Page 24 of Save Me

After that, she muted the conversation. Then, because she had to, she grabbed one of her throw pillows, buried her face in it, and screamed.

It was incredibly cathartic.

Picking up her phone, she saw it was a little after four—the Donovans always ate early on Sundays—and she realized she was hungry.

And craving a turkey dinner.

“Dammit, Mom!”

In the kitchen, she rummaged through her refrigerator, but there wasn’t anything she wanted to eat. Takeout was the only logical answer.

Or…

Her thoughts instantly went to Ryker.

And not just because of the big fat lie she just told her family.

This was the sort of thing they were supposed to be doing—going out together and being seen around town—but…she was still nervous about reaching out to him. What if he had second thoughts? What if he was reading more into this than it was? What if he was busy?

“Okay, I can sit here and make myself crazy or I can just do it,” she told herself as she walked back over to her phone.

As predicted, there were about fifteen missed texts in her sibling group chat. After a quick scroll, she realized none of them were really directed at her and had to laugh because they were all probably sitting in their parents’ living room and texting each other rather than talking.

Then she pulled up Ryker’s number and contemplated whether to call or text.

Her heart raced a little at the thought of hearing his voice and she had a feeling she’d turn into a babbling idiot if she called.

Texting it is.

Ryleigh: Hey! Are you busy?

Groaning, she wished she had thought this through before hitting send.

He didn’t respond right away, so she went back to the kitchen and pulled out a bag of chips and began munching. Her hands were a little salty when he texted back and she had to take a minute to wash up.

Ryker: Hey! Not really doing much of anything. What’s up?

Ugh…did she just come right out and ask him to dinner or just hint at it?

Ryleigh: I was just curious if you had dinner plans

And now she felt like she was going to throw up. Her hands were a little shaky, her heart felt like it was going to beat itself right out of her chest, and she was starting to sweat.

Ryker: What did you have in mind?

Images of him sitting in her kitchen as she cooked for them came to mind, but…that wasn’t what this was about. It was about being seen and going out to places around Laurel Bay.

Ryleigh: I’m not sure. I skipped the typical Sunday dinner with the family and was trying to figure out what kind of takeout to get

“Oh my God! I did not just say that!” she whined miserably. That definitely sounded like she was inviting him over for an intimate dinner.

Ryker: I could bring over some Chinese or we can maybe go out and grab something up in Beaufort?

One of her favorite restaurants was up that way, but it was an expensive seafood place and there was no way she’d ask him to take her there.

Ryker: There’s a great little place that does some awesome lobster if you’re interested

Ryker: It’s right on the water

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