AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As we pulled into a diner across from the gym, I could not help but look over to see if Ryan’s truck was in the lot. I was not surprised when I saw it in the same spot he parked in when we were teenagers. I had to laugh to myself that Ryan is a creature of habit I can guarantee he still wakes up most mornings and goes for a five-mile run.
When Ryan stayed with us, I would set my alarm every morning and sneak downstairs and wait for him. He would come down in his shorts, tank, socks, and sneakers in hand and say the same thing to me every time.
“Why are you up so early, little Kenna.” That was the big joke in our house—my height.
I was surrounded by tall men from Daddy to my brothers to Ryan.
“Come on, let’s eat,” Conor said, knocking me out of my Ryan dream.
We spent the lunch, mostly in silence, but with a few childhood stories all including of course Ryan. My mind kept wondering to last night.
I swear I saw the hunger in Ryan’s eyes. I could have sworn he wanted me as much as I wanted him.
Turning to look out the window of the diner, I caught Finn and Ryan walking across the street straight toward the diner.
“Oh, fuck,” I said to myself.
Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck.
I must have been making a face because Conor asked, “What’s wrong?”
Before I could answer the bell above the diner door jingled and then at that moment everything stopped. His eyes met mine and I swear I was about to have a panic attack. My mouth went dry, and my hands got sweaty as I was trying to calm my breathing. Thank god, Connor had turned around and wasn’t looking at me. But Ryan, he was looking at me. His eyes stayed directly on mine.
Don’t pass out. Don’t fucking pass out,I chanted in my mind.
“Micky, are you okay?” Finn asked when he reached the table.
“Uh-huh. Um, yeah. I’m good,” I said trying to be believable.
Finn slid onto the same side as Conor while Ryan continued to look at me. “Kenna, can you slide down?”
Oh god. Oh, my god. He’s going to sit beside me.
I slid over and continued the little‘Oh god. Oh, my god’chant in my mind.
The booth seat groaned with his weight, and his knee hit mine. Instead of moving, he kept it there, leaning against mine.
Yup. I’m gonna pass out.I just knew it.There is no possible way I’m gonna make it through this lunch without passing out.
“So, what’s new?” Finn asked.
I froze in place.Oh, my god. Not here. Not now. Of course, as with everything else in my life, the bomb was about to not only drop, but implode, crash, and burn.
12
RYAN
I knew Kenna would be there—knew they were going to tell her—and I knew she would freak when she found out. I wasn’t about to let her learn the news alone.
When Finn had told me that he was running across the street to have lunch with Conor and Kenna, I jumped out of the octagon, unwrapped my hands, then ran to catch up.
“I’m starving. I’ll join you,” I said.
Finn just gave me an eye roll. “Yeah. Sure, okay.”
He didn’t have to tell me what was going to happen because I already knew.
What I wasn’t expecting was my reaction when I entered the diner.
