not entirely surprised this time to see a small, confirming nod.

  He calmly pushed back his chair, stood up, and held his hand out to Ryder. “Let’s go.”

  “What…now?” Ryder asked, completely caught off guard.

  “Yes.” He continued to hold out his hand, but when Ryder didn’t make a move to take it, Avery added, “I won’t let you be treated like this anymore.”

  Finally, and to Avery’s relief, a small smile graced Ryder’s face. The man took his hand and stood up.

  “Leaving again so soon?” Chase asked, picking up his wine and taking a slow sip.

  Avery gave pointed looks to both his father and brother. “I won’t let you treat him like he’s beneath you when, in fact”—his eyes landed on his sister-in-law—“he’s better than all three of you combined.”

  He glared at his brother. “What the hell happened to you? You’ve always been a pain in my ass, but this is a new low, even for you. I don’t know how you can look yourself in the mirror and actually be proud of the arrogant bastard you’ve become. Hell, maybe if you weren’t such a bastard, your wife wouldn’t need all those tennis lessons,” he said, and man, it felt really fucking good to see the smug smile fall from Chase’s face while Deirdre gasped.

  Chase pushed his chair back, and for the first time in years, Avery watched his brother lose his cool. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” Chase’s face was blotchy and red and his jaw ticked. It was a fantastic sight to see.

  Avery snorted. “The whole country club knows what I’m talking about. You two deserve each other.” He didn’t need to elaborate on that one. No doubt, Deirdre wasn’t blind to Chase’s late nights at the office.

  He turned to his father, riding the anger he’d bottled up inside himself for so long. “What have I ever done to you to deserve the way you treat me? I may not have gone into the career you wanted me to, but dammit, I’m a good man. I’ve been witness to what an amazing father is supposed to be; Kevin embodied everything I hope to be in a father someday. How sad is it that I can’t say the same about you? You’re no role model. You should be ashamed of yourself. For how you’ve always treated me, for how you treat Mom.” Avery turned his gaze back to Chase who was now having a heated argument with his wife. “You should be ashamed of the man your oldest son has become.” To his amazement, his father glanced down with a look that unbelievably resembled embarrassment.

  Avery looked at Ryder, and the complete and utter gratitude glistening in Ryder’s eyes floored him. He truly realized in that moment that Ryder wasn’t used to being put first by anyone. The gravity of that thought—of Ryder not knowing what it felt like to be truly loved—sank like a boulder in Avery’s stomach.

  Avery dropped Ryder’s hand, holding his face instead, and watched Ryder’s eyes widen right before their lips came together. He hoped like hell Ryder could feel the sincerity in this kiss. It wasn’t for shock factor or to prove a point to Avery’s family. It was Avery saying, I see the real you. He saw the man who was willing to let others look down on him for Avery’s benefit. Bottom line was, something like that should never benefit Avery. Now, Avery had to be the man to say enough was enough.

  He took Ryder’s hand again and started to walk away until a thought crossed his mind. Still holding on to Ryder—because there was no way he was letting go right now—Avery went over to his mother. “I won’t be coming back, at least not for a while, but you are always welcome in my home.”

  He kissed the top of her head and started for the door, when his brother slammed his hand down on the table. “That’s right, Avery; go back to your pathetic job, in that shithole town, and take your trash.”

  “He did not just call me trash,” Ryder said with a raised eyebrow. He turned to Chase and huffed. “The only trash I see in here is you. No wonder your kids are assholes.”

  Once again, Chase’s face flushed with anger, and on that note, it was time to go. Avery couldn’t wait any longer to get Ryder out of that toxic place and back where they both belonged. Lifting Ryder’s hand, Avery kissed the back of it. “Let’s go home.”

  They’d driven in complete silence on the way home, leaving Ryder plenty of time to think about what had happened, over and over again. You always did love a charity case, Avery…take your trash with you. Had it not been for the rage swirling in those icy blues eyes of Avery’s, Ryder may have taken Chase’s words to heart. But over the last hour of silence, Ryder realized there had never been a moment when Avery made Ryder feel like he was with him because he felt sorry for him.

  They hadn’t talked about Ryder going back to Avery’s for the night, but here they were, pulling into the underground garage of Avery’s building. The ride up the elevator was quiet. A few moments later, Ryder watched Avery in his bedroom as he stripped down to his boxers and yanked on a pair of sweats, so he assumed Avery had made the decision.

  They’d spent a few nights together at Ryder’s over the past week, but they would always end up in the same position: Ryder on one side of his bed and Avery on the other. He honestly had no idea when he’d get over that obstacle…or even if he would. All he knew was, it was one of the only things left shining a blinding light on Ryder’s issues.

  He’d yet to stay the night at Avery’s, but watching Avery get ready for bed, Ryder wished he wasn’t so fucked up. He wanted to be with this man, and the thought that he wouldn’t get past this was a little unnerving. “So, uh…I guess I’m staying here tonight?”

  Avery’s head jerked up, his eyes landing on Ryder before he glanced down at himself. Running a hand through his hair, Avery sighed. “Shit, I was so fucking distracted.” He sat down on the edge of his bed. “I’m so sorry,” Avery said softly, anguish radiating in his voice.

