Page 22 of Pulled Away

“I don’t like Hadley.”

There, I’ve said it.

“Uh, oh. Trouble in paradise?”

I shouldn’t talk to Rose. It’s not fair to her, with her being Ryan’s sister and all, but I need to talk to someone.

“I don’t trust her, and Ryan’s blind when it comes to her.”

“You’re preaching to the choir, babe.” She smiles when Maya hands her a beer.

“Who’s preaching?” Maya slides onto the seat next to Rose, cradling her tray against her chest, her eyes jumping between Rose and me.

“Did you enjoy your painting?” I smile, glancing at her fingers.

Her whole face lights up, only to fall into a frown when she looks at her fingernails. Setting the tray on the table, she scrapes at them, trying to remove the paint.

“Ugh,” she complains. “This paint is so damn stubborn. I was in a rush to make it on time for my shift,” she apologizes as if having a few streaks of paint on her fingers is the worst thing in the world. When Maya paints, the world around her stops existing. “I thought I got it all off. But yes, I’m so happy with how this piece is turning out.”

Painting is her passion, and she’s damn good at it. I know that one day, all the time and effort she puts into it will pay off, and the world will see what I see when I look at them. But until then, she waitresses to help pay the bills. And to be around Nathan. But that’s not something we talk about. Nobody likes to be reminded that their love is unrequited.

“Anyway, what are we talking about?” she says.

“Hadley.”

Rose and Maya share a grimace, and my heart warms. These are my girls. My tribe. I don’t have my mom anymore, but at least I have them.

“I knew she was going to be trouble,” Rose says, taking a sip of her beer.

“How so?”

I’m hoping that I’ll finally be able to get some insight into Hadley. And maybe get some validation that I’m not just being a clingy girlfriend.

“Ryan is like her favorite toy. And she doesn’t like to share. Everyone can see it, except for him. He’s always had a blind spot for her.”

I nod because isn’t that the truth? His reaction earlier speaks volumes. He’s like a horse wearing blinkers.

“She’s in love with him.”

My words are flat because I’m not asking a question. I’m stating a fact. Rose grimaces in sympathy.

“I’ve always thought so. I was shocked when she moved away, but all Ryan would say was that the job opportunity was too good to pass on.”

“You should have warned me,” I mutter, completely aware that I’m trying to put blame where it doesn’t belong.

“Maybe, but she’s been gone for so long, I thought maybe she’d be over it by now. I didn’t want to create problems where there might not be any.”

“I’m sorry. You’re completely right. I’m just…she’s making it unbearable at home.”

“What is she doing?”

“She’s inserting herself into everything. She treats Ryan’s house, and Ryan, for that matter, like they belong to her. Like I’m the intruder. I can’t turn around without her being there. I’m so sick of her face.”

Okay, that last part makes me sound like a bitch, but I’ve got a feeling that with girls like Hadley, playing nice won’t cut it. And it’s so nice to just…vent. To get everything off my chest.

“It sounds like she’s staking her claim.”

I nod because that’s exactly what she’s doing.

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