Callie sat down on the couch beside her. “Oh man, some guys are so gross. I’m sorry that happened. I promise Jake and Ryan are so careful to watch for any jerks that somehow get in here. Alcohol makes some men think they can get away with anything.” She paused and looked at Anna thoughtfully. “Look, Ryan didn’t say much, but he obviously cares about you. That makes you important to me and to Jake as well. So, if there is anything you need, please just ask. You’re not alone, not now that Ryan Carlisle has decided to make you part of our crazy group of friends.”
With a warm smile, Callie pulled Anna in for a brief hug before releasing her and reaching over to grab a piece of paper and a pen from the desk. “Here’s my number. I work weird hours in the ER, but just text me and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
Anna looked from the paper to Callie, dumbstruck by this act of kindness from a woman she had just met.
“Thank you, really, this is so kind. It’s been a tough couple of years, but I finally feel like things are going to be okay.” She could feel tears beginning to pool in her eyes and quickly tried to blink them away.
Callie touched her leg gently. “Anna, I think I might know what you’ve been through. I won’t pry, but I will tell you that you are completely safe with Ryan, and with me and Jake. If you ever want to talk, I’m here, or I can easily connect you with some of the domestic violence counselors we have at the hospital where I work.”
Anna’s eyes widened in shock at how perceptive Callie had been, which was quickly followed by a stab of fear. Did Ryan also know she had been in an abusive relationship? She mumbled softly in response, overcome. “Thank you, Callie. I don’t know what else to say. Just, can you not tell anyone, I wouldn’t want people to think I’m weak or a helpless victim or something.”
Callie’s voice was gentle and went a long way to soothe the shame Anna had lived with for so long. “Say no more. My lips are sealed. But if my assumption is right, you are a victim. And that doesn’t make you weak. In fact, it makes you incredibly strong because you survived, and you got out. Be proud of that okay? And remember, you don’t have to be alone anymore.”
Anna felt strength flow through her at Callie’s words. It was crazy how powerful a statement from a virtual stranger could be, but somehow Anna found herself believing every word. She was not alone anymore.
Chapter 4
Over the next week, Anna found herself settling into a comfortable routine. Her mornings were spent walking and playing with Samson, and slowly sorting through Aunt Theresa’s house. There was a lot that she planned to donate to the local thrift shop, and more things that were too far gone to be donated and would have to be taken to the dump. Her afternoons were spent at The Lucky Strike, where she was feeling more comfortable waiting on customers, but was happiest behind the bar with Ryan. There was something about having the long wooden bar top between her and everyone else that gave her a sense of security that felt foolish but couldn’t be denied.
Her friendship with Callie was also steadily growing, as Callie spent most of her free time hanging out at the bar. After so many years without female friendship, Anna cherished this time. Anna loved the story of how Callie and Jake fell in love; it amazed her how Jake and Ryan could be such strong, sexy, alpha males but also have a softer side and treated women with such respect.
As her comfort around Ryan, Jake, and Callie grew, so did her feelings of attraction to Ryan. It had been so long since a man had shown care and affection towards her, and she began to long to feel the touch of a sensual caress from a partner, or better yet a lover.
Every Tuesday, the guys closed the bar for the day. They both needed a day off to rest, relax, and do something other than sling beers and chat up customers. This week, Jake and Ryan had headed off to the gym in the morning, and Callie had come over to help Anna get the house cleaned up.
As the two women carried boxes full of items to sort through down the stairs and into the living room, the conversation turned to Ryan.
“I’ve never seen him look at someone the way he looks at you. I know you say you aren’t interested in a relationship, but you have to agree that Ryan is amazing and it’s pretty obvious you’re attracted to each other.”
Anna put her hands up, in a feeble attempt to deflect the conversation away from her growing attraction to Ryan. “I know he’s a great guy, I’m just not ready. No matter how amazing Ryan is. If my ex ever found me…” She trailed off. By now, she had accepted that Callie knew she had been in a toxic relationship.
“Anna, I don’t want to pry, but haven’t you realized by now that all we want to do is be there for you? Maybe the guys and I can help keep you away from your ex, but you have to let us.”
Anna sighed. She knew Callie was coming from a place of caring, but she couldn’t bring herself to confess the truth about Tim. She was so scared that if her new friends found out how stupid she had been, falling into an abusive relationship with such a powerfully evil man, they would look at her differently, judge her, not want her around anymore.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you as a friend. I know you want to help, but there are things I just can’t talk about yet.” Anna grabbed the nearest box of things she had carted downstairs, and started rifling through it, desperate to change the subject. “So, are we ready to start digging through this stuff?”
Callie looked at Anna for a moment before seeming to accept that the conversation was over for now.
“You’re right, there’s a lot to do. I think we need some help.” Callie raised her eyebrows. “Why don’t you text Ryan? With the bar closed today, I’m sure he and Jake could help after their workout. Let’s get some eye candy over here, the boys can flex their muscles and we can sit back and watch.”
Laughing, Anna rolled her eyes at Callie’s idea. But inside she shivered as the vision of Ryan shirtless and sweaty danced in her head.
“Okay, I’ll text him.”
* * *
Over at the gym, Jake and Ryan were in the boxing ring sparring, to release some pent-up energy. Ryan was so distracted by thoughts of Anna that Jake was able to land a sucker punch that knocked him flat on his back. Groaning on the floor, he opened his eyes to see his best friend standing over top of him, with his hand stretched out ready to help him get up on his feet. Walking over to get some water, Jake followed and looked at Ryan closely.
“What is it about this woman that has you so tied up, man? In all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you get close enough to someone to care like this.”
The words stung, mostly because he was right. As best friends, Jake was all too familiar with Ryan’s playboy past, and knew the reason behind it thanks to a drunken confession one night in college. He didn’t agree with Ryan’s opinion and had tried to tell him many times that he was nothing like his dad, but Ryan had always refused to take the chance that he was. So how could he possibly explain that he had no idea what was different about Anna, or why he was so focused on her. He knew it made no sense, but somehow over the last couple of weeks her happiness had become his priority. He couldn’t stop thinking of her and was taking more cold showers trying to calm his desires than he had since he was a horny teenager.
“I don’t know, I can’t explain it. Look, I didn’t give you a hard time when you fell for Callie faster than a ton of bricks, so just back off okay? I like Anna. It doesn’t make sense to me, but I do.” Ryan could hear the protective tone in his voice but didn’t care. Anna brought that out in him.
Jake raised his hands in defense. “Okay, dude, I’m not trying to be an ass. It’s just weird watching you fawn all over her. But if she is the one who can tame the beast, then that’s cool with me. Callie loves her, she’s a hard worker at the bar, and you’re happy. It’s all good.”
Ryan nodded and didn’t say anything else. Taming the beast, yeah that was pretty much what was happening. So, when he got Anna’s text, asking if he and Jake could help her and Callie to move some furniture and boxes in the house that afternoon, there was no hesitation. If helping Anna led to sweaty, shirtless work, well, maybe that would be enough of an enticement for Anna to let him move their friendship a little closer to something more.