  Ryder shoved his hands in his pockets. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

  Avery huffed. “I have everything to apologize for. I never should’ve brought you there. I never should’ve subjected you to their judgmental, pretentious way of thinking.” He released a long, frustrated exhale. “It’s bad enough I’m subjected to it, but targeting you to get to me…that’s a new fucking low for my brother.”

  Ryder shrugged and looked out Avery’s bedroom window. “It’s cool; I’m used to it.”

  “It’s not cool!” Avery yelled, making Ryder flinch. “Someone judging you will never be okay to me! Someone putting you down is never something you should get used to! My family—”

  “Hey, hey…” Ryder yanked his hands out of his pockets and took a few long strides to the bed, coming up in front of Avery and standing between his legs. He ran his fingers through Avery’s soft hair, completely taken aback by the amount of venom in the man’s voice and the sheer anger radiating off him. “I’m okay, Avery. That wasn’t your fault. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. Sometimes…sometimes I just don’t know when to shut up, ya know? They didn’t say anything about me I don’t already know.” With tha
t, Avery stood abruptly, making Ryder take a couple steps back.

  “I need you to listen to me.” His eyes were intense, locked on Ryder’s in a way that made it feel impossible to look away. “Are you listening?”

  “Yeah,” Ryder breathed out. “Yeah, I’m listening.”

  “Good, because I need you to hear me. I am so sorry for my family’s behavior. I am so sorry if I’ve ever made you feel, in any way, like you aren’t good enough for me. Sometimes I wonder if I’m good enough for you. I know, without a doubt in my mind, that if I had gone through what you had, I wouldn’t have survived it.”

  “Avery—”

  Avery’s voice rose. “Let me say this.” Ryder nodded and waited, his pulse trying to beat its way out of his neck. Avery took Ryder’s face in his warm hands. “I’m falling for you, and I’m falling fucking hard.”

  “What?” Ryder whispered. Did he just...?

  “I’ve never met anyone like you before. Strong in ways you don’t even realize, kind in ways you completely deny, and sexy in ways that make me want you all the damn time.”

  Ryder’s ears were ringing, and he swallowed hard, trying to keep the lump in his throat down.

  Avery ran his thumbs back and forth against Ryder’s cheek and continued, “Even when Kevin and Maggie were still alive, my life was missing something. I threw myself into my work, thinking that helping other people and doing what I love would somehow make me feel complete.”

  “Yeah, I get that; I did that for years.” Ryder held Avery’s trim waist in both his hands, feeling his smooth skin beneath his fingers.

  “The second time you walked into my life, I knew it was going to be different with you. Hell, maybe that’s why you got under my skin so easily.” He leaned his forehead on Ryder’s. “I should’ve known what it meant; you are the only person in the world who drives me fucking crazy—”

  “Gee, thanks,” Ryder said with a laugh, rolling his eyes.

  “I wasn’t finished.” Avery chuckled. “You are the only person in the world who drives me fucking crazy”—Avery’s voice lowered to a husky, breathy sound as he took Ryder’s hand and pressed it between his legs—“and makes me so fucking hard I hurt, all at the same time.”

  Ryder squeezed Avery’s shaft, rubbing his hand up and down his erection. “That sounds about right,” he whispered, brushing a kiss on Avery’s mouth.

  “So, believe me when I tell you, I will never let my family treat you that way again.” Avery bit Ryder’s plump bottom lip then licked it. “Believe me when I say you are so worth all of it because I am falling in love with you.”

  “Avery…” Ryder whispered as he released short puffs of air against Avery’s mouth. He wanted to say the words back, but he honestly couldn’t remember a single person in his life he’d ever said them to…or who had ever said them to him. Not in the way Avery meant them right now.

  So, he showed him instead, with his lips, his tongue, his hands. Skin-to-skin until they were breathless and sweaty. The words like honey on the tip of his tongue—so sweet, yet caught there in a thick nectar not quite ready to be shared.

  Avery moved inside him, slow at first then building in intensity until neither one of them could control their explosive responses. They barely made a move to clean up, using the closest piece of clothing to wipe them both off.

  Ryder finally closed his eyes, facing Avery on the mattress. As the morning light came through Avery’s window, bathing them both in its glow and waking them both up, Ryder found himself completely wrapped around Avery. It took only a second to realize there was nowhere else he’d rather be.

  “Hey, Avery,” Chris said when Avery walked in the door. Avery waited for him to ask where Ryder was, but surprisingly, the question never came.

  “Hey. Ryder is stuck at work, but I figured you and I could still go get something to eat, if you’d like to.” Avery had almost postponed the night out with Chris due to Ryder not being there, but it just didn’t sit well with him. He’d been around Nick and Dylan since they were born. Being around kids wasn’t anything new for him.

  Chris shrugged one shoulder, but it didn’t hold the usual something’s-bothering-me feel to it. “Sure. I already did my homework and got my clothes ready for school tomorrow. I even asked Nina if there was anything she needed me to do, but she said there wasn’t.”

