Page 98 of Crazy for You

Ryan stormed down the path toward Off-the-Grid’s main building. His chest felt like it might burst, so many emotions churned inside it. Hurt. Fear. Anger. He’d been passing by the ropes course when he heard Emma and Trent talking. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but he couldn’t help overhearing her encourage Trent to go running off to LA, which was about the worst idea ever.

And then she’d said she loved him.

He’d almost convinced himself he hadn’t heard her whisper those words yesterday as they jumped at the bluffs. But she had. And then she’d told Trent she didn’t want to go to Georgia anymore. And fuck. Hadn’t Ethan told him just that morning he’d seen pictures of Emma in a wedding dress on Gabby’s phone?

She was about to give up her spot in landscape design school for him, the spot she’d worked so damn hard to earn. He couldn’t let that happen.

Because dammit…she meant too much to him. She was one of the most important people in his life, and he’d never forgive himself if she derailed her dreams and her future because of him. He swung at the nearest tree, swearing a blue streak as its rough bark bruised and scraped his knuckles.

He couldn’t seem to catch his breath, and there was something in his eyes, goddammit. He swiped at the dampness on his cheeks furiously with his good hand as he continued his wild march through the forest, headed for his bike.

He clenched his jaw, forcing back the hurt so that anger took over. Trent was going to chase his good-for-nothing girlfriend to LA, and Emma had encouraged him to do it. The kid had no money saved up, no job waiting. It was a recipe for disaster.

Dammit. It was exactly the kind of thing Ryan would have done at eighteen. Which was exactly why it was such a terrible idea. And now, thanks to Emma, he’d have to work even harder to get Trent to see reason.

How dare she butt into his and Trent’s business like that? This should have stayed between him and his brother. He definitely shouldn’t go over to Emma’s place spoiling for a fight, which was exactly why he was going to do just that.

Because this thing between them had to end. Tonight.

Emma heard the bike coming and went to her front window. She watched as Ryan pulled into her driveway and sat, his face expressionless, staring at her front door.

He looked…hurt. Maybe even angry.

She opened the door. “Is everything okay?” she asked, motioning him to come in.

He got off the bike and stood facing her. “No.”

A feeling of dread coiled in her stomach. “What’s happened?”

“I overheard you and Trent earlier.” He spoke without emotion, his expression hidden behind his mirrored sunglasses.

What had he overhead? Oh God, she’d told Trent she loved him… “Oh. Okay?—”

“Don’t.” He put a hand up to stop her. “I can’t believe you told him it was okay to go to LA.”

Oh, that’s what he was all bent out of shape about? She scowled at him. “You must not have listened very well because that’s not what I said, and not nearly all we talked about.”

“You know how I feel about this, Emma. He’s eighteen, for Christ’s sake. He’s not even old enough to drink a beer, and you think it would be okay for him to take off across the country with this woman he hasn’t even introduced us to?”

“You can’t stop him any more than I can. The best thing you can do right now is to support him.”

“That’s bullshit,” he growled. “He needs some sense knocked into that thick skull of his before he makes a huge mistake.”

“Ryan,” she said, her voice gone soft, “why are we arguing about this?”

“Because…” He paused a moment, looking uncertain. “Because you shouldn’t have meddled in my family business with Trent.”

Ouch. She took an involuntary step backward. She didn’t know how to respond because she wasn’t sorry for a single word she’d said to Trent. “Excuse me?”

Ryan met her gaze, but instead of warmth and laughter, she saw only cold, hard anger reflected in his eyes. “You heard me.”

“Yeah, I did.” She folded her arms over her chest and glared up at him. “And I think you’re the one overstepping here, Ryan, if you think you have the right to tell me who I can and can’t have a friendly conversation with.”

“You should have backed me up.”

She stepped forward and jabbed a finger against his chest. “You honestly think I don’t have your back? Don’t be such an ass.”

“We let this go too far, Emma. I never meant to end up here.” He looked down at the handlebars of his bike. “But it’s done. It ends tonight.”

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