Page 18 of Pulled Away

He wasn’t nervous. He shrugged as if it was no big deal. In his mind, he was crazy about me, so obviously they would be, too.

Me? I was so nervous I felt physically ill.

My heart sank when we pulled up to their house. It screamed money. I didn’t grow up with money. We lived in a modest, three-bedroom home. Luxuries were a rare treat, and going on vacation happened once in a blue moon. What if they took one look at me and thought I wasn’t good enough for him?

I should have trusted Ryan. They welcomed me with open arms, and an hour in, I felt as if I’d been part of the family for years.

Ever since that night, we’ve been having dinner with them once a month.

“This is the last of it.”

Tearing my eyes from the gazebo, I force my lips into a smile and take the pot Renee’s holding out. Dipping it into the sudsy water, I can’t keep my eyes from trailing back to the gazebo. The counter-to-ceiling windows spanning the back of the kitchen give me a perfect view.

“How is the rescue coming along?”

For the first time tonight, my smile feels genuine. “I’ve filed the Articles of Incorporation, so I’m one step closer to getting it registered as a non-profit organization. One step at a time, right?”

“That’s fantastic, honey,” she says, a smile lighting up her face. “So you’ve settled on a name, then?”

“Yes. Paw Prints Rescue and Rehoming.” I bite my lip, waiting for her reaction.

“I love it. It sounds perfect. Just like you.” She cups my cheeks, squeezing them like I’m five years old. “I know I’ve told you before, but if you need help with any of the legal stuff, tell Charles. He’ll happily put you in touch with one of his partners at his firm.”

I smile my thanks for her offer, then turn back to the pot I’m scrubbing, keeping my eyes glued to it. Usually after dinner, Ryan is in the kitchen with me, both of us doing the cleaning. But not tonight.

Shortly after dinner, they disappeared upstairs, and when they came back down, Ryan gave me a quick kiss before following her outside.

Seems like coming here has stirred up all kinds of emotions, and she’s struggling. Yeah, as if I’m not struggling with seeing them together in the gazebo; heads together, talking about who knows what.

Jealousy truly is a little green monster sitting on my shoulder, whispering all kinds of ideas and thoughts in my ear.

“It’s good seeing Hadley again. I just wish it was under different circumstances.”

I glance up to see that she’s staring at the gazebo with an indecipherable look on her face. It’s on the tip of my tongue to quiz her about Hadley, but I don’t. If I get shot down again, it will be beyond awkward, so instead I just acknowledge the obvious.

“They seem close.”

“Always have been.” She shakes her head as if shaking off memories. “My children always had their friends over, but Hadley was here all the time. I always felt as if I had three children.” She smiles at me with a naughty twinkle in her eyes. “And I hope I’ll have four soon.”

By the time the kitchen’s done and we’ve had coffee, Hadley and Ryan still aren’t back. Breathing in calm, I square my shoulders and walk outside. My footsteps are silent on the path, and when I get closer, I hear the soft murmur of their voices.

Coming to a stop at the bottom of the gazebo, I stick my hands in the back pockets of my jeans, my gaze hopping between them, my chest tightening while I take them in. It looks awfully intimate. I don’t care that she’s his friend and that she’s grieving. With his arm over her shoulder and her head resting against him, there isn’t an inch of space between them, and from where I’m standing, it doesn’t look friendly. It looks…more. Like how you’d sit with your girlfriend. Not your friend.

“I’m ready to go home,” I say, my face stiff. “I have work in the morning.”

This is downright weird. How come I’m feeling awkward interrupting an intimate moment between them?

“Sorry,” he mutters, untangling himself from her. “I lost track of time.”

My eyes meet Hadley’s blank stare for a second before I turn around and head back inside, not waiting for them. By the time they’ve said their goodbyes, I’m waiting by the car, silently fuming.

I’m so mad at Ryan, I’m almost tempted to tell Hadley to get in the front just to avoid him, but fuck, it feels like she’s invading every part of my life, and there’s no way I will allow her to worm her way in any more than she’s already done. I bet given half a chance, she’d insist on sitting in the front.

The drive home is silent, tension filling the car. Although, maybe it’s just me feeling it. Ryan looks completely relaxed, one hand on the steering wheel, the other one resting on my thigh. I curl my fingers into a fist against the urge to hurl his hand away. The last thing I want is to be touched by the hand attached to the arm that was draped around Hadley’s shoulder.

Shifting, I move my legs away, ignoring his frown.

I power my way inside with a mumbled goodnight to Hadley when we get home.

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