This is it; the last full day spent in Illinois, and instead of spending it with his family, Ryder is being forced to bring me bowling with his childhood friends. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite excited to meet them and see how Ryder is around them, but I thought spending quality time with his family before we leave would be the right thing to do.

I sure am going to miss them.

I grew up with just my parents and me, no crazy big family to tend to. When I first stepped into the Cunningham household, I was completely overwhelmed. There were so many people running around, trophies and plaques scattered throughout the home to display everyone's achievements. Family pictures were plastered on the wall, showing the growth of the family and everyone in it. I had never known what having a big family was like, but now, I'm more than happy to unofficially be a part of one.

"Hey," Ryder says with a smile, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glance around my surroundings, not even noticing the others had already made their way to our assigned lane.

"Sorry, I was zoned out." He nods in understanding, then grabs my hand and leads us to the group.

Setting my stuff down, I sit on a couch and start to put on the tacky bowling shoes, a large difference from the ankle booties I was wearing. "These shoes suck," I murmur to myself while tying the laces.

"Tell me about it," one of the guys, Andy, says while sitting beside me. He's a lively guy, sociable and happy. "I swear I'm going to walk out of here with athlete's foot or something after wearing these things." I let out a small laugh in response.

"So, is Ryder just as annoying with you as he is with us?" another one, Logan, pipes in.

"The guy is pretty damn annoying," I respond with another laugh. These guys are very easy to talk to, thankfully.

"I am not, idiot," Ryder chimes in, sitting on my lap. I groan in response to his weight, trying to shove him off. He just laughs, wiggling on my thighs.

"Get off, asshole," I grumble to him, but he stays put.

"Alright, enough children," the third and final friend, Carter exclaims. "I'm trying to set this damn thing up." He points to the small monitor in front of the ball retriever. Ryder stands up, then walks over to help him input our names and start the frame.

After a minute or so of the boys bickering over names and the order, everything is finally set up, with me going first.

"Why did you put my name as 'Idiot'?" I exclaim to Ryder as he just shrugs.

"Thought it fit," he eventually mumbles.

"Fine, then I'm changing yours." I fumble through the options screen and soon find the 'change bowler name' option.

"You can't do that!" he shouts, but too late. I look successfully at the updated screen, where Ryder's new name reads 'A Hole.' He lets out a 'hmph' behind me, and I make my way to the ball retriever. Picking up the purple ball I picked out for myself, I take my steps and send the ball rolling, knocking down seven pins.

"Not too shabby," Logan comments. "She's going to give us a run for our money." I smile proudly back to the group, then prepare myself for my second turn, knocking down the rest of the pins.

"Damnit, I've already lost," Andy cries as he makes his way to replace me in front of the lane.

"What kind of Harley you got?" Logan asks while I take my seat.

"Iron 1200," I state. "You ride?"

"Hell yeah!" he says with a smile. "I have a Fat Bob sitting in the garage, and a bobber project I've been working on."

"I'm thinking about restoring my Nightster," I tell him, relating to his project. "I don't know if Ryder told you or not, but I wrecked it last month."

"He told us the whole thing. I'm sorry about what happened." Ryder looks at me cautiously after Carter's comment, but I shrug it off. I'm used to it now.

"No need to be sorry, what's done is done. I'm moving on," I say while watching Andy throw his second ball, which immediately lands in the gutter.

"My turn, be right back," Ryder says while kissing the top of my head, earning some 'aws' and a an 'ew gross' from the boys.

"So who else here rides?" I ask, sitting back. All three shoot their hands up, and a smile forms on my face.

"I have a new Breakout sitting in the garage now, waiting for some new pipes," Andy explains. "Carter has a Wide Glide."

"So Ryder has had motorcycle influence all his life, but has just now shown interest?" I ask in confusion.

"Yep," Carter says. "He's never been into it, not until you showed up in his life, at least. Ever since he met you, he's been calling and texting us constantly about bikes."

"Has he got on one yet?" Logan asks.

"He just took the safety course a couple of days ago," I being to explain. "He said it went really well, but I'm not sure if he plans on getting a bike or not right away. I had planned on teaching him myself, but with the wreck and everything we just didn't get the time. I was able to at least teach him to drive a standard."

