Casey's POV

"Are you sure about this?" I asked Ryder for the fifth time that day and he rolled his eyes.

"Yes, sweetheart, I'm sure about this." I turned towards the car window and sighed. Ryder and I were on our way to his house for his dad's New Years Eve's party. Since Ryder had invited me to his dad's party on New Years, he'd spent part of Christmas at my house. But unlike me, Ryder had already met everyone that was at my house on Christmas. I, on the other hand, hadn't met any of his family members, and it was freaking me out.

"Case," Ryder spoke up, pausing until I turned to him. "It's fine, sweetheart, okay? You've got nothing to worry about."

"I'm not worried," I lied through my teeth and he gave me an unconvinced look. Sighing, I gave in, "Fine, maybe I am, but can you blame me? This is your dad we're talking about!"

"Case, he's just happy I'm not hopping around anymore, trust me, he's excited to meet you," he tried again.

"That's exactly what scares me. What if I'm not what he's expecting? What if he's disappointed?" I replied, my voice desperate. He turned towards me for a second, to give me an incredulous look.

"No one in their right mind would ever be disappointed with who you are," he told me forcefully, his voice serious. I gave him a grateful smile and turned back to the window, my nerves easing a little. When I felt Ryder's fingers slide through mine, my body relaxed completely.

When we finally reached his house, I felt my nerves hit me once again with full force. Getting out the car never seemed like a tougher feat, with my hands trembling so much. My stomach was filled with knots and my throat was dry. I just prayed to God that I didn't do anything stupid and completely humiliate myself.

I was so freaked out about meeting Ryder's dad that I didn't even notice when Ryder got out the car and rounded it, until he was standing directly in front of me. He cupped my face in both of his hands and lifted my head to look at him, a small smile gracing his handsome features.

"He's going to love you, I promise," he assured me before leaning down to press a soft kiss to my lips, making me sigh contentadly. "You ready?" he asked, pulling back. Once I'd nodded, he grasped my hand in his and led me to his home's back yard.

The smell of hot dogs and grilled burgers hit my nose along with the sound of happy chatter. As we rounded the corner of the house, my heart rate picked up. Breathing in slowly, I tried to calm my nerves. I kept reminding myself that there was nothing to worry about.

"Ryder, tell your old man how many beautiful women I've banged since he's been in a coma," someone shouted to Ryder as we walked in, but I couldn't see who it was, since I was purposely hiding behind Ryder. I heard Ryder laugh, before his hand snaked around and he grasped my arm. Pulling me out from behind him, he nudged me gently to stand next to him.

"Holy cow, who's the beautiful lady, Ry Ry?" a woman in her late thirties gasped from her chair as her eyes took me in. When she reached my face, she flashed a toothy grin, her white teeth completely showcased. I gave her a nervous smile in return.

"That's Addison, one of my aunts. She's that crazy cat lady in everyone's family that's louder than her clothes," Ryder mumbled for my ears only and I nodded, fighting a laugh.

"Casey?" a man spoke up from next to Ryder and I, and I turned around and had to do a double take. He was the spitting image of Ryder, except he was much older, the maturity showing on his face. His blue eyes were the exact shade of Ryder's and his smile was just as disarming.

"Wow, it's like you cut him out to look exactly like you," the words left my mouth before I could stop them, making my eyes widen and my hands slap over my open mouth.

The man's booming laugh echoed around the yard as he rested a hand on his belly and threw his head back. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Casey. I've heard a lot about you. It's always Casey this, Casey that..."

I turned a smirk in Ryder's direction when he groaned, shaking his head. "Meet my dad, Casey. If at any moment he starts to scare you off, please tell me so I can get you the hell away from him."

His dad chuckled and extended a hand my way. Grasping the much larger hand, I smiled. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Cavanaugh."

He shook his head with a warm smile. "Call me Tyler."

After I'd spent some time getting to know each of Ryder's family members that were at the party, I'd decided that I was an idiot for feeling nervous. His family was so easygoing and welcoming. His cousins had made me laugh so hard with their stories of times that Ryder had gotten himself in trouble with his dad and his dad had been a big teddy bear that was constantly worrying that I didn't have enough food. Once it started darkening and it got close to midnight, Ryder dragged me away from the group and through the woods to the spot where we'd first made our deal.

