Page 27 of Pulled Away

He runs his hand roughly through his hair, making it stand on end. “No. Just give me a moment to settle the bill, grab Hadley, and then we can go.”

Glancing at our table, I find Hadley’s eyes on me, a look I can’t decipher in them.

“No.” I clench my jaw, biting back the urge to say something nasty. I can’t handle being alone in a car with…them. I’ve had enough of feeling invisible for one night. “It’s still early. I’m sure you guys haven’t finished catching up.”

“I’m not comfortable letting you drive alone at night with a stranger—” he starts to argue, but I cut him off because, frankly, after the night I’ve been having, I don’t care what he wants. Each day I find myself caring less and less about what he wants, and if I’m being honest, it’s scaring me.

“Well, then, it’s a good thing I am.”

Skirting around a family waiting to be seated, I push my way out of the restaurant and take a deep breath of fresh air.

“Aspen, please. Let’s go home and talk.” He’s right behind me, and when I turn around to look at him, his face is twisted in frustration.

I’m shaking my head before he’s done talking. “Ryan, I’m too upset to talk right now. I need some space to cool down. Away from you. Besides, it would be rude for you to leave now. You haven’t even ordered yet.”

He sucks in a breath, his body stilling. “Away from me? You’re running away?” He doesn’t say “again,” but it’s heavily implied.

Ryan and I have had a few arguments, but besides our one this week, and the argument about my rent, they’ve been relatively minor. Before this week, there was no way I could have imagined needing space from him. But right now I don’t want to look at him. When I do, all I see is Hadley cuddled up to him like they’re a couple. And him not doing anything to set boundaries between them.

“I’m not running away. I’m going home. Alone.”

“And how am I supposed to explain you leaving?” he says, frustrated.

“Why are you even asking? Just tell them the truth. You don’t seem to have a problem telling Hadley all about our issues. But don’t worry, I don’t think they’ll care enough to ask,” I mutter, glancing at my phone. Five minutes out, thank fuck.

“That’s not true.”

“Oh yeah? I knew tonight would mostly be about you guys catching up, but I wasn’t expecting to be completely frozen out.”

“Again, that’s not true.”

I stare at him for a few beats, wondering if he’s being deliberately obtuse.

“Isn’t it? Beyond you introducing me as your girlfriend, what effort did they make to get to know me? Or include me in the conversation? What effort did you make? I don’t begrudge you spending time with your friends. I never have. What I do have a problem with is being ignored.” Especially by my so-called boyfriend. “You know what’s funny? That guy, Derick, he did hit on me, but don’t worry, I shot him down because I’m not an attention-seeking cheater.”

“Please stop. I was angry and didn’t mean it. I apologized.”

His voice is soft, his brown eyes earnest, and I do believe that he didn’t mean it. It doesn’t change the fact that he said it, though.

“An apology doesn’t take back the hurt words cause, Ryan. Anyway, he hit on me not because he’s some douche, but because he thought I was single. He thought Hadley was your girlfriend. And I don’t blame him. Looking at the two of you, even knowing I’m your girlfriend, I would have thought she was too.”

My ride pulls up, and I turn to him, my emotions all over the place. My anger is being replaced by hurt, and the last thing I want is for him to see the tears that I can feel threatening. I need to be by myself to process everything that’s happened tonight. Hell, everything that’s been happening for the last few weeks.

“Just go. I’ll see you later,” I mumble, getting in the car.

Chapter ten

Ryan

Everyone’s eyes are on me when I get back to our table.

“Everything okay?” Hadley asks, putting her hand on my leg, her eyes shining with concern.

I know my smile is not fooling her. It’s always been this way with us. I guess that’s what happens when you get to know someone as well as we do. You see through the masks that people wear to hide their true feelings and intentions.

Time apart hasn’t changed that for us.

I shift in my seat, suddenly uncomfortable with her hand on my leg. He thought Hadley was your girlfriend. Speaking of, my eyes roam the restaurant and I find his eyes on me, his eyebrows slightly raised. He can stick his judgment. He knows nothing about me and Aspen. And my friendship with Hadley, for that matter.

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