Page 111 of The Jealous Girl

‘She’s a distraction,’ Denise said coldly. ‘We nearly lost your dad while you were chasing after her.’

Ryan’s jaw tightened. ‘That’s not fair.’

‘Was it fair your dad had a heart attack at forty-eight? That the man who’s done everything for this family for his whole life almost died and his own son wasn’t even here? Maybe if you had been, it might never have happened.’

Ryan gasped. ‘How can you say that?’

‘If it hadn’t been for her, you’d have come home more during the holidays. You’d have moved back as soon as you finished uni. You’d have been here where you were needed. With your dad.’

‘Kirsty didn’t stop me from coming home.’

‘She certainly didn’t encourage it, though, did she? Not that that’s surprising.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘She said it herself, she’s not close to her own family,’ Denise said.

‘What does that have to do with anything?’ Ryan demanded.

‘You’re all she has, of course she’s desperate to keep you to herself.’

‘That’s ridiculous.’

‘Is it?’

‘I’m doing my best to keep everyone happy,’ Ryan said, drawing me back to the present.

‘I know, but—’ I clamped my mouth shut.

‘What?’

‘Sometimes it feels like you’re so focused on looking after the stables and your family that it doesn’t leave much room for us.’

Ryan’s body stiffened.

‘We said we’d go to the registry office when we got back from Malta,’ I said, shuffling closer to him. ‘To start the process so we can get married.’

He didn’t meet my eyes.

‘We could do that tomorrow.’

‘It’s not like we need to rush it,’ he said quietly. ‘We have enough going on right now.’

‘But if we were married, then⁠—’

‘Then what?’

I shrugged. ‘Then your mum would have to accept that I’m part of your life. And so would Charlotte.’

Ryan rolled his eyes. ‘I’m not marrying you to prove something to everyone else.’

‘But it would finally just be us,’ I said, aware of the desperation in my voice but unable to stop it. ‘That’s what we wanted, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, but⁠—’

‘But?’

‘Let’s just give it some time.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘See if we’re compatible.’