Chapter 23


    "Load up!" Craig instructed and the guys were loading the trucks up. We were leaving the cathedral,


    since the guys got whatever they need to pawn it.


    Chloe still doesn''t believe me and is ''iming he territory'' every second she gets, by sexually kissing


    Ryker and whispering seductive things into his ear, and ying with the hem and cor of his shirt.


    My eyes narrowed at them in the distance, and I wanted nothing more but for it to stop. We were in the


    field along the rail-road tracks and their was a breeze.


    It got a lot warmer and I was just in ck skinny jeans, ck t-shirt, and a ck beanie.


    "Rain" Mnie said and I looked at her "Yes"?


    "Do you like Ryker"? She asked innocently, and I sighed and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear


    "Yes, I do".


    "Then why is he kissing Chloe"? She asked, and I said "Because he like''s Chloe".


    Mnie frowned "But Chloe''s mean".


    I nodded "I know, but hopefully it''ll pass soon".


    "Can you date Ryker"? She asked and I chuckled "If I could, I would".


    She grinned ear-to-ear and her eyes lit up "You guys can get married! And you could be my sister


    then!"


    I smiled slightly "I don''t know about marriage..."


    "Rain! Let''s go!" Neil yelled and I walked over and set Mnie down on the ground, and Leah took her.


    I got in the truck and sat in the middle between Ryker and Liz in the back-seat.


    "Where''s Chloe"? I asked curiously and raised an eyebrow.


    "I told her she had to ride in the other truck" Ryker said causally and took out his phone.


    "Why"? I asked, not that I wasining or anything".


    Ryker looked at me and leaned closer and whispered "So I could be with you", and my cheeks went


    red.


    I whispered "Nice background" and mimicked Ryker from yesterday. He raised an eyebrow then turning


    his phone on and his lock-screen was a picture of me.


    It was a selfie I took, where I had one eye closed and I was smiling, and had my tongue stuck out. I


    saw Ryker''s lips tug into a smile.


    "Yeah I know, one of my personal favorites. She''s beautiful" He said and smirked at me. I pressed my


    lips in a thin line, as my stomach erupted in butterflies.


    Ryker Anderson


    Liz grinned like a mad-woman and I raised an eyebrow "What"?


    "Oh nothing" She said in a sing-song voice and I rolled my eyes.


    Rain fell asleep with her head on my shoulder. Will pulled up to the track, and parked.


    We have a race tonight so we''re taking a few test runs before it starts.


    I sighed and said softly "Rain. Rain, wake up", and tapped her shoulder. She opened her eyes slowly


    and yawned.


    I smiled at how cute she was when she yawned. "Come on" I said and got out of the truck. I picked


    Rain up and carried her.


    Chloe''s eyes widened and she pouted. Rain nuzzled her head into the crook of my neck, and my lips


    tugged into smile.


    She was exhausted, she only slept for about an hourst night and I know because I was up all night


    with her.


    "Alright, get going" Craig instructed.


    "Rain, you''re racing tonight, so let''s go"Craig nodded towards the skyline.


    "I thought I was benched" She said, and Craig sent her a warning look "Go, Rain".


    She ran a hand threw her hair then throwing a beanie on the back of her head quickly and walked over


    to me and put her hand out for the keys.


    "I don''t like when you drive" I clenched my jaw.


    "Really Ryker? We''re not going threw this again" She narrowed her piercing blue eyes at me.


    I don''t want Rain racing, because it gets brutal andpetitive when they''re racing out there, and I


    don''t want her getting hurt, and we fought about her racing.


    "I''m not giving you the keys" I stated stern, and she gave me an Are-You-Serious-We-Are-Not-Doing-


    This-Right-Now look.


    "Give me the fucking keys!" She groaned and Chloe walked over and put a hand on my shoulder "Babe


    give her the keys, I''m sure she knows how to drive".


    Rain quickly grabbed the keys from my hand and smirked as she dangled the keys in her fingers then


    walking off and getting in the Skyline.


    Rain was drivingps, and Vince came up and stood beside me as we both watched her sped around


    the track.


    "She got game, that''s for sure" Vince stated and I nodded in agreement.


    There was a few moments of silence and Vince smirked "So..dude, do you like her"?


    I clenched my jaw and said stern "No".


    "LIAR!" Vince called me out, and I rolled my eyes "I don''t".


    "Really? Then why are you so caring for her? I mean you wouldn''t care if Chloe raced, would you"?


    Vince tested.


    I rolled my eyes "Chloe is just some bang".


    Vince asked "You two already bang.....damn.....you couldn''t get Rain, so you went to your Ex-Girlfriend,


    not cool Anderson".


