“It’ll be okay between Ryan and me. He’s just really pissed. I hope he comes around with you. I didn’t want to break up your friendship.”
“You didn’t. We both knew what we were doing, and we wanted it. I don’t have any regrets except that we didn’t handle it right from the get-go. But that’s in the past and we can’t change it. I hope you’re strong enough to see this through.”
She squeezed him hard. “Of course I am. I’m not leaving you. I’ve wanted you my whole life, and I’m not walking away from that. Finding a person who fits with you, gets you, loves you, and a million other things is rare. We were meant to be together.”
“Then let’s do it. You should spend some time with Ryan. I’ll hang at the clubhouse for a few days. You need to be good with him before he goes back to Afghanistan.”
She nodded and glanced down at her phone. “I got a text. I didn’t hear it.” She read the message and grimaced.
“Who’s it from?”
“My aunt Patty. She sent it twenty minutes before Ryan came, telling me Ryan’s in town and wanted to surprise me.”
“He fuckin’ did that,” Goldie said.
“No shit. She wanted to give me a heads-up in case you were with me.”
“Would’ve helped if we hadn’t slept through the text.”
“Yeah. I guess it was just meant to be. I’m going to see my aunt. I want to find out where Ryan’s staying. I’m sure he was expecting to stay here.”
“Let him. We can meet somewhere else.”
Hailey smiled. “You’re the best. Are you going back to the rally?”
He nodded. “I’ll text you later. If you need something, let me know.”
“I love you, Goldie.”
“And I fuckin’ love you, Hailey.” They kissed, then went upstairs to get ready for the day.
As Goldie rode to the rally, his gut was all twisted in knots. He and Ryan had been friends for almost twenty-five years. The man was like a brother to him, and when Ryan told him their friendship was over, it had stabbed him in the gut. He acted cool about it because of Hailey, but he hoped that once Ryan cooled off and saw that he was sincere with Hailey, his anger would dissipate. If it didn’t, then it was over. But one thing he was certain of: he’d never leave Hailey.
She was his heart, his blood, his bones. She was his life.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The flower shopwas bustling with people when Hailey rushed in with an iced chai in one hand and a bag of ribbons in the other. Her hectic life hadn’t let up for one moment, even with Ryan back in Afghanistan. He’d been in the States for a ten-day leave, and she was happy that they had mended things before he left. Of course, he hadn’t come around all of a sudden and embraced her and Goldie’s relationship—that was the stuff of romance movies. Basically they just ignored the whole thing. She went along with it because his time at home was too short, and if something happened to him overseas, she’d die from guilt and grief.
Unfortunately, he didn’t reach out to Goldie, and even though Goldie told her it was the way life went, she knew he was hurt by the loss of the friendship. The only hope she had was that, in time, Ryan would see what a wonderful boyfriend Goldie was and that he’d changed. Only time would tell.
“Hailey, I’m glad you’re here. We’re slammed. And we’re out of the rose-patterned tea cups. Some lady wants six dozen for a charity luncheon she’s chairing.”
“Okay. Did you write all of that down, because I probably won’t remember that by the end of the day.”
“Yes. Is your brother still in town?”
“He left a few days ago. I miss him already. He said he’s going to take the rest of his leave at Christmas. I hope it works out. The last few years it’s been canceled.”
As Hailey waited on customers, Sheriff Wexler walked in. He smiled and nodded at her and she waved at him.
“Carol, can you finish with this customer, please?” Hailey asked as she made her way over to the lawman. “What brings you into the shop?”
“I need some flowers for a dinner party,” he replied.
“Is it a formal or informal dinner party?”
“Actually it’s just me and this lady friend of mine. I wanted to bring a nice arrangement to her.” Wexler gave a half smile.
