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I took one more glance at the man I loved before focusing back on my book and how good the sun felt on me. The heroine kept a diary and wrote to Mr. Bingley from Pride and Prejudice. She paralleled her own life with his and compared him a lot to her ex in not only hilarious ways, but poignant ones. Unfortunately, they hit a little too close to home for me at times. Especially when she spoke of what a coward Mr. Bingley was for leaving Jane. She pointed out that he didn’t even have the decency to tell her himself. Poor Jane had no idea what she had done to deserve his neglect. Just like Ryder hadn’t deserved my cowardice or silence.
I dangled my feet in the water from the rock I was perched on and immersed myself in the world of Presley and Jackson. I laughed at the precarious situation Presley found herself in while trying to follow the rules of getting over her ex in ninety days, the overarching one being she was supposed to stay away from him. The problem was, they worked together, and like me, Jackson recognized the mistake he had made and did whatever he could to make sure he was present in her life. While that seemed to be working for him, it didn’t feel like the best course for me to take. I had a feeling I was going to have to let Ryder come to me. Or, probably more likely, admit we were truly over and move on. A thought that killed me.
I didn’t get much more reading in. Julian joined me, looking good in only a pair of shorts and some swim shoes. Like Ryder, he had a defined chest, though Julian’s had more hair.
Julian smiled at the title of my book. “Finding any good tips in there?”
I closed my book and laid it in my lap. “I’m not looking for any.” I didn’t want to get over my ex. And I had already followed all the rules in the book, to no avail. Not even being away from Ryder for a year thinking he had cheated on me had helped me get over him.
Julian eyed me carefully before his gaze drifted over the lake. Several members of our group were swimming and playing in the water. My open wound precluded me from doing such. Julian’s eyes fixed on Ryder before his attention landed back on me. “Are you in a relationship with Ryder?”
I rubbed my lips together and shook my head.
“Maybe a better question is, were you? I noticed the ink on his chest.”
“Were you checking him out?” I giggled though I wanted to cry. My name across his heart was a beautiful reminder of what I had lost.
He nudged me with his muscular shoulder. “Your name was hard to miss.”
“We were engaged a while back,” I admitted with a sigh.
“Now he’s with that woman, Macey?”
We both watched as Macey made her way to Ryder in her tiny silver bikini. I couldn’t stomach watching it, so I turned away.
“I’m not sure. Maybe. Do you want to do that fishing thing Jaime talked about at the river?”
“Sure.” He went with my abrupt change of subject.
I put my book and bottle of water in my knapsack and stood as hastily as I could. My side made that difficult.
Julian jumped up and helped me. His touch did nothing for me. But the sound of another man’s voice sent shivers down my spine.
“Where are you headed off to?” Ryder said through heavy breaths.
Both Julian and I faced him with astonishment. That was quite the swim in such a short period of time. We are talking Olympic medal qualifying time.
Words escaped me as I internally panted. He never looked better than when he was in the water, droplets dripping down him with his hair slicked back, showing off why Macey was frantically swimming after him.
“We’re headed over to the river to do some fishing,” Julian informed him, but not before looking between me and Ryder with a sense of resignation.
“I’m in.” Ryder walked out of the lake like the god Poseidon. He ran his hands through his hair before shaking his head to remove the excess water. Oh my. Even Ryder was more vibrant here in this unreal oasis. He headed over to the branch that had his T-shirt hanging from it. I’d had some thoughts earlier about clothes hanging from tree branches and warm, clear nights.
“Wait for me,” Macey yelled, reminding me to come back to the present and face reality.
I did not, in fact, wait for her. I slipped on my shoes and began walking on the path through the willow bushes and sagebrush toward the river.
Julian was quick to follow. “Are you sure you’re over?” he whispered.
“Very.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure if I were you.”
