Page 52 of Easy Reunion
Chapter 21
Kelsey
“Let me apologize,” he rasps.
I try to turn from him, but he won’t let me. I manage to tug my hand away and wrap my arms around myself protectively. My eyes close instead as a barrier of protection as conflicting emotions play tug-o’-war with my heart. “This seems like a conversation we’ve had before. It didn’t turn out very well.” Glancing at him beneath my lashes, my lips twist cruelly. “After all, I’m not much better than the people—”
“Don’t,” he interrupts. “Please,” he begs. “I’m so sorry for what I did—then and now. There are reasons, and you deserve to know what they are.”
I hold firm as he steps closer, my arms still wrapped around my body to ward off the blows I’m sure are to come. I brace internally as Ry begins to speak.
“I have wronged you in so many ways, it’s laughable to ask you to give me another chance. But I am. I need to be able to explain why. You deserve to understand why.”
“What you don’t know is I’m tired of fighting you, of fighting myself. I’m so tired of being wounded over and over when I try to live normally. It’s just easier to live behind my barricade. But you? For some reason, my defenses are weaker when it comes to you,” I admit. Ignoring the flare of his eyes, I go on. “I can’t see the point of subjecting myself to the same repetitive cycle of being damaged again by a hurt I didn’t invite or earn. Is it always going to be like this, Ry?”
He’s already shaking his head before I’m through speaking.
“It won’t. I promise.”
I study him silently, searching for some indicator this isn’t another opportunity for him to knock me off my feet again. Instead, I find the same signs of restless nights I’ve been suffering that I, at least, was able to cover up with makeup: dark circles under his eyes, a paleness to his skin, a tightness around his mouth. Combined with the amount he’s tried to reach me in the last two weeks, I weaken.
And besides, he’s right. I deserve to know why so I can put my past behind me where it belongs. And that may include him.
“One chance. And we’ll talk about the past and why you hurt me, or you can walk out that door right now.”
I don’t get the rest of my sentence out before Ry has stepped into my space. His fingers are gripping my face. “The way I feel about you has kept me up more than my fair share of nights. And not just in the last few weeks,” he starts.
But I remain firm despite the part of me that wants to capitulate to the young girl begging me to throw myself in his arms. “This is your last chance,” I warn him. “I explained why I hid in Savannah. You’ll talk to me about what happened to ruin what I thought was our friendship, or I’m walking away for good. I don’t need to restart what I managed to leave behind.” I wrench myself away and move back to the window overlooking the courtyard.
“And what was that? What did you leave behind, Kelsey?”
“So much pain, it’s a wonder I couldn’t fly when the burden was lifted.” The words are spoken softly but are filled with so much emotion.
I feel him come up behind me. “I can’t promise we won’t feel pain, even if we fight,” he cautions.
Spinning around, I agree. “There’s fighting, and there’s being cruel. What you said…”
“Was my inability to deal with what happened back then. Once we talk it out, I hope you’ll understand.” His voice is sad in a way I’ve only heard when I’ve talked about the past.
I cock my head to the side, trying to read him. He shakes his head. “It isn’t for here.”
“Okay? Then when?” I demand.
Pushing a strand of hair back, he says, “Start again with me. Get to know me now. Then when you feel like maybe you trust the man I am and I know the woman you’ve become, we’ll lay it all out.”
I give it careful thought before nodding. A relieved expression crosses his handsome face. I ask cautiously, “What does this mean, getting to know each other?”
“I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to make plans, but I actually have to go back to work before Eli decides to fire me.” His eyes search mine with concern that I’ll be upset we’re not racing out the door into the sunset on a white steed. The reality is, I can use the time to get my head on straight.
I decide to lighten the mood. “I’ve met your boss. Somehow, I get the feeling he’s got this romantic streak in him.”
“For his wife, maybe. Normally, he’s just barking orders at the rest of us.” Ry’s humor washes over me even as I begin gathering my purse. He comes to stand next to me. “He doesn’t take me for drinks anymore. We only spend time together at the office. It’s like I’m his dirty little secret.” Ry lets out a long-suffering sigh.
“I’d have to argue that, Counselor. I do believe he took you shoe shopping. And you weren’t even looking your best at the time. It was so romantic. All one of you needed were roses and you would have been a whole new take onPretty Woman.” I burst into laughter at the dumbfounded look on his face.
I’m too busy trying to regain my composure to realize Ry’s tugged me into his arms. By the time I do, I gasp. “Just for that, I’m never going to bring you roses,” he teases.
“That’s okay. I prefer daisies,” I say automatically.