"Why don't you want to try to get a scholarship to a culinary school?" I asked Ryder as we sat on the ground. He was sitting against a tree trunk with me in between his legs, his arms wrapped around me. I felt him sigh beneath me before he answered.

"Because I don't know if I'm good enough," he admitted. "I know I'm good at hockey, so I'm using it as plan B. If I fail at culinary, I'll have hockey."

"I think you're good enough." His arms tightened around me as he leaned down and placed a kiss on my cheek.

"Thanks, sweetheart, but I'm sticking to my plan," he replied and I nodded.

"Okay, but I still think you're good enough." I turned towards him with a smile and he gave me a weak one in return. "I like your dad, by the way. You two really look like each other."

He smiled fondly. "Yeah, we get that a lot. He likes you too."

I smiled. "That's good to hear."

"So tell me, sweetheart, why Harvard and not Julliard?" he asked, going back to a conversation I'd had with one of his cousins about my first choice school.

I shrugged. "I applied to Julliard and got accepted, but that's when I realized that I didn't want to dance for the money, I just like doing it because I enjoy it. Harvard is the obvious choice if I want to be a lawyer."

"See that's what I don't get. Why a lawyer?" he asked, confusion visible on his face.

"I like it." He gave me an unconvinced look. "I want to fight for people's rights. I want to know that when someone messes with the law, justice is served." He nodded, understandingly.

We fell into a comfortable silence and just enjoyed the quietness for a few minutes, before I broke it, "Ryder, where is your mom?" I felt him stiffen slightly underneath me and I saw it as a good sign. He wasn't completely closing up.

Sighing, he tightened his hold on me and rested his chin on the top of my head. "She left my dad and I when I was kid. I haven't seen her since I was seven."

Locking my fingers with his, I squeezed gently. "I'm sorry."

"It's her loss." I smiled and nodded. It was. Her son had grown up to be an amazing guy with a heart of gold and his dad was a big sweetheart with a heart to match his son's. She really had lost. "Hey, thanks for coming tonight. It meant a lot to my dad."

I glanced up at him and smiled. "It was my pleasure." His eyes twinkled happily, the moonlight reflecting off of them and I felt happiness bubble up in my chest. I loved seeing him happy. I loved making him happy.

Our attention was drawn to the sky when a loud boom echoed through the quiet night, the skies lightening up with different colors.

"It's midnight."

"Then you owe me a kiss," Ryder replied and I moved my head to give him access to my lips. He smiled softly before his head lowered and he pressed his lips to mine, a hand raising to rest on my neck.

"Oh my god, tell me more!" Nissa demanded, her eyes wide with glee, her mouth curved in a huge grin, showing all of her white teeth.

Laughing, I shook my head with amusement. "We decided to give it a try." Nissa and I were hanging out at my house the next day and I was currently letting her in on everything that had happened.

"Oh my goose, really?" I nodded, a smile playing on my lips and she squealed. "I'm so happy for you, Case! Ryder is an awesome guy and you two are so cute together."

"Thanks, Niece." I smiled softly. Her excitement that I was in a relationship with Ryder, made me happy. It was very important to me that she got along with him. Ryder was becoming a very important part of my life and I wanted the most important people in my life to get along.

"I'm just happy you got an awesome upgrade from douche-bag Drake!" she exclaimed, her eyes glinting happily. "Have you told him about your mom and dad?" she asked slowly, a little hesitant. She knew how touchy that subject was for me and she knew to be cautious.

I shook my head. "No, not yet."

"Do you think you'll ever be able to tell him?" she asked and I thought about it, my eyes shifting away from her. I stared at one of the blue walls in my room, bringing my knees up to my chest and resting my chin on them.

"I don't know," I whispered. "I don't want him to see me differently."

She shook her head, "He won't, Case."

