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Ryan’s pickup truck pulls into the lot and I push off of the wall and practically run towards it.
The second I close the door, Ashley turns in her seat and looks me over with concerned eyes.
“What happened, Mel?”
“I’m sorry you had come back out, Ryan. I know you guys were probably busy.”
“No, we weren’t,” he assures me, even though I know he’s probably lying for my sake. “And for what it’s worth, I fucking hate Alex. He’s not good enough for you. All he does is use women, and you’re too good for that. He’s already tried to get with both Ally and Ash when they first came here, and now you.”
“Ryan!” Ashley says in a hushed yell, hitting his arm.
“No, it’s fine. He’s just being honest.”
Leaning my head against the cool glass, I watch the night blur by me as we drive the desolate streets of Pine Cove. I’m used to lights, people, and cars everywhere back in Jersey. But here, it’s dark and quiet.
It’s peaceful.
Ashley and Ryan’s voices fade into the background, and I focus on the white line of the road as we drive, and the steady thrum of the tires beneath us.
When the crunch of gravel starts, I blink out of my daze and realize that we’re here.
“Have you been listening to me, Mel?” Ash asks when Ryan parks.
“No, sorry. But thank you for the ride, I really appreciate it.”
“Of course. Anytime, Mel.” Ryan turns his head to look at me and I give him a small smile before hopping out of the truck.
“Whoa, wait!” Ash calls through her open window.
“I really just want to eat some food and lay down, okay? No more talking.”
Sighing, she nods once, and I keep on walking.
I just can’t right now.
Chapter 9
Walking through the dark living room, I head straight for my room and replace my tight clothes with loose black and red flannel pajama pants and a black tank top. How stupid of me to worry over what to wear tonight. Like a different outfit would have changed the outcome of everything?
Washing my face next, I look at the person staring back at me as I pat my face dry. I have to remember why I’m here. I’m here for me, for a slower paced life, and for peace.
Alex is the opposite of all of that.
Sighing, I head into the kitchen and look through my newly filled freezer and decide on making a pizza.
Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I head back out to the living room and tuck myself up into the couch. I wrap a blanket around me as I search through the channels for something to watch, and settle on the Hallmark Channel.
Resting my head against the back of the couch, I let myself get lost in the unrealistic love story unfolding in front of me. But that’s why I love these movies. They’re a perfect combination of sappy and unrealistic, mixed together with a guaranteed happy ending. And while something always happens fifteen minutes before the movie ends, they always end up making up just in time for the credits. A formula they have down to a T, and yet still pulls at my heartstrings every time, without fail.
When my pizza is finally done, I sit to eat it, but a low rumble outside has my heartrate jumpstarting.
What the hell?
As the sound grows louder, I tighten the blanket around my shoulders and go to the front window. Peeking through the curtains, I see Alex coming down the driveway, and the site of him on his Harley has my body reacting immediately. Shit.
Kicking the stand out, he swings his leg over the bike, and runs a hand through his freshly windblown hair – my fingers itching to do it myself.
He looks up at the house and I let go of the curtain, immediately walking over to open the door. Whipping it open, I catch him with his hand raised as if he was about to knock, and I grip the doorknob hard to keep myself grounded.
