AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I sent him a flat gaze now that it was safe. “A bar? Seriously?”
He shrugged. “It’s right down the street.”
I tried not to roll my eyes. “How aboutrealfood? I saw a place on the way in, about a mile down the road.Outsidethe warehouse district. It looks like a breakfast place, but I think it’s local. Do you know it?”
He scratched his beard, which he’d trimmed up to look tame. “John makes a good hash. Not sure about their lunch. How about another place I know of? I think we both need something good, and I know their burgers’ll win your heart. Don’t worry; it’s outside the warehouse district. A couple of blocks anyway.” He winked and offered his arm.
I took it, a small smile playing on my lips. “Well, I’ll give my heart for a good burger.”
He opened the door with a flourish. “After you …”
We stepped onto the stairs – I hoped they would hold both bodies’ weight. The two guys left in the garage busied themselves as the boss appeared.
“You aren’t fooling anyone, Mac and Brice. Milking the clock as usual,” Ryan called out sternly.
“Oh, yes sir, sorry sir,” the taller one said with a more contrite tone than was necessary.
Ryan took on an exaggerated stern tone. “Watch it, stretch. Guys like you are a dime a dozen down in front of the hardware store.” He changed to a normal tone as we got onto the concrete. “Mrs. Jenson give you any more trouble about her azaleas?”
“Nah,” said the tall guy. “They’ve perked up a lot now that we got the irrigation system back in shape.”
“Good work,” Ryan told him and gave the guys a salute. “You’ll lock up when you go?”
“Will do, boss.”
Ryan headed out the door, and I followed. Apparently, he wanted to walk. I wondered if he even owned a car or if Darlene had won that in the divorce. The house and the car, though? I wasn’t sure how divorces worked but assumed it was an even split. Surely he had a car.
Luckily, it was a beautiful day. The dry heat was something I was accustomed to, but it wasn’t overbearing, and the breeze was kinder than it was in Houston. I’d thought getting my phone back would bring a lot more relief. I hadn’t intended to extend our interaction past that, but with every step we took toward the café, my heart thudded faster and harder. Something about him made me want to try again. Something about us made me wonder what kind of friendship we could have. After all, if I moved here, it would be nice to know someone.
“Do you really live here?” I asked, looking up at him. The sun kissed the angles of his face in a way that made me shiver.
“I do. Sort of. But not for much longer.”
My eyes fell back to our feet stepping in sync with each other on the cement. The ugly industrial buildings around us blocked out the sunshine until we found the street between them, the light blinding my left eye while it practically made Ryan glow.
“I’m not very good at this, Christie. Let me start by being a little honest. I know you deserve an explanation from me, an apology—or something like that—and I want to give it to you, but my life is in such turmoil right now...” He shook his head, his pace slowing. I tried to match it but found myself continuing my pace. His gait exceeded mine by practically a full person.
“You don’t have to say anything. If I’m honest, I didn’t treat you as I should have. I saw pictures of you and your son on your phone. I know with your job and everything, you probably don’t see him much. I bet you miss him a lot.”
He nodded.
“I appreciate that.” He smiled. It was a soft smile that made me want to smile back. But I still saw that sadness in his eyes, that blankness, and while I knew it wasn’t personal, it bothered me that I couldn’t do a thing about it. “I do love my boy. It’s a complicated situation, but I …”
I wasn’t ready to confess that I’d met Darlene, but with all he had going on, I didn’t see much of a way to avoid talking about anything else. Or maybe it was just at the forefront of my mind.
“It’s okay. I believe you.”
He nodded, and his eyes softened. He really was handsome, even in the confident, on-a-mission way he walked. I wanted to like him—though in what way I wasn’t sure yet—but he seemed so awkward. Was it me? Was it because of our back-and-forth with the phones?
I tried to think of something positive. “Is it always like this here?”
“Like what?”
“The weather.”
He fought back a smile. “Sorry. I should never have allowed you to resort to the weather topic.”
“If I end up moving here, I want to know what to expect.”
