Page 65 of Broken King

“Seriously, Jess. I know you love that dip they have, but ever since they chose to become some sports bar and grill thing, thatplace is awful. I think I have ringing in my ears, and we were only there for less than a half an hour. I can only imagine how the people who work there feel after their shift.”

My friend levels her gaze on me and shakes her head. “What are you? Eighty? Jeez, Kate. Did you see all those guys in the bar? It was like a hot guy smorgasbord in there!”

Now I see why she likes Charley’s so much. I should have guessed.

“I didn’t see them. My back was facing the bar. Anyway, I don’t care about those guys.”

Rolling her eyes, she sighs like I’m a hopeless cause she puts up with. “I forgot. Ronan. And what exactly is happening with that? He’s where on a Saturday night?”

I start walking toward her car parked down the street. “Leave him alone. There’s nothing wrong with someone who doesn’t like hanging out in bars on the weekends.”

Behind me, she says, “Yeah, but he doesn’t go anywhere, Kate. There’s a big difference between not loving the bar scene and being a shut-in.”

Furious she had the nerve to say that, I spin around and snap, “Don’t talk about him like that. So he doesn’t feel comfortable enough leaving his house yet? Big deal. It’s the twenty-first century. He can order food to be delivered from nearly every restaurant there is. He can have groceries delivered. He can buy anything he wants online and have it on his doorstep in days, if not hours. I’m not sure why anyone leaves their house at all nowadays.”

She stops walking and gives me a strange look. “Hey, I wasn’t being mean. What’s up with you? You seem ultra-sensitive about him.”

As much as I don’t want to admit it, she’s right. I am sensitive about Ronan. He’s hurting, and I’m worried I’m not going to be able to break through that pain so we can betogether. Meanwhile, he seems to have a grand old time with that babysitter or nanny or whatever she is who Ava has helping her with the kids.

And on top of all of that, my family and my best friend don’t seem very enthusiastic about my being back with the only guy I’ve ever loved.

Looking away, I avoid her gaze and answer, “I know. I didn’t mean to get bitchy there. I’m just worried about him.”

Jessie steps toward me and wraps her arm around my shoulders. “I get it, but I’m more worried about you. No nastiness here, but honestly, Kate, do you think he’s even capable of having a relationship in the state he’s in? From what you’ve told me, he’s having a hard time dealing with what happened to him. Maybe now’s not the best time to expect anything from him.”

All this talk about Ronan and how he may not be the man I want him to be anymore makes me sad, and I hang my head while I try not to let it get to me. I know everyone is just looking out for my best interests, but I don’t need to be reminded of how hard it might get for us to be back together. Why can’t everyone just be supportive?

“I haven’t told you everything. He’s going to be fine. I know. We went for a long walk the last time I was at the house, and we talked about all sorts of things. He’s trying so hard, Jess. I know you and my family weren’t there, but I was, and I know he’s going to be okay.”

“Well, let’s find ourselves a restaurant that doesn’t require us to scream at the top of our lungs so every person within ten feet can hear all our business. I’m starving, and I want to know what you mean about this everything you haven’t told me, okay?”

I smile and nod my agreement, even though I’m not sure I want to tell her everything. I’m not in high school anymore, but to be honest, even back then I didn’t tell my friends every detailabout my time with Ronan. From the first time we went out on a date, I wanted to keep him to myself. Yes, he was popular and rich and every girl around wanted him, but I didn’t think of him that way.

To me, he was just the guy who liked me enough to sit around and watch me study or help quiz me for tests because he knew how important my grades were. He was all those other things in public, but in private, Ronan was a thoughtful person who never made me wonder if he cared about me. I didn’t want to share that with the entire world.

I follow Jess toward a much quieter place closer to where she parked her car. The Library, an aptly named restaurant, may not have her favorite spinach dip, but at least we’ll be able to talk. Plus, they have a bar, so if she wants to scope out the next love of her life, she can do that too.

Not that she’d ever call anyone that. Jessie McIntyre has no need for love, according to her. At our age, all we should want is a good time. At least that’s what she likes to believe.

Personally, I’ve always preferred being serious about someone. I’m a one-man woman at heart, something she never fails to poke fun at because she simply can’t understand it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Kate

By the timeour food arrives, I’ve told Jessie a little about my biggest concern with Ronan, and it isn’t that he’s struggling to deal with what happened to him in that accident six months ago. It’s that Sabrina.

Shaking salt onto her baked potato smothered in cheese and green onions, she says, “Do you think he might like her? I don’t like that she lives there. Too much easy access to the goods.”

Just the way she says that makes me feel even worse, so she quickly adds, “Not that she’s getting any of that access. Forget I said anything about that and focus on him. Do you think he’s into her?”

“Truthfully, I don’t know. I mean, what guy wouldn’t be? She’s pretty, looks great in a bikini since she’s as thin as a rail but still has big boobs, and somehow she’s gotten close enough to him to shave his face.”

Jessie takes a forkful of baked potato into her mouth and groans. “You don’t want to know what I think about that.”

She asks me about it, and I tell her, and now she doesn’t want to give me her opinion? Is she trying to drive me nuts?

“Just tell me so I can try to eat my salad, okay?”

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