Page 122 of Come Break My Heart Again

“It would be really easy to make sure Hathaway stays away from you too.”

There’s steel in Ryder’s voice. As much confidence as when he said the same thing about Phoenix.

I’m seeing a lot of Ryder’s world tonight. And maybe it should scare me a little. But I trust Ryder, trust him implicitly.

“You promised,” I remind him again.

“Promised if you didn’t want me to do anything. I’m asking if you’re going to change your mind.”

“He’s not worth it,” I say. “He didn’t … you know.”

“It’s not okay because it didn’t go that far, Elle.”

“I know. But it’s not okay for you to do whatevermaking sure he stays awaymeans either. You’re better than him.”

His jaw flexes a couple of times. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Positive.”

“Promise?”

I smile. “Promise.” I glance at the tarp. “Can I help?”

He lifts an eyebrow. “Help?”

“Watch.”

He smiles. “Yeah, you can watch. C’mon. I’ll find you a chair.”

I never thought I’d feel so at home in an auto garage.

But I know it’s not the garage.

It’s Ryder.

23

The front door slams.

“Honey, I’m home!” echoes through the first floor.

Keira rolls her eyes. “Kitchen!” she calls back.

Tucker appears a few seconds later. He’s dressed casually in a sweatshirt withFranklin Constructionprinted across the front and a backward baseball cap. “Oh, hey. Am I interrupting ladies’ night?” he asks, scanning the table that’s covered with drinks and food.

“I guess you could call it that,” Keira says. “We’re drinking wine and wedding planning.”

“I thought the wedding was already planned,” Tucker says, grabbing a sports drink out of the fridge. He drains most of it in one gulp.

“It is. Mostly. There are still details to decide.”

“Do you need, uh, help?”

Keira’s expression is wry as she glances at her fiancé. “No. You’re off the hook. You’ll be using whatever napkin color I decide on.”

“Never had strong opinions on napkins anyway.” Tucker kisses the top of Keira’s head, then reaches out for one of the slices of pizza on the table. “I’ll be back in a bit, okay?”

“You just got here.”

---