Page 13 of Forgotten Pieces

He looks over at me. “A misunderstanding?”

I sip my martini and respond, “You know me. Sees hot guy, hits on him. The equation is simple. I just didn’t know he was engaged.”

“You knew who he was, T. You’ve met Ryder before. I clearly remember you flirtin’ with him when you were still in high school.”

Well damn, didn’t think he would remember that. “And I haven’t changed much, dearest brother.”

I see Easton push his long hair back behind his ear, “Okay, T. I’ll let it go. It’s my wedding. I don’t really want to hear this right now. Whatever it might be. Just leave him alone tonight, please. I want this night to be drama free.”

I look at my brother and lean into him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. “Of course, East. This is your wedding and I am over here mopey because I got turned down.” I raise my glass to his beer, “Cheers to my favorite brother finally marrying the true love of his life.”

Easton rolls his eyes as he clinks his bottle to my glass. “Of course I’m your favorite.”

He stands up and then helps me up. I grab my shoes and lace my arm through my brother’s and walk back to the party. I join Laney, Mac, Rae, and Brooks and let the weight on my shoulders roll off me. But every glance I steal of Ryder brings the memories flooding back.

Chapter Six

Eight Years Ago

Tacoma

“Ugh, this is the most boring job ever.”

Laney snorts as she wipes down the shake counter. “You were the one that said you wanted to work at the ice cream parlor.”

I spin in the chair I am sitting on, the one I stole from the manager’s office. “Yeah but I didn’t realize it would be so borin’.”

“You never seem to think it’s boring when all the cute boys from the county are comin’ in here for ice cream,” she retorts.

“Exactly, Laney. There have been zero cute boys today. How will I ever survive the next,” I pause as I glance at the yellowing clock on the wall, “two hours. God, I hate how my stupid brother made me get a job.”

“That’s not what you were sayin’ last night when you took Joey Milton behind the building and made out with him for thirty minutes while I had to cover your ass when the boss showed up.”

“That was so much fun.”

Laney takes the dirty towel she was cleaning with and throws it at me. “That wasn’t workin’ dumbass.”

“I was workin’ my tongue pretty hard if you know what I mean.” I say as I lift my brows a few times at her.

“You are the worst,” she says as she walks toward the storeroom just as the bell to the door chimes.

I swivel around in my chair, too tired to actually stand up and get out of it, when I see the most gorgeous face I have ever seen.

“Good evening,” the hottest guy in the world says to me.

“Hi,” I squeak.What is wrong with me?I clear my throat. “What can I get you?”

The guy peruses the menu boards above the counter. “What’s good here?”

“Me,” I whisper.

He glances at me and I get lost in his stare. I thought his face was cute but his eyes are endless, deep brown, almost black swirling pools, like a galaxy I could get lost in.

“Excuse me,” he says. “I don’t think I heard you.”

My cheeks flame, a very un-Tacoma move. “Umm, the milkshakes are amazing. I mean you can never go wrong with an ice cream sundae or a banana split. The ice cream sandwiches are homemade and incredible. But the milkshakes are to die for.”

“Is that so?” He smirks, obviously amused by my rambling.

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