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“What does Ryan think about the return of Ferguson?”
“He’s jealous for absolutely no reason. Can you believe he was actually upset I didn’t tell him Ferguson had called me?”
Megan let out a snort-laugh. “No reason? You had this man’s baby. You loved him enough to contemplate leaving the country for him. It’s not no reason, Persy.”
“That was a lifetime ago,” I said dismissively, because that’s what it felt like to me. As if an entire lifetime had passed since Ferguson was in my life. “The moment he decided to leave, it was over. When he gave up his rights to Titus for a woman he just met, any love I had left over for him died that day.” But none of that mattered to Ryan. “Ryan’s been keeping his distance,” I admitted.
“Protecting himself in case you decide to go back to Ferguson.”
I gasped. “I would never!”
“I know that, but I’m not in love with you. He’s a man and your best friend who you tell everything to, but you didn’t tell him that your ex had been calling, not until he showed up.”
Shit. She was right. “I need to talk to Ryan.”
“You do,” she agreed. “But not until I demolish this burger and possibly half of yours.”
Forty minutes later I was in my car, driving faster than necessary on the small town streets, eager to get to Ryan. I needed to explain everything to him, to make him understand. I walked with determined steps inside Ryan’s shop, only to find he wasn’t there. “Where is he?”
Clyde shrugged. “At home, I guess.”
“Thanks,” I groaned and retraced my steps back to the car before I drove like a bat out of hell, the few blocks that separated the shop and our side-by-side homes. The lights were off, but the muffled sounds of a television told me he was home. I knocked and rang the bell, on and off until Ryan opened the door.
He towered over me, his expression blank, his feet bare. His jeans hung low on his hips and the t-shirt he wore was so thin I could see the color of his nipples through it. “What’s up Persy?”
“We need to talk.” I pushed forward until he backed up and stepped inside the dark house. “Are you sick or something?”
“Nope, just taking a day for myself. You know, what self-care people are always going on and on about.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
Ryan let out a bitter laugh. “That’s rich coming from you.”
“I never lied to you, Ryan.” I had nothing to lie about, and he was the one person I was always honest with, probably more than I was honest with myself.
“Okay, you didn’t lie,” he conceded and shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “But you didn’t tell me everything. Why?”
“I already told you that I didn’t think it was important enough to mention.”
Disbelief was written all over his face. “Right. Are you considering going back to him?”
I frowned at the question. “That’s not even a possibility, Ryan. Not at all. He’s here for Titus, not me.”
“And if he was here for you too?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want him, Ryan. I thought that was clear by where I was spending my nights until you started pulling away.”
“It’s clear you enjoy spending time with me, sleeping with me, but that’s it.” He shook his head. “I’m just trying to figure out where I fit in all this.”
“Ferguson has nothing to do with you and me, Ryan. But he’s curious about Titus and Titus is curious about his father, so I have to at least consider this.”
“No you don’t, Persephone. He gave him up, signed the papers and everything.”
“I know that, Ryan. But I have to think about this, sincerely, for the sake of Titus.” His aloof expression worried me, and I took his hand in mine. “I promise that I will get to the bottom of the real reason Ferguson has shown his face in Jackson’s Ridge, but I need you to know that it changes nothing between you and me. Nothing at all.”
“I want to believe you, Persephone.”
“Then do. Choose to believe me because I’ve never lied to you before and I would never do anything to hurt you. He isn’t worth losing you, Ryan.” That was the absolute truth.
“Okay.”
“You believe me?”
He nodded. “I do. But I don’t trust him, not as far as I can throw him.”
I smiled at his jealous words. “If you don’t let him change things between us, he won’t.” Then, because I could, or maybe it was because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to for much longer, I fitted my mouth to his, savoring the taste of coffee on his lips, the hint of chocolate from the stash of candy he kept hidden in his bottom drawer. He held me close, big hands grasping my ass and pulling me close while I devoured his mouth.
