"Asher has lost his fucking mind," Ryan says, but there's something underneath the anger now. "How are you here and he isn't four steps behind you crying like a bitch and begging for forgiveness?"
I bark out a harsh laugh. “Because he set me up, Ryan. He isn’t sorry, He’s smug.”
"In fact, when it was over, they invited me to get ice cream with them. Like we're one big happy family." I laugh again, but it sounds bitter. "I made an excuse and left. I couldn't be around them for another second."
He looks damn near apoplectic. "Devon's playing him."
"Oh, I know that," I say. "But he doesn't see it. Or he doesn't want to see it.”
"She's good at it," Ryan says. His voice is flat, almost cold. "I've seen her do it. The way she looks at him. The way she positions herself. She knowsexactlywhat she's doing."
“Do you really think so?”
"Abso-fucking-lutely." Ryan's expression hardens. "I don't trust her. Never have. There's something off about her."
It's a relief to hear Asher’s best friend say it. To know I'm not imagining things. "Asher thinks I'm being cruel," I say quietly. "He thinks I don't understand what she's been through.”
"That’s bullshit. You're not being cruel. You’ve been a fucking saint through all of this. He’s made this problem. Not you.” Ryan steps closer, his voice softening.
"Look, Julie. I'll always be there for you. You know that, right? Anytime you need me."
I nod, my throat tight.
“You don’t deserve any of this. Asher needs to get his shit together," Ryan continues. "He's dealing with a lot right now. His dad, the business, Devon. He's overwhelmed. But there’s no excuse for what he just did to you. It’s abusive. Full fucking stop.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “He doesn’t love me anymore,” I admit, my voice cracking.
“Everything you’ve told me today, I get thinking that. But I can’t believe it,” Ryan says. “He married you after a lifetime of telling people he wouldn’t get married. Somewhere in there is the man you fell in love with. He has to be there.”
If he were anyone other than Asher’s best friend, I’d tell him my truth. That after today, I don’t even care because I no longer have it in me to love Asher. I’m done. Living like this has been hell. It can’t continue.
"Thanks," I say. "For letting me come over. For listening."
"Anytime." Ryan smiles, and it's warm, but concerned. Genuine. "You want to stay for a while? We can watch something terrible and make fun of it."
I laugh, and it feels good. Real. "Yeah. That sounds perfect."
We move into the living room, and Ryan pulls up some ridiculous reality show on his TV. I curl up on one end of the couch, and he sits on the other, and for the first time all day, I feel like I can breathe.
His phone buzzes on the coffee table. The screen lights up with a name:Katherine.
I sit up a little. "Oh—do you need to get that? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep you if you have a date or something."
Ryan glances at the phone, then dismisses the call without picking it up. "I'm not seeing anyone right now."
"Oh." I try to smile. "Well, I'm sure it won't be long until someone else comes along. You always have someone."
He looks at me like I just spoke a different language. "What?"
"You know." I shrug, trying to keep it light. "Your date parade. Asher's always joking about it. He says you cycle through women like—I don't know, like they're a hobby or something. He always tells me not to get attached to whoever you bring around because the next time we see you, it'll be someone new."
Ryan's face goes completely still. "Wait. What did Asher tell you?" His voice is quiet. Careful.
"Just that." I shift on the couch, suddenly uncomfortable. "That you date a lot. That you're not really the relationship type. He says that's why you always bring a different woman to dinner. Because you like variety."
Ryan doesn't move. He's staring at me like I just told him the sky is green. "Julie." His voice is low. Controlled. "That's not what happens at all.”
"What do you mean?"
