Ryer was a decent driver, he really was, but there was no way I could handle his driving for another nine hours to my parent’s house. I had put up with his speeding and questionable driving for an hour already. We were already planning to switch up so I could drive half the time but I didn’t want him to get me a ticket.

“Next gas station, pull over. I’m going to drive.”

“It’s my driving right?”

“Yes, it is.”

“At least your honest.”

“Brutally.”

“Alright, I’ll pull over at the next gas station and let you drive.”

“Thank you.”

Where he seemed like he couldn’t stay in the same lane for longer than ten minutes and had to do no less than fifteen over the limit, I was a polar opposite to this. I picked a lane and hung out in it until I absolutely had to switch lanes, and only ever maxed five over the limit if needed to keep with the flow of traffic. Ryer glanced at me as we pulled into the next gas station and we switched places after he parked my SUV. My back definitely wasn’t thrilled, and I wasn’t even sure if I should drive since no one had mentioned anything to me, I figured I was in the clear.

I would not lie bringing him with me was weird, but it would be less weird than coming alone and having to explain everything that has happened in the few years. With Ryer here, I was less likely to get into an argument with my father. I knew full well I was using Ryer as a shield but I needed it more so now than ever. I was going to tell my parents' things I had never thought I would ever.

“You drive like an old lady Sasha,” Ryer complained from the passenger seat.

“I am doing five over the speed limit now, so I highly doubt that.”

“Drive any slower and we will go backwards.”

“At least I won’t get a ticket.”

Ryer said nothing then, he only munch on some snacks he had brought along for the ride. I didn’t care that he was eating in my SUV as long as he didn’t make a mess. If he did, he was going to clean it.

We had another four hours to my parents when we pulled off the highway and into a small town to get real food and a bathroom break before we continued our trip. Ryer pointed to a place that was open and I pulled in. There were quite a few trucks in the parking lot, but I found a spot. Well, I was teaching to keep my back from locking up, Ryer was digging around in his couple bags for all my medications, he had brought every single one of them.

“None of these are really safe for driving Sasha.”

“Just give me something, it feels like a have a toothache in my ass.” I groaned.

“I will need to be the one to drive then.”

“Fine, but you need to do the speed limit and—-”

“Take this.”

He shoved a bottle of water in my hand and passed me two small white pills. I swallowed them back without even looking to see what ones they were, at this point I was pretty trusting of his judgment about what pills were the best option. Passing the bottle back to Ryer he put it back into the trunk before slamming it shut roughly.

“What did my SUV do to you to be slammed like it fucked your wife?”

“Nothing. I didn’t even slam it that hard, you’re just mad you can’t slam it that hard yet.”

The urge to shoot him the finger was there, but I resisted and followed him inside. It was a cute little place and was decently full of customers so the food had to be ok. There were a few tables with chairs open, but they were close to a large group of older gentlemen having lunch together and I didn’t want to disturb them so we went with a booth.

“Sasha I don’t think you will be able to bend to get into the booth.”

“I can always try.” I groaned.

I was all too aware we were being watched, but Ryer was right after driving and being in that position for too long I was going to have a really hard time getting low enough to get into the booth. I was getting mad that couldn’t make my body do what I wanted it to do.

“Gentlemen, can I get anything for you?” A server asked politely, she had clearly noticed I was having issues.

“We will be a moment before we order anything,” Ryer said politely.

The server went off to the large group of gentlemen before she come back and spoke.

“The group of gentlemen at the back are more than happy to let you have one of their higher up tables and chairs if you need them.”

Ryer nodded before he headed over there. I didn’t even have a moment to stop him. The server suddenly spoke.

“How did you get injured?”

“Huh?”

“Your back was it injured in the line of duty?”

I blinked at her for a moment before I realised I was wearing an LHPD sweater. I had forgotten that this was the only sweater I had that wasn’t all that tight, and I had put it on this morning.

“Yes, I took a bullet to the spine,” I mumbled, not really sure what else to say to her.

Ryer came back a moment later and smiled lightly at the server before speaking to me.

“The table of gentlemen are veterans and they are more than happy to have us sit anywhere we would like so that you have optimal comfort for your spine.”

“Ryer.”

“What?”

“What did you tell them?” I muttered.

“Just that you needed a higher table and chair set, for your spine, and that you were recovering from a bullet wound.”

I sighed but made my way to the table with Ryer. It was right beside the other tables of veterans and they nodded as we sat down after we order hot coffee; they chatted with us.

“Who did you serve?”

“When I got this injury or before?” I asked sipping my coffee.

“I suppose both with work.” The older gentlemen beside me chuckled.

“I was special ops, then fed, and currently I am a special weapon and tech guy for the LHPD.”

“Your friend there, was he a service member too?”

Ryer was gone to use the restroom when they asked.

“Yes, He is also Ex-Ops, but I only met him before my injury we were working a case together.”

“Thank you for your service to our country and your continued service to our people.”

“Thank you, all of you for your service,” I said politely, smiling.

As we ate and they finished up, I was going to pay for their meals, but Ryer beat me to it and the gentleman were all very grateful. Once they left, Ryer looked at me with a look on his face I couldn’t quite pick apart.

“What are you giving me that look for Ryer?”

“Your social skills are really improving.” He snorted.

I just sighed.

Ryer was such a damned pain, but he was good company, depending on what he was up to. Sometimes, he was just a troublemaker, but he seemed to have cut back on that since my injury. Oddly enough, I missed him bothering me when I could work and not confined to his space for him to look after me. Our interactions were far different now. More than I would like to admit I thought about crossing lines with him and that was dangerous, in more ways than one.

I paid as we left and prepared for him to drive again. I settled into the passenger seat and hit my heated seat. The pain pills I had taken curbed the pain I had, the heated seat was more so for one reason, sleep.

Ryer glanced over at me as we pulled out of the parking lot. He chuckled, and I didn’t have to ask why. I was pretty sure it was because I was actually brave enough to sleep well he was driving after bitching about how he drove.

After a while, I flicked my eyes open again. I didn’t feel like I could sleep at all, but an hour had passed well I tried. We were still on the highway and Ryer wasn’t speeding. I was thankful for that. He had taken my feelings into consideration. Looking around landmarks were becoming recognisable, and I knew my way home from exactly where we were.

I watched out the window until we were only twenty minutes from my childhood home. I gave Ryer directions, and I didn’t miss the look on his face when we hit the ‘rich’ houses. Each was larger and more flashy than the next. My parents' home was no different. When we finally pulled into the driveway, my stomach dropped. I was nervous to even be here, let alone get out of my vehicle in the next two minutes.

What the fuck was I actually doing here?