Page 157 of When Wrecked Meets Ruined
“Don’t ignore her on my account.” I stood and crossed the patio. Before I could open the French doors, he wrapped his hand around my arm to stop me. I closed my eyes. He was standing right behind me, his hard chest against my back, and I could feel his heat.
Why did he always do this to me?
“Don’t run away from me, Evie.”
I let out a humorless laugh and spun around to face him. “What do you want from me, Ridge? You have a girlfriend.” I gestured to the phone in his hand. “I haven’t spoken to you in three years. You’ve moved on. I’ve moved on. It’s whatyouwanted,” I reminded him.
“What the fuck are you talking about? You’re the one who wanted to move on. And you did.Twice. I let you go because it was whatyouwanted.”
I stared at him. He was unbelievable. Was he really pinning this on me? “Are you seriously going to deny this? You’re the one who said it, Ridge.”
“What did I say?” he challenged.
“You said that you wanted to find a way to move on. Then at the wedding, you said it was a mistake. That being with me again was a mistake.”
He stared at me. “That’swhat you thought I meant?”
“What else could it have meant?” I threw up my hands. “You walked away, and you never said anything to make me believe differently.”
Ridge grabbed the back of his neck. “That’s not… you’ve got it all wrong.” He clenched his jaw when his phone started ringing again. Whatever she wanted, it must be important. If I were his girlfriend, I would be furious that he blew off my calls to spend time with his ex-girlfriend. But then again, he probably wouldn’t even tell her he was with me.
“Just answer your phone.” I left him on the patio and went inside just as Quinn came into the kitchen.
“What did I miss?” She looked from me to Ridge, who had followed me inside andstillhadn’t answered his damn phone.
“Nothing. Ridge was just leaving.” I forced a smile for Quinn. “I think I’ll get an early night. Catch up on some reading. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I walked away before either of them could stop me.
CHAPTERFIFTY-EIGHT
Ridge
I didn’t returnCarina’s call until I got home. Which was a shitty move. But I couldn’t discuss this in front of Evie. Or anyone else.
“Are you okay?” I asked as soon as she answered.
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“I was at Quinn and Jesse’s, and I didn’t have any privacy.” Technically, that was true. But I didn’t mention Evie for obvious reasons. I flicked on the lights that lit up my backyard and the stone steps that led down to the pool and sucked in a deep breath before asking, “Did you take a test?”
“I bought three, but when I got home, I got my period.”
I released a breath of relief. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world, but it would have complicated our lives and our plans for the future.
“So I guess you’re free,” she said. “I guess we both are.”
“Yeah, looks that way.” I stepped outside and descended the stairs. Carina and I broke up five weeks ago, so the pregnancy scare was not the best timing, but even so, I would have been there for her and the baby, and I needed her to know that. I was nothing like my asshole sperm donor. “I would have taken responsibility. I would have helped out with the baby. I would have done whatever you needed.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “That’s why I fell in love with you. My big tough football player. But this is for the best. I’m leaving for Paris in two days.” She paused. “I’ll miss you, Ridge.”
I leaned against the stone wall and looked up at the starless sky. “I’ll miss you too.” It was true. I’d miss her. Our relationship had been so easy and uncomplicated. But I guess I wasn’t cut out for easy and uncomplicated.
“Goodbye, baby,” she said. “Take care of yourself.”
“You too.”
There was nothing left to say, so we cut the call, and I took a deep breath and let it out. Carina had been my attempt at moving on. We were opposites in so many ways. She wore designer clothes, and I didn’t know Gucci from Prada. She went to boarding school in Europe and came from money. I was a thug from the wrong side of the tracks.