"How can he not, Niece? It's my fault they're both dead. How can he not see me differently after I tell him that I killed my parents and her?" I asked desperately, begging for her to say something, anything that would make me feel better about opening up to Ryder.

"You didn't kill them, Casey! It's not your fault!" she replied, her voice raising a little. I knew that Nissa wanted me to believe the words she was saying, but I couldn't. I knew what I'd done, and I knew it was my fault.

"Can we not talk about this anymore?" I pleaded, wrapping my arms around my legs. She nodded, reluctantly. "So...what's going on with you and Seth?"

"I don't know. They guy is so strange. He acts like he likes me, but he doesn't make a move," she replied, and my eyebrows went up.

"Maybe he's shy," I suggested and she shrugged, seeming unconvinced.

"Maybe. Or maybe he's just not that into me." She tried to put on a brave face, but I knew Nissa and I knew that this was hurting her.

"Niece, come on. He would either have to be gay or an idiot to not like you." She smiled weakly, muttering a thanks.

The door to my room flew open, banging against the wall; startling us both. Standing in the doorway was Ryder and Oliver. I stared at both of them confused. What on earth? Their expressions made me curious and even more confused. While Ryder seemed pissed, Oliver seemed amused, trying to hide a laugh.

"Hey, guys, I didn't know you were coming over," I greeted, looking in between them, my eyebrows lowering.

"Dude, your maid's daughter is one firecracker," Oliver laughed, while Ryder grunted, walking over towards the bed. He slumped down next to me with a scowl and I turned to him in question.

"Who kicked your dog?" I asked him, curiously. He huffed and glared, confusing me even more.

"Savannah just tried to grope his manhood," Oliver laughed as he took a seat in one of the many chairs in my room, and I turned wide eyes to Ryder, trying really hard not to laugh at his putout expression.

"Seriously?" Nissa asked with a laugh, making Ryder turn an icy glare in her direction. She covered her laugh with a cough, bringing a fist up to her mouth to hide her grin.

"Yeah, she kept trying to get a hold of it and Ryder kept jumping away like a frightened deer," Oliver's resounding laugh echoed around the room and I couldn't help but join in, followed by Nissa.

"It's not funny. That girl has got serious issues," Ryder grumbled beside me, making us laugh harder.

"So how come you guys are over here?" Nissa asked after we had stopped laughing. Oliver shrugged and turned to Ryder.

"Yeah, why are we here, Cavanaugh?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"Can't stay away from Casey for too long?" Nissa teased and Oliver waggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively. I laughed while Ryder scowled at them both.

"Actually, asshole, I thought we'd invite the girls to go to Toby's party."

"Party?! Fuck yes!" Nissa answered for both of us, sprinting off the bed and bolting to my closet. She threw open the door and rushed in.

"The fuck is she doing?" Oliver asked, his face set in a perplexed look. I shook my head with a laugh, my eyes fixed on the opened closet door.

"She's looking for an outfit," I answered.

"Outfit for what?" Ryder asked, his face morphing into that of confusion.

"For Toby's party," I replied, looking over my shoulder at him.

"Toby's party isn't starting for another six hours," he replied.

"Tell her that." I shrugged, knowing that Nissa wouldn't care. She believed in having enough hours to get ready for a party.

He stood up to go do just that and my eyes widened. Jumping up onto the bed, I ran after him and jumped off the edge right onto his back. He stumbled for a minute with the extra weight, almost falling to the ground. I tightened my grip around his shoulders as he placed his hands under my knees to hold me up.

"You can't go in there, trust me," I warned him, my voice filled with panic. He turned to look at me over his shoulder to give me a 'what the fuck?' look and I shook my head vigorously.

"And why not?" he asked, offhandedly.

"She gets like a crazy woman when she's looking for an outfit, if you tell her that she needs to stop, she will literally chase you down with a pitchfork," I told him, willing him to listen. Interrupting Nissa when she was in crazy mode, was probably the stupidest thing you could do. Nissa loved partying and she loved dressing up for a party, taking that away from her, would only make her crazy.

"Um, okay?" he shrugged and walked back to the bed, letting me slide down onto it, before he slumped down behind me. "You know your best friend is crazy, right?"

