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Is she for real? She’s fucking my ex-boyfriend and she wants to go to a movie?
Attempting to smile, I nodded. “Yeah. Sure, maybe we could.”
Sierra looked into my eyes and I was instantly taken by the tenderness in her blue eyes. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation, Ryn.”
Smiling weakly, I nodded my head and watched as Sierra turned to walk away. “Sierra?”
Stopping, she turned and looked at me. “I . . . um . . . I know I have no right asking this and it is not any of my business, but are you and Tristan . . . um . . . dating?”
Something flashed across her face quickly before she smiled and shook her head. “No, Ryn. He’s just a friend, that’s all.”
Chewing on my bottom lip, I decided to just ask about what I saw instead of letting it eat me alive. “I saw the two of you earlier, kissing, and Tristan carried you into the house.”
Sierra walked up to me and took my hands in hers. “I think we were just trying to see if there was anything at all there.”
I fought to hold my tears back. My voice cracked as I went to ask her what they found out. I hated how weak my voice sounded. “Was there?”
Lifting the corner of her mouth, she said, “No, honey. Tristan and I are just meant to be friends.”
I instantly felt my body relax. I knew this was so unfair of me, especially knowing that Sierra had heard Dodge and I having sex. “I can’t imagine what you think of me, Sierra. Here I’m asking about Tristan’s love life and I’ve been . . . I’ve been with Dodge and . . .”
Squeezing my hand, Sierra looked into my eyes. “Talk to him, Ryn. I know he hates how things ended with the two of you. Talk. To. Him.”
Nodding my head slowly, I said, “I’ll think about it.”
Sierra’s smile faded some as she nodded her head. Giving me a wink, she turned and headed to her car.
Shutting the door, I leaned against it. My heart ached knowing that Tristan and Sierra slept together. It wasn’t fair of me to feel angry but I did. Closing my eyes, I knew the real reason I was upset. I was jealous of Sierra and the relationship she had with Tristan. I needed to get out for a while. Walking to the kitchen to grab my keys and phone, I decided I would not think about Dodge or Tristan. I needed to clear my head. As much as I adored Dodge, I knew I didn’t want the same thing he wanted.
Checking my phone, I saw I had two text messages. Opening them up, one was from a client who couldn’t seem to understand I was on vacation, and the other was from Dodge.
Dodge: Missing you, baby. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to get back down there. Sorry. Things are crazy here at the club.
Hitting reply, I typed out my response.
Me: No worries, Dodge. I think I need some time alone to think things through. Take care of the club. I’ll call you when I get back.
Dodge responded immediately.
Dodge: I hope that means you’re thinking about us and our relationship.
Ugh. There he goes using the words us and relationship. I backed out of my text messages and dropped my phone into my purse. I’d deal with Dodge when I got back to Austin. Right now, I needed some shopping therapy.
South Padre had some pretty awesome shops that were tucked away on the side streets. Sierra had told me to check them out. Stepping into Sisters Interior, I smiled. Oh, yea. This was my kind of store. Sierra just moved up a little bit more onto my good side with this place.
Walking around the store, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I loved buying things for my house back in Austin. It was my place and I could do whatever I wanted with it. No overbearing mother to try and control how I decorated it. I cringed thinking back to the day I set up my dorm room. She did it exactly how she wanted. The moment she walked out the door, I spent the rest of the day re-arranging it to how I wanted it.
I let out a small gasp when I saw a mirror hanging on the wall. It was beautiful. The mirror was framed in a brushed-silver finish, but the inside frame had the most unusual pastel pattern design. I walked up and admired it. Turning, I looked for an employee. A young girl with dark-red hair began walking up to me.
“May I help you?”
Grinning like a fool, I pointed to the mirror. “How much is this mirror?”
“It’s eleven hundred dollars.”
I was pretty sure my eyes about popped out of my head. “Come again?”
The sales lady giggled. “I know, it’s a bit of sticker shock. But it’s one of kind and the artist lives here in South Padre.”
Turning back to the mirror, I debated if I wanted to spend that kind of money.
No. I didn’t. Not for a damn mirror. I began gnawing on my lower lip as I thought about it. I wasn’t sure why I was even entertaining the thought. There was no way I would ever pay that much for a stupid mirror. No matter how beautiful it was.
“Let me put you out of the internal struggle. That gentleman over there has already stated he wanted to buy it.”
Turning and looking over my shoulder, I saw him. “Motherfucker,” I whispered as my eyes landed on Tristan.
“Um . . .”
Looking back at the young saleslady, I covered my mouth. “I’m so sorry; I didn’t mean to say that.”
Chuckling, she held up her hands. “No problem, but I’m going to guess you know him? Or you really wanted that mirror.”
Laughing, I said, “Both.” Reaching up, I took the mirror off the wall. The saleslady’s eyes grew bigger. “Go with me on this.”
Not even giving her time to answer me, I began walking up to the register with the mirror as the poor girl walking briskly behind me said, “Um, ma’am. Ma’am, you can’t have it.”
“Oh my goodness. I can’t believe I found the perfect mirror. I’m just so overjoyed.”
Tristan turned and looked at me. He smiled at first, until he saw the mirror in my hands. The older gentleman who had been helping Tristan stood there stunned.
Men. I swear.
“My mother is going to love this.” Looking at the lady behind the counter, I turned my smile to a somber look. “She’s so sick and this will just make her feel so much better.” Acting as if I was going to start crying, I said, “We’re not even sure she will make it through . . . the holidays.” I dropped my head and acted as if I was crying.
The young sa
les lady placed her hand on my shoulder. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.”
Peeking up, I stole a look at Tristan. His mouth was gaped open and he looked shocked as hell. Wiping away my fake tears, I smiled at the girl behind the counter.
“Thank you so much. Anywho, I’ll take the mirror and send her a picture. She’ll be so happy. Especially knowing it was made by a local artist here in her beloved South Padre.
“Oh. My. God.”
I looked at Tristan. “Tristan? What are you doing here?”
Narrowing his eyes at me, he looked at the mirror. “Buying a mirror.”
The gentleman helping Tristan cleared his throat. “Ma’am, I’m afraid that mirror . . .”
I interrupted him. “Is perfect!” Looking at the girl standing there, I lifted my shoulders and smiled bigger. “Isn’t it? Momma is going to be so happy.” I attempted to hold back my fake sob. “Here’s my credit card.”
Handing her my credit card, she just stared at me. I jerked my hand toward her again, as if she hadn’t noticed me holding my card out to her.
“Ryn, your damn mother isn’t sick. You can’t even stand your mother. When was the last time you talked to her?”
Ignore him, Ryn.
“You don’t have to wrap it up, sweetheart. I’ll take it just like that.” The poor girl at the counter snapped her eyes to the gentleman who was helping Tristan.
“And, you’re mother has never even been to fucking South Padre!”
Pulling my head back, I gasped. “Oh my, is it necessary to use such language?”
Placing my hand up to the side of my mouth, I leaned closer to the girl. “He doesn’t like me very much and does anything he can to give me trouble. Can we speed this up a bit please?”
Pointing to the girl, Tristan shouted, “No! That is my mirror. I saw it first, and Bill here was just about to ring me up.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “I don’t see your name written on it. If it had been sold there should have been a sold sticker on it. As far as I’m concerned it was hanging on the wall, ready to be bought by someone who has far better taste than you.”
