Page 87 of Pulled Away

“Ryan sold his house? When?”

She looks at me curiously. “Well, we moved in a little over a month ago. And before you ask, I don’t know where he moved to,” she says cautiously. Not that I blame her. It’s weird, having a stranger show up in the middle of the night asking about the previous owner. I also wouldn’t disclose any details.

I get back in my car after apologizing for interrupting their evening, my mind spinning. What the hell is going on? Ryan loves this house. I feel like crying as I stare at the light pouring out of a window. We had so many good memories in that house. Before all the bad. Why did he sell it? Is he moving away? Why didn’t anyone tell me?

Grabbing my phone, I open it up with shaky fingers. I’m fully aware I’m still sitting in their driveway, but getting answers is more important than freaking them out.

Aspen: You moved

Keeping my eyes glued to the screen, I see three dots appear. They disappear before appearing again. It feels like forever before he comes back with a simple “Yes.”

Yes? That’s it? That’s all he’s giving me?

Aspen: Why?

I don’t care that we’re not together anymore and that it’s none of my business. The need to know why eclipses everything else. I glance up when the front door opens and the stranger—who’s living where he has no reason to be living—frowns at me.

Yeah, buddy. I’ll leave in a second.

This time, it takes him even longer to respond.

Ryan: Can’t talk now. I’m busy with something

For months the man has messaged me, keeping in contact with me, and now, when I finally reach out to him, he’s too busy to talk to me? If I knew where he was, I’d drive over there and give him a piece of my mind.

Huffing, I put my car into drive, and with a cheeky wave to the man still frowning at me, head home.

Chapter thirty-one

Aspen

The day finally arrives.

It’s still dark out when I jump out of bed, shrugging off the grogginess from a sleepless night. That’s excitement, anticipation, and nerves for you. They won’t allow your brain to shut down until they are good and ready.

If today is successful, the first thing I’m doing is quitting the Silver Stiletto. Damn, please let it be successful.

Donning my oldest pair of jeans and a grubby t-shirt, I glance worriedly out the window. It’s too early to say just yet, but the weather forecasted a cool, but cloudless day.

Let’s hope the wind behaves.

A knock on the door has me throwing my hair in a ponytail.

“It’s open,” I call out while grabbing the bag I packed last night. I don’t bother with makeup. That will come later, after I’ve slaved the day away in Frosty’s kitchen preparing the food we’ll serve later.

“You ready for today?” a beaming Bailey asks as she walks in, Kallan hot on her heels.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

I blow out a breath that feels like it comes from the tips of my toes. Today might just be the start of a new life for me.

We’re carpooling to the harbor because we’re all going there, anyway, so it’s just easier. I’m thankful because I’m so nervous, I might just crash my car on the way.

“You okay back there?” Kallan asks, smiling at me in the rearview mirror.

I want to yell, “No, I’m not. And why the hell can’t you drive any faster?” but settle for a nod, returning his smile.

Bailey must notice my squirming because she turns her head, smiling at me reassuringly.

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