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“Since when? Since you showed up at my door unannounced?”
Ryan sighed at that and nodded absently. “About that, listen. I’m sorry to throw that at you unexpectedly, but it came from a genuine place. I really do want to try again.”
“What makes you think I want that too?” I asked, aware of that previous anger I felt towards him rising within my chest. The emotions I worked so hard to work through and repress.
Even being near him seemed to dismantle that progress so easily.
“I can’t speak for you, but I can hope you might change your mind. I handled us horribly, and I just want a chance to redeem myself,” Ryan said, giving me those sad eyes.
Shaking my head in disbelief, I wanted nothing more than to get out of there. “The grocery store isn’t the place for this.”
“Then where is? You won’t give me that opportunity.”
He was blaming me. Me. I only ever wanted to help him when we were together, but it wasn’t enough for him.
He hadn’t changed at all.
“I’m done with this, Ryan,” I said, dismissing him.
He gave me that look of disappointment. “Sara, come on.”
“Is there a problem?”
Surprised to hear that voice, a chill ran down my spine. I whirled around to find Griffin standing there, face stern.
The relief I felt was immediate.
I remembered our arrangement, and I swallowed hard.
“No, there’s not because Ryan was just about to leave,” I answered, offering Griffin an affectionate smile.
“Good,” he returned, dropping the baked good he was holding in my basket. “I found your favorite, babe.”
“Thanks,” I hummed, feeling as Griffin’s hand reached for mine. His thumb gently brushed against the back of my hand.
We were good at putting on a front.
Ryan looked between the two of us with a hurt expression. He scoffed. “You two are serious?”
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Griffin asked incredulously.
“I just thought … never mind,” Ryan mumbled, shaking his head. “I’ll see you around, I guess.”
Ducking his head, he stalked off, leaving the store without buying anything.
The moment he was gone, I let go of a deep breath. The tightness in my chest eased away.
“What a dick,” Griffin mumbled, retrieving his package of cookies from my basket again as he carefully released my hand. “Maybe he’ll leave you alone now.”
“Hopefully,” I said with a sigh as I pulled myself together. “Thanks, by the way. It really helped.”
Wearing a fitted tee that hugged his muscles, I had to admit that he looked good. That wasn’t anything new, though.
He offered me a light but kind smile. His eyes softened somewhat. “Of course. Luckily, I was here only for the essentials,” he said, lifting the cookies in his grasp with a humored grin.
Laughing quietly at that, I savored the lightness in my chest thanks to him. “I won’t judge.”
Griffin chuckled. “I appreciate that.”
