Raven's Hacker 2: Raven & Hacker

Chapter 6

Hacker POV

Over the next two months, I worked really hard on getting myself ready to officially meet Raven and Ryder. I'd met him a couple of times over FaceTime. He thought it was cool that I work on computers and that I have a motorcycle. I showed him when he asked to see it one night. I also introduced Raven to Indie, Willow, and Becca because these are the old ladies she'll most likely hang out with if they decide to move up here. If we decide to get serious, but honestly.

Who am I kidding? It's already serious for me. I'm in deep with her. Hell, the day after she said she'd be coming to visit, I asked the Old Ladies I was comfortable with for help. I've even taken to cleaning up my room, and keeping it clean. I also aired it out because...it smelt like a teenage boy who never did laundry. It was actually super embarrassing. But I'm glad to take Indie and Willow's advice to buy the deep cleaners and start by opening the windows and gathering all the cloth surfaces to be taken to the laundry. They offered to help, while Becca offered to watch the kids while they helped me deep clean this place. They then decided I needed a new mattress, bigger than a twin. And that all my clothes needed to be tossed. They said I have to buy all new stuff.

That's where we're heading now. Three days later, she said she and Ryder were both coming. Her mom was going out on a date with a man she was hoping would be her stepdad. It's the freaking lawyer from her divorce! That's awesome. I hope it works out for them, like I'm praying this works out. She's amazing. Ryder loves gaming, sports, both playing and watching. He's a meat eater, but also loves his carbs. Raven eats her meat and veggies. She tries not to eat too many carbs, thinking they ruin her curves.

The more I learn about them, the deeper I fall for these two. I really hope this long weekend they're coming for goes well. I have a Queen-sized bed ordered and should be arriving today. New frame and mattress. This one has a built-in box-spring. It also has hydraulics on the frame, so the end of the bed can be lifted for storage. That's going to be where I put some of the hard drives that I can't get rid of, so they aren't taking up a huge part of the room. I've also decided to store most of my books, extra sheets and towels under the bed also. Make it look a little less cluttered. I'm also getting a new couch that pulls out into a bed for Ryder. I want to order sheets he'd like for it. I'll ask when I talk to him tonight.

I want to set up a gaming area for us, because he did say he likes playing the 'old school Mario' and I can't wait to kick his little behind at this! There's not room for much else. I've got a new closet system coming, so I can get rid of the dresser. It will give me extra room for the gaming area. I really want to be able to have that for Ryder and me. I feel good about this.

Beck: What kind of sheets would he like? Dinosaurs? Minecraft?

Raven: It doesn't matter. You really don't have to go all out.

Beck: If he's coming, or wants to come, I want him to be comfortable here. I've already got some navy-blue towels for him. I'd really like to do this for him. Please.

The dots appeared, and disappeared. Then reappeared. Finally, she just called me.

"Hey. Sorry. He's really upset because his dad isn't even attempting to put in the effort you are making with him. He's got a lot of big emotions right now."

"I get it. Does he want to decide later? I can always come back. It's not a big deal." I heard a low, 'can I talk to him?'

"Ryder would like you, if that's"

"Great! Let me talk to him, please." I heard the phone shuffling between the two of them, and she said something about being nice, before I heard a slightly squeaky "hello?"

"Hey Ryder! What's up buddy?"

"You can do cool computer stuff, right? Mom said you're the one who got the proof about my dad?"

"I can, and I did," I drew out, "Where's this going, man?" I stopped pushing the cart. Indie and Willow looked at me and motioned down another aisle. I nodded, needing to be present on the phone call more than deciding what my bathroom looked like.

"Well. My dad...he does not really want to be around me. Ever."

"I'm sorry man. That's rough." Talking to him like I would to one of my brothers. He's just a little man, but was growing up very quickly with what his dad was doing to him. I could only shake my head at his stupidity. This kid was amazing, and he was throwing him away. I promised myself as soon as I had the thought that I'd be the one to be there, that he could count on. He'd know what a good man looked like, and acted like.

"So, I was wondering, is there a way that I don't have to keep seeing him? Can you find a way for me to just be with my mom? I don't want to try with my dad anymore. It's been almost a whole year. I'm going to be ten in a month."

"Does your mom know you feel this way?" He was hesitating to answer, which meant no. "Look, I'm not going to tell her I'm helping you with this. BUT," I said, pausing before he had a chance to get excited about it, "You need her approval to go through with it. I'll get the information together, but you have to talk to her before you act on it, deal?"

"Can you help me?"

"Talk to her?"

"If you want me to be there, I will."

"Okay. Thanks, Beckam."

"No problem, buddy. Can I talk to your mom again?"

"Sure. MOM!" There goes the left ear drum. Thank fuck I sleep on that side.

"Sorry about your ear."

"No. No tears." I chuckled at my very bad joke. And I got a small snicker from her. She was trying to keep it together. "Are you laughing at me?" I tried to sound as offended as I could. Which was not at all.

"Never! I would never!" She was belly laughing now.

"I love your laugh. It's so beautiful," I said as she was in the middle of it. It was a glorious sound and I couldn't wait to hear it in person.

Those two months of waiting, and getting ready for them, was torturous. I ended up telling her that Ryder needed my help with something, but it wasn't bad, and he'd tell her about it when he was ready. I promised it was nothing illegal, and that seemed to help her relax about it a little bit. She wasn't happy I wasn't telling her, but I'd given my word to him. He needed a male figure in his life who he knew he could depend on.

I was determined for that to be me. I worked hard in therapy, upping my sessions, and adding in parenting advice from my therapist and actual classes. I wanted to make sure that I was ready for whatever happened. Matthew...that fuckward had called two weeks before the trip and promised to take him. Swore he was going to come pick him up. Missed the weekend. Didn't answer any of the calls Ryder placed. Ryder was so pissed he broke a knuckle. Raven cried so hard she had a panic attack over everything once they were in the ED. She had to be seen also.

I've never hated being so far from someone before.

Ryder has been angry since. He won't even talk to me. I emailed him with information on how he could get his dad to lose what custody he does have. All I got was a, "When we come up, please help." So, I know this is going to be a rough weekend for them. I've also talked to the guys to see if they'd be willing to help Ryder to channel his anger positively. I'm going to try to get her to move them up here. I'll get us a house on the compound. Bullet mentioned he might be selling the house he and Becca designed and built if there are too many bad memories there. So, I'd be over by Prez, former and Mrs. Prez, Hades, Atlas, and there's more land around there that Bullet would get and build again on. I told him if he sells, I'll buy it from him.

I've got more than enough money. Never spent anything on myself other than necessities in almost twenty years. And I've been paid well for the work I've done.

I hope this weekend goes well.