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“Ah, finally you’re here. Come, I made the English custard again.” Maggie smiles fondly at Zach. “It’s Master Zach’s favorite.”
English custard.
I smile slightly at both of them before turning back to Zach. He’s sitting there rigid, his jaw clenched in that angry, mean way of his.
What does he have to be angry about? I’m the one who’s feeling betrayed.
“It’s okay,” I say, keeping my eyes on him. “If it’s… Mr. Prince’s favorite, then he should have all of it.”
With that, I spin around and get out of there.
I’m in such a hurry that I bump into someone at the end of the hallway. It’s Ryan.
He steadies me with his hands on my shoulders. “You okay?”
His gentle voice makes me want to cry but I hold on. “Yeah. Sorry. I should stop doing that to you.”
Chuckling, he says, “I don’t mind.”
“How are you?” I ask, studying his handsome face.
He has always made me feel safe. Always.
And now that I look at him, I realize that maybe I wasn’t made for safe. Safe does nothing for me. I wasn’t made to be handled with gentle fingers and soft touches.
Maybe I was made for rough strokes, pulling hands and harsh stares.
“Good. You?” He frowns. “Is everything okay?”
I nod. “Uh-huh. I’m just, you know? Rough day.”
“It hasn’t even started yet.”
I chuckle sadly. “I know. It’s just going to be one of those days.”
Nodding, he begins, “Listen, I, uh, wanted to tell you. I guess you already know though, since Tina’s your friend and –”
I thrust up my hand to make him stop. “It’s okay. I know. Tina told me you guys are going out Saturday and that’s awesome. Really.”
Tina took my advice and asked Ryan out on a date. I think he was shocked. She said he didn’t say anything for about ten seconds as he kept staring at her.
I bet it was because he was staring at her with new eyes.
“You sure? I feel like such a, I don’t know, a player or something.”
I laugh loudly at that and bump my shoulder against his chest. “You are not a player. Not at all. You’re one of the most decent guys I know, Ryan. In fact, you’re the most decent guy I know. So no, I don’t think that at all. I just hope you guys have a good time.”
He smiles; grins, actually. “Okay.”
I can see it in his eyes that he’s really looking forward to it. As much as Tina.
“Okay.” I nod and step back from his embrace.
Ryan bends down and kisses me on the forehead. It’s a brotherly kiss. I can’t believe we ever wanted to go out. Maybe that’s why we kept putting it off, subconsciously. Our being busy and not finding the time might have been a sign in the first place.
Just as he leaves, I feel a prickling sensation in the back of my neck.
I know who it is before I even turn around.