"Ah, the infamous STI he's always telling us all about," Carter says in recognition. Ryder walks up at the end of Carter's statement, wriggling in between us on the couch.

"What did I miss?" he asks while still trying to situate himself. "Anything juicy about me?" I roll my eyes while the other guys laugh.

"Just the fact that your friends are cooler than you!" I say while playfully smacking his shoulder. "You're friends with car and bike guys and you didn't tell me?"

"I thought you'd like them more than me," he confesses. I just roll my eyes and lean my head onto him as Logan stands up for his turn.

The game ended soon, with me clearly kicking their asses. "You guys suck," I poke fun at them as we're exiting the building.

"We let you win," Logan says, clearly defeated.

"Don't lie," I laugh out.

"Whatever. It doesn't matter who one," Carter added, clearly being the mature one of the group. "Who wants to go on a ride? We can't waste a beautiful day like this." At his statement, I think to that Road Glide I never did end up renting, and quickly nod my head.

"Meet you guys at the Harley shop in an hour," I agree excitedly as I get into the passenger seat of the car Ryder borrowed from his brother.

"I want to go," Kyle says after we told him what we were getting ready to leave the house for. "I let you guys borrow my car, the least you could do is let me ride with you."

"Think you can keep up?" I ask him playfully as I slip my boots on.

"You bet your ass I can," he says cockily in reply while running to grab his boots as well. Seeing that we have no reason to deny him, I nod my head as we make our way out the door.

"I can't believe you actually bought the Nightster," I say to him as he slips his helmet on, preparing to mount his bike.

"I think it's perfect for me." He smiles while admiring the beauty. It isn't as nice as mine was, but it's still pretty decent. Plus, he got one hell of a deal on it. He starts it, the pipes sounding alright for stock ones. Maybe I'll get him a new set for Christmas. "Let's ride."

We pull up to Illinois Harley, yet again, and I instantly see the three guys sitting outside. Once we park, they make their way over to us. "Is that Kyle?" Andy asks, staring at the Nightster. Ryder nods, rolling his eyes at his brother.

"He just got the bike and insisted on coming, so we may have to take it easy on him at first," I tell him.

"No way!" Andy replies, shaking his head "If he's going to ride with us, he's going to ride like us." I would argue to that if I were leading the ride, but I can't since I don't know my way around here like they do. I sigh in defeat, then make my way inside to get the paperwork started to rent a bike.

I forgot just how amazing it feels to get on a Harley, and this Road Glide made the experience so much better. At first, I was worried that the extra weight and the fairing attached to the bars would make it difficult. It was weird at first, but I almost prefer it to a normal cruiser bike. Almost.

I was so thankful that Ryder thought that packing his boots was a good idea, since the only other shoes be brought were sandals. I did, however, have to purchase some helmets, but we did need them anyway, so I guess that worked out for the better. Mine needed replaced after the wreck, and I'm sure Ryder didn't want to wear my dad's old one anymore.

Leaning into a deep, 'kiss your ass' kind of curve, I see Kyle almost lose control and lay his bike down. He was thankfully able to regain his control. I insisted he ride in front of me just in case he fell behind. Andy was right, him and the others weren't going to hold back for him.

"Is he doing okay?" Ryder yells up to me, and I just nod my head. Conversing with a passenger is just too difficult without headsets on, but he doesn't understand that. The whole ride he's been trying to hold a conversation with me, then gets frustrated when I can't respond.

We pull into a gas station for a break not long after, everyone filling up their tanks and getting some snacks. We sit for a few, just talking and enjoying each other's company when it dawns on me: this is the life. This is what I've always wanted, an amazing boyfriend, a huge family, and a group of friends to go on rides with and create some great memories. My life has changed so drastically within such a short amount of time, and even though this is not what I planned for, it's exactly what I needed.

—————

Hello everyone!

WE HIT 300 READS!!!!

I'm just so thankful to each and every one of you that have read my terrible book. I love you all for supporting me and hopefully enjoy reading the stupid words that I write. This means the absolute world to me!

Sorry the chapter is kind of short, yet again, but it was a little hard to write this one. Usually once I get going, the words flow and I can get a chapter done in just under an hour, but this one took almost a day. I don't know what came over me, but I do hope it's over!

Have a great day!