Page 28 of Unbreak Me
I mark a couple of possibilities before something catches my eye...Ryder’s Restores.I click on the post and read the job description. He’s looking for someone to run the office and take care of all the billing and administrative work. I scan the requirements and meet them all. It’s exactly what I was looking for.
Would he even hire me? I work my bottom lip between my teeth and debate on asking him about it. I feel his gaze on me and look up to see him staring at me. I release my bottom lip, and his eyes darken before looking away. Right now, I would probably get a big fatNO.I’ve already invaded his personal space and I doubt he would want me invading his business space as well.
I see a place to upload your resume. If I can just get him to take a look at mine and give me an interview, I know I couldget him to say yes. This listing has been up for a while, and he’s probably in desperate need of help right now.
I open my resume and read over it. If he didn’t know it was me, he would hire this person in a heartbeat. I’m overqualified, and I know the last place I worked would give me a raving referral. I highlight my name and hit delete. Eve Donovan might not get an interview, but I bet Mercedes Rhodes will. I grin at my play-on-words with the car theme. I type out an email that I used for work that he won’t recognize before attaching my resume and hitting send before I chicken out. What’s the worst that can happen? I get the interview, show up, and he slams the door in my face when he realizes it’s me? It’s a very likely scenario, but I need this job, and I know I will be damn good at it. I’ll just have to make him listen to me.
“You’re not getting in the pool?” I look up and see Sophia set her bag on the chair next to me. She’s wearing a black bikini and looking amazing, as usual. Her dark hair is up in a bun, and with her big dark sunglasses, she looks like she just stepped out of a Hollywood movie.
“I haven’t been able to replace a lot of the clothes I left behind, and swimsuits were one of them,” I laugh. “I’m just watching today.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. Come with me. I left some here from last summer and brought even more with me this time. I have plenty for you to choose from.” She holds out her hand, and I take it as she links our arms together and pulls me to the house.
“Are you sure? I seriously don’t mind watching.”
“I’m sure. We’re family. Practically sisters,” she says, smiling at me. I blink back the tears and return the smile. I haven’t had another girlfriend around who’s felt like a sister since Savi. Sophia squeezes my arm and nudges me with her shoulder. “It’s all going to work out. You’ll see. I have a good feeling about youtwo. Just keep showing up and building back up that trust. He’ll come around.”
When I came back from the beach after telling Ryder what had happened, Sophia and I had a long talk. She listened while I poured my heart out about Ryder. I felt a bond with her immediately.
“I hope so,” I whisper.
“He still loves you, Eve. Anyone with eyes can see that. Hell, I can feel it whenever you two are in the same room. He just needs time.”
We walk into her and Travis’s bedroom. She goes over to the dresser to start rummaging through her swimsuits.
“Ahhh, this one is perfect. It will match your eyes.” She holds up a blue bikini with gold rings on the string halter top and on the sides of the bottom.
I take it from her and grin. She’s right…my eyes are going to pop in this.
“Try it on. I want to see!” She excitedly sits on the bed and gestures to the hall leading to the bathroom.
“Okay.” I can’t help but get excited with her. Her energy is contagious, and I haven’t felt this happy in a long time.
I quickly try it on and stare at myself in the mirror. It fits my body like it was made for it. I turn and inspect the back. It’s very cheeky and shows off my ass. I immediately think of Ryder and how he could never keep his hands off my butt whenever we went to the beach together. I had a permanent hand attached to my cheek the whole time like he was staking his claim, and it always made me feel like the sexiest girl on the beach.
I’m even more fit now that I’ve been working out more. My parents had a gym in their house, and when I had trouble sleeping, which was almost every night, I would sneak downstairs with the baby monitor and run on the treadmill until I was too tired to do anything else but take a shower and sleep.
I walk back into the bedroom, and Sophia whistles. “Damn girl, you look hot! I don’t even want it back. It was made for you.”
“I can’t take it from you,” I say, shaking my head.
“Yes, you can, and you will. Sisters, remember?”
“Sisters,” I say softly. “Thank you, Sophia, and not just for the swimsuit. For everything. For loving Travis and Max and being there for Ryder this past year.”
“They are easy to love, and so are you.” Her eyes get soft, and she smiles at me. “Now, how about we make some mimosas and get back out to the guys? I have a feeling someone's eyes are about to pop out of their head.” She laughs and gets off the bed, walking us toward the kitchen.
I have no clue what Ryder’s reaction will be. He’s been so back and forth with his emotions that it’s impossible to say. We get our mimosas and go back outside. I guess I’m about to find out because all talk stops once the guys see us. I feel his eyes on me, but I don’t have the guts to face them yet.
“Daaaaaaaamn, Evie. You look hot as hell in that swimsuit.” I meet Miles’s eyes, and he’s grinning from ear to ear. A low growl comes from his side, and I resist the urge to follow it. I hear Jake laugh as Miles joins in.
Sophia winks at me and steps down in the pool before big-tatted arms go around her waist. Travis brings her back against his chest and kisses his wife’s neck.
“Are you coming in, Evie?” Max comes up for air and slides his goggles on top of his head.
“Definitely, Max.” He grins and dives back under. I turn and walk my phone to the table.
“Jesus, it’s even a better view from this angle.” Jake busts out laughing when Miles gets hit in the face with a big splash.