I nodded with a careless shrug.

"Oh my god, is this the Sony PlayStation 4? 500 GB?" Oliver gushed from across the room. He'd stood up and walked over towards the setup I'd had installed a few months ago, without our notice.

"Isn't it beautiful?" I climbed off my bed to go admire my beautiful PlayStation. Standing side by side, we both just stood there, staring.

"Have you played it?" Oliver asked and I turned to him with an incredulous look. Was he kidding?

"Uh, duh? Why on earth would I have not broken that in yet?" I asked the obvious.

"Dude, can I?" he asked, turning hopeful eyes my way and I nodded.

"Sure, go ahead." His eyes lit up and I could swear he almost jumped with a squeal. Handing him one of my consoles, I headed over to my bed and dragged myself onto it until I was leaning against the headboard. "Don't you want to play?" I turned to Ryder.

"With Oliver? Ha! No thanks." He shook his head, giving me a wide-eyed look. "I would like to play with you, though," he smirked, his words having a double entendre. When I blushed, his smirk turned into a grin. "Do you realize that I haven't kissed you all day?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I have, but we have people in here with us."

"Hmm, and our kisses tend to go over the margin of PG-13," he answered sarcastically and I slapped his arm playfully. "Come here, sweetheart." He gestured for me to lean down and I found myself doing just that. He pressed his soft lips to mine, holding my chin with two fingers. I sighed into the kiss as he began to move his lips against mine. Kissing Ryder was something that I found myself craving. His lips were intoxicating, like a drug that I found myself needing.

"Oh my god, you guys are so cute!" I heard Nissa squeal from the end of the bed, making me pull away from Ryder's lips, which made Ryder growl. I smiled secretly and turned to Nissa. "You guys are so adorable. It's like so darn cute, dude, like I'm standing here, for like, three minutes now, and you two don't even notice because you were so immersed in your tonsil hockey. Damn!"

"Then why didn't you leave us alone?" Ryder growled, throwing her a glare and I elbowed him in the ribs, making him wince. "Hey, now, I wasn't the one who interrupted us!"

"You can have her later, okay? Right now, I need her help," Nissa replied, before raising two of the dresses my mom had insisted I buy for special occasions—not that we ever had any. "Which one? Red—" she lowered the other dress and shoved the red one my way. "—or black?" The black dress came up as the red one lowered. I stared at both of them for a minute.

"Red—you look sexy as fuck in red," I told her and she nodded. Nissa and I both turned with widened eyes when Oliver gasped loudly. His head was turned towards us, his eyes wide and his jaw unhinged.

"Did I just hear you correctly?" When I nodded slowly, giving him a confused look, his eyes widened further. "Do all girls speak to each other that way?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess," I shrugged. Nissa gave him a wry smile and turned to me with an arched eyebrow.

"He doesn't get out much," Ryder answered her unasked question and we both nodded understandingly.

"I have to admit—I'm really turned on right now," we heard him mutter, his eyes focused on the game in front of him and I felt Ryder stiffen next to me.

"Ollie, what the fuck?" Ryder said before either Nissa or I could even react. He turned horrified eyes towards us, his mouth opening and closing in shock.

"Holy shit, did I just say that out loud?" he squeaked out and Nissa and I snorted.

"Yeah, dumbass, you did," Ryder replied, shaking his head, a disappointed look on his face. We were momentarily distracted when the ringing of Nissa's phone blasted through the room. I watched her turn towards it and quickly answer it. I turned towards Ryder to tell him something when Nissa's shocked gasp made me turn towards her again.

Her face began to pale as the person on the other end spoke and I felt my stomach sink. When she turned terrified eyes my way, I knew something was wrong.

I watched as the phone slipped out of her hand and fell to the floor almost in slow motion. My eyes traveled back to her face, fearing what I would find. The gut-wrenching-horror that I saw reflected in her eyes, made me freeze.

"We have to go." I bolted up out of my bed.

"Nissa? What's wrong?" I managed to get out around the lump in my throat. Nissa turned towards me for a second as tears began to spill.