    "It was the night she came back, alright!? I don''t know...but I haven''t seen Chloe in forever and things


    just kind of happened.." I trailed off and shrugged.


    Vince rolled his eyes then taking out a pack of cigarettes and handing one to me, and I pulled a lighter


    out of my pocket and lit the cigarette then putting it between my lips and blowing out a puff of smoke


    out.


    Rain finished up the rounds and climbed out of the window then walking up to me and handing me the


    keys "See, now was that so bad"? She chuckled and smiled.


    I took the keys "But you''re not racing against anyone" I pointed out.


    "Whatever" She rolled her eyes "I have to go home anyways, bye".


    Vince hugged her and she jogged over to Liz and Leah to say ''Goodbye''.


    "For fuck-sakes, Ryker! Go!" Vince nodded towards Rain. I jogged over and she hugged Leah and Liz


    goodbye and started to walk away.


    I grabbed her wrist and whirled her around to me "Where do you think you''re going"? I smirked.


    "Home......"? She trailed off.


    I pulled her into a hug and she was stiff at first but then hugged me back, and I rested my chin on her


    shoulder "Drive safe".


    She nodded and pulled away "I will" she smiled slightly. I kissed her cheek and she blushed, and


    squeezed my hand "Bye Ryker".


    "Bye Rain" I smiled and she let go of my hand and walked away.


    Rain Thompson


    "Rain!" Joel yelled and I ran around the pool, and tried to not slip since I was wet from being in the


    pool. The cold air hit my body, since I was only in a bikini.


    Joel grabbed my by the waist but I quickly got out of his grip and jumped into the pool, and Joel red


    at me since he was in normal clothes and couldn''t go in the pool.


    I smirked and floated on my back "Nice Try"!


    "I''m going to fucking kill you"! He gritted "You can''t stay in that pool all night".


    I told Alex that Joel liked her, and now I''m ''dead meat''. But they''ve been out on so many dates it


    shouldn''t even matter anymore.


    THEY ARE BASICALLY TOGETHER!


    He walked inside and I quickly swam to the end and got out. I ran around the front of the house and it


    was dark out, but the lights from the house shined the outside.


    There was a honk from a car, and I turned around to see the gang crammed into two cars, and I jogged


    down and Will asked "What the hell are you in soaking wet for, and in a bathing suit"?


    "Being thrown into a pool by my brothers, that''s what I was doing" I said, and Liz said "You forgot your


    phone" and handed it to me.


    I nodded and took it.


    "Fucking Rain Eliza"! Jax yelled from inside and Iughed victoriously.


    "What the hell is going on in your house"? Vince asked.


    "Well Jax is yelling because I duck taped his door shut" I smirked proudly.


    They all looked at me amused.


    "You want toe in? My dad''s out on a business meeting" I offered. "What about your brothers"?


    Leah asked.


    I shrugged "They wouldn''t care".


    "Yes! I want to go!" Faith cheered and they all nodded "Yeah, fine". They all got out and I walked up the


    driveway and to the door.


    I walked in and Chloe asked "You live here"?!


    I nodded slightly and bit my lip..I never liked showing off how much money my family has, or the


    luxuries we have.


    I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around myself.


    Ryan, Jax, and Joel all came down and gave a shocked look and smiled "Hey Liz" they said in unison


    and muttered "Ryker".


    "This is Craig, Vince, Reece, Peter, Will, Neil, Leah, Faith, Mnie, Chloe and you know Liz and Ryker.


    This is Jax, Ryan, and Joel" I introduced and pointed to each person.


    "Uh....I''m going to get changed...since someone threw me in the pool" I red at Joel.


    "Well maybe if you didn''t tell Alex I like her!" Joel deres and I rolled my eyes and teased "You soooo


    like her!" and stuck my tongue out at him.


    Joel smirked "I know who you like too". I kicked him in the shin, and he hissed in pain "Ow! Goddamn


    it, Rain! You''re so violent"!


    I red at him, and he smirked "What scared, he''s going to find out? And you''re hearts going to be


    crushed"?


    My brothers figure''d out I like Ryker, because they interrogated me with questions and I lied, and my


    lies didn''t match up and they figure''d it out.


    Ryker furrowed his eyebrows in suspicion, and I shook my head "No one" and walked upstairs to my


    room.


    I grabbed clothes from my closet and Leah and Liz came in "They figure''d out you like Ryker"?!


    I nodded "Yeah, they did. And they were not happy about it, but now they''re just teasing me because


    quote ''It''s the cliche-st thing to happen''."


    "They make a point" Leah chuckled and I walked into my closet and quickly put a bra and underwear


    on, and pulled on jeans and walked out and grabbed a muscle-tee from my dresser and threw it on,


    and quickly blow dried my hair.