  “Then I guess we’re all set. Tacos or burgers?” Avery asked, watching Chris clean up all his art supplies and put them in the corner of the living room.

  “Tacos. Definitely tacos and chips with salsa.” He patted his stomach, chuckling.

  “Good call.” Avery turned toward the kitchen. “Nina, Chris and I are leaving.”

  She walked out into the entryway, drying her hands on a towel. “Okay. You boys enjoy.”

  “That’s a given when there are tacos involved.” Avery looked at Chris who was nodding his head in agreement. Nina laughed softly as Avery and Chris made their way out the door.

  There were a lot of restaurants to choose from in Brighton Pier, but there were certain ones the locals preferred. Surf Taco was a staple, and luckily, it wasn’t too crowded being a Wednesday night in October.

  While Chris got a table, Avery ordered their food and was given a number for their order so it could be brought out. Setting the stand with the attached number in the center of the table, he handed Chris his bottle of water. “Shouldn’t be too long since it’s so quiet in here.”

  “Good, because I’m starving.” Chris’s eyes widened for a second before he added, “Not starving, just really hungry. I shouldn’t have ordered two tacos, though, without asking you.”

  It was an odd statement. To Avery’s knowledge, he’d never given the kid reason to worry about what he ordered when they went out. “It’s fine. I ordered two as well.”

  Chris’s shoulders relaxed, and he leaned back against the booth seat.

  “So, how’s school?”

  “It’s good. My grades are great, and I never get in trouble.” He peeked up at Avery then dropped his gaze back to the table somberly.

  “What’s wrong?” Avery’s hackles rose as he watched Chris play with a paper napkin in his hands.

  Chris exhaled. “Some kids at school were messin’ with me, but I promise, I didn’t start it.”

  Avery sat up, his adrenaline spiking. Who the hell thought they could mess with Chris? “What do you mean, they were messing with you? Do I need to go into the school?” Take it back a notch; Nina would have to go in, not you. Logically, Avery knew that, but his defenses rose the moment Chris said someone was bothering him.

  “They were just being stupid. I’m used to it. I don’t have many friends at school.” Chris’s face said he was anything but used to it.

  It was the same damn thing Ryder had said to Avery; like the fact that it happened all the time excused people who treated them like shit. “If it’s going to cause trouble at school, you need to tell someone.”

  Chris sat up straight, his eyes wide. “It won’t cause trouble. I promise. Please, don’t tell Nina. I don’t wanna upset her.”

  It suddenly hit Avery… He’s still trying to prove himself. Doesn’t want to be a bother so Nina and Stan keep him around. Avery reached across the table and covered Chris’s hand. “Hey, hey…calm down. You’re not going to upset anyone. I just meant you shouldn’t let those things happen and not tell someone at school. A teacher…the principal…someone. Or, tell Nina and she can speak with someone.”

  Chris’s shoulders sagged. “Are you gonna tell her?”

  Shit. “Look, Chris, I don’t want you to feel like you can’t talk to me, but I also don’t want you to keep things from Nina that she should know. It’s not okay for those kids to harass you.” After what had happened with Nick, and the cruel things two students had said to him about his parents’ deaths, Avery knew some kids could be…well, as Ryder would say…assholes.

  Chris’s eyes lined with tears, but he held them in. “It won’t happen again.”

 
; Those words were anything but comforting. Did he mean the kids wouldn’t bother him again, or he wouldn’t tell Avery anything again?

  The waitress came with their food, breaking up the tension a little, but Avery didn’t want to let it go. “I hope you know you can always talk to me. Keep in mind, I’m on your side. We all are.”

  Chris was seemingly thinking something through. “If…if they put me with another family, who’ll be on my side?” he asked softly, his eyes downcast. “Gram was always on my side, ya know? It was always just the two of us.”

  “You miss her a lot, huh?”

  Chris blew out a shaky breath. “Yeah.”

  Avery set his taco down and wiped his hands off. “I know what you mean. Kevin, Nick and Dylan’s dad, was my best friend. He and Maggie were my family.” Avery swallowed the lump in his throat. “I miss them every day, but you know what helps me?”

  Chris shook his head, wiping away a single tear that fell down his freckled cheek. “What?”

  “I remember all the fun we had. Like Fourth of July fireworks on the beach, backyard barbeques, family dinners.” He laughed softly. “Dinners used to be a lot quieter then.”

  “How come?”

  “Well, believe it or not, the family was smaller. Jake and Eli weren’t together; Nina and Stan were always close with Kevin and Maggie, but they didn’t come over like they do now; Ryder, Kenz, and Parker didn’t really know Kevin and Maggie that well.” Avery sat back, taking a sip of his iced tea. “Somehow, after Kevin and Maggie died, the family grew.”

  “I kinda know what you mean; I’ve never been around so many people at one time. I’ve never had a big family,” Chris whispered, “but I like it.”

  “I like it, too,” Avery admitted. “That’s the thing about us; we all came together because Nick and Dylan needed us to, but we stayed a family because we wanted to.”

  Chris looked down. “I wish… I wish you all were my family.”