By the Playbook

By the Playbook (23)

Ryder's side of the bed was empty when I woke up, nothing but a rumpled pillow and a t-shirt slung across the closet door to show he'd been there at all. The clock read half past eleven and I relaxed when I realized he was probably at school, though Emily had talked Olivia into letting me sleep in. The peace didn't last long; I quickly remembered the fight and the blows that had been landed on his face, rolling for my phone. There were seven texts lighting up the screen, three from Riley, two from Elliot, and two from Sam. All were demanding about the fight and if Ryder was okay, but he hadn't bothered to text and let me know so I would know the answer myself.

I clicked off my phone without answering any of the texts, sitting up and trudging to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I towelled off my wet hair and walked to the closet. After choosing a black pair of high waisted shorts and throwing on a loose white crop top with 1989 stamped on the front in black lettering, I tied my damp hair into a messy bun and made my way upstairs.

"Good morning, baby girl!" Zoe shouted when she saw me. She was sprawled across one of the couches, flung across Max's lap with her legs on Jayden. Emily and Oliver were in the armchair, Justin on the loveseat with Cassie's feet on his lap.

"Hi," I said, blinking at how loud she was. "Why are you here?"

"We're going for lunch," Zoe informed me, eyeing my outfit approvingly as she ran a hand down her dark red braid. "Don't worry, we wrestled Emily into it."

"By we, she means you," Oliver said. "I've had enough estrogen for the next three months."

"I guess I'll stay here, then," Emily said, amused. His eyes widened and he grabbed her, kissing the top of her head. "I don't mean you, baby. I can tolerate you."

"Oh, thanks," Emily snorted as the rest of us laughed. Minus Cassie and Kasey, who had just emerged from the kitchen, it was almost exactly our tour family and I was hit with a pang of longing for things to go back to the way they were.

Emily, seeing the look on my face, smiled. "How about you go see if Farrah wants to come?" She asked. "Tell her we'll leaving at noon."

"Why wasn't I allowed to go?" Kasey pouted, pretending to be put out. Her platinum hair fell into her puppy dog eyes, and she brushed it away from her protruding bottom lip as she directed the expression towards Emily.

Zoe laughed in her face. "You'd walk in without knocking!"

"True," Kasey said, looking impatient. "So?"

"Have you seen Ben?" Zoe snorted. "What do you think they're doing up there?"

"Sleeping," Oliver said firmly, making the rest of us laugh. Kasey gave him a look, then grinned at Zoe.

"Why do you think I want to go up there so bad? Look at that man's body, holy hell!" She exclaimed, Oliver and the guys making identical disgusted expressions as the girls laughed. Brushing a strand of hair from my face, I flashed Kasey a grin before heading up the winding stairs.

"Don't worry," I called over my shoulder. "I'll see what I can do."

"Snatch his shirt and run!" Kasey joked, making me chuckle as I trekked up the stairs. Combined with my residual exhaustion, there were enough of them for it to feel like it was a workout instead of a short walk and I shook my head at myself, vowing to go for a run later that day. It probably wouldn't happen, but goals were goals.

I could hear them giggling through the door, Ben's low tones and Farrah's lighter cackles, when I approached. I smiled to myself, rapping it lightly with my knuckles.

"Oh!" Farrah half yelled in surprise. "Uh...yeah? Who is it?"

I smiled. "It's Addie," I said. "We're going out for brunch. Do you want to come?"