    "Hey" Ryker''s voice said and he knocked with his knuckles on the door entry, and leaned in the


    doorway.


    Liz and Leah said "Well will be ran-sacking your fridge" then walking out and shutting the door behind


    them; leaving Ryker and I.......alone.


    I slipped a pair of converses on and tied them, and a pair of arms wrapped around my waist from


    behind as I was mid-tie.


    Ryker pressed me up against him and my back was against his chest. He nuzzled his head into the


    crook of my neck "Now spill".


    "Spill on what"? I managed to get out since my breath was shaky at the contact between Ryker and I.


    He then whirled me around and pushed me down on my bed, and he leaned over top of me "Don''t y


    dumb, Rain" and a smirk tugged his lips.


    I raised an eyebrow and he asked "Who do you like"?


    You.


    My eyes widened and I said "I''m not telling you! It''s a secret"! and I tried to get up, but Ryker quickly


    grabbed my by the waist and pulled me down on my bed next to him.


    Iughed and my covers got messed up.


    Our legs tangled and he wrapped his arms around my waist, as my back was against his chest, and I


    pressed my lips in a thin line.


    "Let''s take a nap" He said and nuzzled his head into the crook of my neck. "Ryker we can''t, my


    brothers would kill me" I said, and tried to pull out of his grip.


    The door opened and Will smirked "Uh, Rain. We don''t know where the game room is".


    I got out of Ryker''s grip and he red at me and I rolled my eyes and he stood up.


    "Come on, it''s on the 5th floor" I said and their eyes widened.


    "Stop! Rain!" Reece yelled and Iughed as we yed Call of Duty ck Cops, and I was whopping all


    the guys'' asses.


    I continued to move my fingers all around the controllers and continued to hit ''A'' and my screen went


    red.


    Ryker smirked and I said "Stop shooting me!" and he said "Nah, I''m good thanks".


    I leaned on him and tried to block him so he couldn''t see, and would mess up and heughed, and I


    died and Ryker won.


    He smirked victoriously and I smacked his arm and scoffed "You think you''re so good, don''t you"?


    "I don''t think I am, I know I am" He smirked and pressed his forehead to mine, and I blushed and pulled


    away as Iughed "Yeah right, Anderson".


    "Babe"! Chloe yelled and walked over and sat in Ryker''s, and wrapped her arms around his neck "Can


    we do something"?


    I got up and walked over to Peter, Liz, Will, and Vince at the bar and sat down at one of the bar stools.


    "Hey" Liz smiled slightly "You okay"?


    I looked back at Ryker and Chloe; as Chloe giggled and pressed her lips to Ryker''s, I turned back to


    Liz and sighed "No, not really".


    "I have an idea" Peter smirked and grabbed my wrist and pulled me over to Ryker and Chloe looked up


    at Peter and I.


    Everyone raised eyebrows, and Peter grabbed Ryker by the shirt and pulled us both behind him, and


    pushed us into a closet and yelled "7 minutes in heaven"! then mming the closet door shut and


    locking it.


    I rolled my eyes and Ryker grabbed me by the waist and pulled me over to him, and wrapped his arms


    around my waist and I wrapped mine around his neck.


    "You know you''re really sending mix-signals" I stated. It was true one minute he''s making out with


    Chloe, then the next he acts like he wants to be around me and cares about me.


    He smirked and pressed his forehead to mine "You''re just to oblivious to see the real thing", and I


    raised an eyebrow in suspicion.


    What does that mean?


    The door opened and Ryker and I jumped away from each other. Chloe stood there and crossed her


    arms with a mad expression on her face.


    I groaned "Liz I don''t want to do this"!


    "Ohe on"! She begged and I huffed then looking around to make sure know one wasing, and


    the hall entry was clear.


    I was in the doorway/hall entry and Liz and Leah were having a handstandpetition and were


    failing.


    I put my arms up and put them down on the crowd and kicked my legs up and held myself up, and I


    heard footsteps.


    I quickly stood back up and the guys all came up.


    "Handstands"? Neil asked and raised an eyebrow and I pointed at Leah and Liz. Vince suggested "You


    and Ryker do apetition"!


    My eyes widened "No!"


    "What"? Ryker smirked "Scared you''ll loose"?


    "Oh it''s on Anderson" I said and he dropped his keys and phone on the ground and we both went down


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    and went up into a handstand.


    We both walked on our hands to keep our bnce and from falling.


    Ryker smirked then pushing me over with one hand and I quickly stood up before I could fall and I


    pushed him and he quickly stood up.


    Iughed and he smiled, and I offered a smile.


    I loved his smile, it was so unique and not something you saw from Ryker all the time.


