“You look like you have something on your mind,” Sierra said once they’d ordered, gotten their drinks, and Aria had settled Sophie with a toy and her “lovey”—a soft toy with a panda head and a fabric body.“Want to talk about it?”
“I do.Ryan said something the other day that I’ve been stewing about ever since.”
“Uh-oh.What did he say?”
“Ryan talked to me a little about his service.At least, I suppose you can call it talking.I asked him why he left Denver.”Why he’d lefther.“He said he fell in love with me, even though he didn’t want to.When I asked why he said he ‘didn’t deserve to.’And then he said ‘something’ happened in Afghanistan.But that’s all he would say.”
“Well, that explains it.”Sierra set her tea down with a satisfied thump.
“Explains what?It didn’t explain a thing to me.”
“Ryan came over the other night,” Sierra said.“He and Connor had a long, serious talk.”
“I hope Connor talked some sense into him.”
“I don’t know about that.I asked Connor what they talked about and beyond telling me it was about the war he wouldn’t say a word.He said it was Ryan’s story to tell or not.”She drank some tea.“But Connor had talked to me about what happened in Afghanistan.His part of it.
“Connor was in love with one of the medics.Casey was her name.She broke up with him because she was in love with Ryan.And then she died.I got the story out of Connor in bits and pieces and over several weeks.He doesn’t like talking about it any more than Ryan does.”
“I don’t think that’s all there is to it,” Aria said.“Casey died but something else must have happened.You said she told Connor she was in love with Ryan, but you didn’t say whether Ryan was in love with her.”
“Connor didn’t say.”
As they both ate, she thought about that.“I think he was in love with her too.But as to whether he acted on it, who knows?”
“I’m pretty sure he didn’t.I’d think Connor would have been pissed off if Ryan had confessed to that.And they were getting along fine after their talk.”
“It looks like I’ll have to wait until Ryan is willing to talk about it.Assuming he ever is.”
Sierra patted her hand.“Something tells me that isn’t the only problem.”
“If only.”She sighed.She needed to talk to someone, and Sierra was already a friend, with potential to become a close friend.So she bit the bullet.“I think I’m still in love with Ryan.Honestly, I never got over him.I found out that was impossible for me to do since he is the baby’s father.I tried to get over him but it just didn’t work.”
“So, what’s the problem?He seems very committed to you and Sophie.”
“He’s committed to Sophie.Me, not so much.I think he wants sex from me but I’m not sure if he wants more.”
“Are you tempted?”
Aria closed her eyes.Images of their lovemaking flooded her mind.Not the time or place, damn it.“Oh, yeah.Extremely.But I’m not sure I can keep it casual with the father of my child.”Not to mention, the man she was still in love with.
“Maybe he wants more too.”
Aria looked down to see she’d finished off her fish and chips.“Damn it, I meant to only eat half.That’s what happens when I start trying to figure out Ryan.”
“You want Ryan to be involved with Sophie, don’t you?”
“Yes, or I wouldn’t have moved here.”
“Do you want to be involved with him again?Beyond sex, I mean.”
“Yes.No.Oh, I don’t know.I guess I’m afraid of being hurt again.”
“I get that.I’m divorced from my first husband.Then, after Connor and I got involved, my ex decided he wanted me back.We’d had good times, but it was nothing as good as what Connor and I have.”
“You had a clear choice.I don’t think I do.”
“Don’t hate me for saying this, but I think you’re going to have to wait and see.Things will become clearer the longer you’re around each other again.”
