Page 44 of Escaping Our Reality

“Boyfriend, huh?”

She looks down at her hands, fidgeting. And then she remembers who she is and she stares deeply into my eyes with her head held high.

“Well, Ry, it’s been a month. We’ve been seeing each other nearly every single day since we met. I feel that is the most logical title.”

I tilt my head, watching her. “Go ahead and ask me. I know you want to.”

“What?”

“Don’t beat around the bush, Lulu. I like you when you get to the point.”

I’m an asshole. This is something the guy should do. Not the girl.

She licks her lips and clears her throat. One hand reaches around to the back of her neck, fingering her scar. “Ry, do you wanna be my boyfriend?”

Right then, the pretty cashier delivers our food to the table. People have a real knack for interrupting us at pivotal moments.

She’s removed the black kitchen apron and applied fresh lipstick. Crossing her legs over one another as she stands there, propping her hand on the back of my chair, she says, “I had the chef do a full chicken salad sandwich instead of just a half. Like I said, we have to make this first visit special.”

Lulu’s eye roll drives me completely over the edge. I was already teetering, about to fall. About to fall so hard I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get back up. Ever be able to walk again.

And that head swivel and eye roll is what do me in.

Pushing back from the table, I stand. Grabbing Lulu, I pull her from her seat and swing her into my arms. And in the middle of the bakery on the rich side of town, I kiss her.

Holy shit, do I ever kiss her.

And I know it’s way better than that chocolate cake she just ordered.

Chapter 20

ELLA

Harlan and I sit in the small kitchen finishing our slices of chocolate cake while Ry changes the oil in my SUV. He nearly had a heart attack earlier when he glanced at the windshield sticker and saw I was past due on my oil change.

“Ella, I appreciate this. It was very thoughtful.”

I toss the paper plates and utensils in the trash, box the cake, and place it in the fridge. “It’s no big deal, Harlan. We just thought it would be something nice. Ry actually paid for it.”

“That boy doesn’t need to be spending his money on me. He already does enough as it is.”

I wipe the crumbs from the table. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t get me wrong, my son is great. He would do anything at all for me. But he lives in town. Works fifty to sixty hours a week at his office job, so I feel bad asking him for help with things around the garage or the house. All I have to do is mention something in passing, and before I know it, Crutch has already handled it. Already fixed it for me.” He leans over and pats my hand. “You’re really good for him, Ella. I’ve never seen him happier. He thinks he’s poor, white trash. Hopefully, you’ll be able to convince him otherwise.”

He grunts, rising from the table. “Well, it’s time for me to call it a night. Leave you kids to it. Don’t let him go to the land tonight. Cold front has already started to come through, and it’s freezing outside. Make him stay here tonight.”

“Yes, sir.”

I meander out to the garage floor. Sitting in the rolling chair I’ve claimed as my own over the past month, I watch Ry as he works. The comfortable silence engulfs us like the steam from a hot shower.

Time to splash some cold water on things.

“I have something for you.”

Walking around the side of my vehicle, he bends down in front of me, framing both of his hands on the armrests of the chair. Brushing his lips against mine, he growls low, “I’ve got something for you too.”

The timbre of his voice sends shivers across my body, and I squirm in my chair, fighting the urge to touch myself. Which I never used to actually do, but find myself doing all the time now, when we aren’t together.

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