    "I totally won" He joked.


    "Totally" I said sarcastically and rolled my eyes and a smile never left my lips.


    Chloe ced her hands on her hips and impatiently watched us "Ryker"!


    Her voice was cold and sounded like she wanted to kill me.


    Ryker sighed and turned around to Chloe.


    "Are you sure? You can sleep in here" I said to Liz and Leah.


    "Yeah" They smirked "Will just sleep in one of the guest rooms".


    I raised an eyebrow to why they were smirking but they said "Night Rain" and walked out.


    I changed into short-shorts that were n ck and a white t-shirt.


    My door opened and Ryker walked in.


    I raised an eyebrow and asked "Yes....."? He scratched the back of his neck and asked "Can I sleep in


    here tonight"?


    I gave a confused look and nodded slightly "Sure....".


    "I don''t want to have to deal with Chloe" He muttered as he kicked his shoes off and I asked "Then why


    are you together"?


    "Rain"! He groaned "I told you! We''re not together!"


    I rolled my eyes "Well your actions say otherwise" and climbed into my bed and Ryker came and sat


    down next to me.


    "I''m not having this conversation" He stated and rolled his eyes and I muttered "Chicken" and pulled


    the cover over me.


    I woke up and Ryker''s arms were wrapped around me and I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and


    saw it was 2 A.M.


    I sighed and got out of Ryker''s grip and my feet touched the cold hard-wood floor and I walked out into


    the hallway quietly.


    I rubbed my eyes as I tried to be somewhat alive....I walked down the hall and ran into someone. I


    looked at Chloe and she had tears in her eyes.


    She quickly wiped the tears and I asked "What''s wrong"? sympathetically.


    "Um..." She sniffled and wiped her eyes "Nothing" as she blinked theing tears away.


    I sighed "Chloe, what''s wrong"?


    She broke down into tears and I said "I''ll go get Ryker" then running down the hall and to my room.


    "Ryker! Ryker"! I yelled and jumped onto my bed and he groaned and pulled me on top of him "Babe, I


    know you love me, but it''s 2 in the morning".


    i smacked his chest and scoffed at hisment "Chloe''s crying".


    "Why"? He asked and rubbed his eyes, and I shrugged "I don''t know, but let''s go"!


    We were all in the living room and Chloe admitted that her parents are getting a divorce because her


    dad cheated, and she was heartbroken.


    Everyone was tired and were trying tofort Chloe, she was good now and Ryker had her in his


    arms.


    I rubbed my eyes and my dad came down "Rain".


    Everyone''s heads whipped up to him and they all tensed up. My dad is basically trying to be "nice"


    since he doesn''t want me going to social security. He just came home an hour ago and tried to not care


    that everyone was here.


    "Dad" I mimicked and he handed me an envelope and I took it and I raised an eyebrow.


    "Open it" He smiled, and I opened the envelope up and took the folded up letter that was a piece of


    paper.


    I looked at the letter and my eyes widened and tears pricked my eyes and I put a hand over my mouth


    and tried not to cry.


    I took in the letter and set it down and stood up and my dad pulled me into a tight hug, and tears


    escaped my eyes as I cried.


    It was tears of joy, not sadness.


    "I figure''d I give it to you now" He said and rubbed circles on my back, I pulled back and wiped the


    tears and smiled "Thank you".


    It was a letter from my mom, and Liz picked it up and her eyes widened "O my gosh! I''m so happy for


    you" she hugged me tightly.


    I smiled and wiped the remaining tears and Vince asked "What is it"?


    "Rain''s mom wrote to a letter to her" Liz answered for me, and Ryker pulled me into a tight hug


    "Congrats, princess".


    Dear Rain,


    Hi sweetie, I''ve missed you so much. I have brought myself toe and write this letter, because I


    haven''t been there for you and I miss you so much. I see you''re back into modeling, and wow...you''ve


    grown so much. You sure do grow up beautiful, you got my genes ;)


    I wanted to say I''m sorry, I''m sorry for all I''ve put you through and I''ve been gone for 5 years without


    any contact. I miss you and your brothers deeply and want nothing more but to see you again. I hope


    you realize everything happens for a reason, I''ve met a man a 3 years ago and we are now married.


    He has 3 daughters, and you have 3 step-sisters. I wish you could meet them, I''m sure you would hit


    off!


    You''re 18 now, and are graduating High School, I see soon. I wish I could be there with you through the


    you will do wonderful things.


    I hope everything there is going good with you, your dad and brother. How''s school going? Any new


    friends, besides Alex? Any boyfriends? ;) I miss you Rain, and I love you. Hopefully I will see you soon.


    Love,


    ~Mom