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I let out a breath. “How did you know about that?”
Ryan shrugged. “I saw the takeout containers, and I was curious.”
“You watched the tapes?” We had cameras installed when there was a rash of burglaries at the other stores and restaurants in the area.
Ryan crossed his arms over his chest. “Wanted to make sure it wasn’t Corey getting into trouble again.”
“Good thing I wasn’t looking at the tapes when you were first messing around with Hailey.” The words were out before I could stop them.
Ryan visibly blanched at my words.
My eyes narrowed on him as my heart started to race. “Did you fuck my sister in this garage?” Suddenly sick to my stomach, I held up my hand. “Don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.”
Feeling light-headed, I dropped my head into my hands. I couldn’t believe he’d put that picture into my head.
By the time I lifted my head, Ryan was halfway to the door.
“Please don’t mess around with my sister here.” I would have thought they were past that stage in their relationship. They shared a home now, and they weren’t sneaking around, hoping I wouldn’t find out about their relationship.
He turned slowly, his expression filled with regret. “I won’t check the feed anymore unless there’s a break-in.”
“I think that’s wise. Not that you’ll find anything. I don’t fuck around at work.” The words rang hollow in the cluttered space.
Ryan smiled slowly. “Famous last words.”
I hated how smug he sounded. Like he was an expert on relationships. Like he knew I’d never be able to resist Lily. I was stronger than that.
I’d stopped dating the good girls in high school when I realized I was just a ride on the wild side for them. A diversion from whatever strict upbringing or straitlaced parents they were escaping. They didn’t really want me. The guy who’d been abandoned by his mother. The one who was overprotective of his little sister and grandmother.
They wanted the motorcycle-riding troublemaker everyone assumed I was. It was easy to meet those expectations. But I’d come a long way from that guy.
A vision of Hailey and Ryan at the garage after-hours popped into my head.
Fuck. I didn’t need the visual of Ryan screwing around with my sister. Was it in the office or on the waiting room couch? I dropped my head back to stare at the ceiling. I’d never look at the couch the same way again.
It was too bad we’d already renovated the waiting room because I was itching to do it again. To clear any visions of those two together in my space.
I squeezed my eyes together tightly until my breathing had slowed and I wasn’t angry. When I calmed, I could see that Lily had done the right thing. She’d done what I hadn’t been able to do. She’d clearly placed a wall between us. Nothing could or would happen. She was too good for a guy like me.
No matter how much it hurt, I’d let it go. I had nothing to offer her except for something physical. She was right. I didn’t do relationships. Especially with women like her.
Before my mind went further down the negative spiral, I stood and headed back to the car I’d been working on all day. I’d get lost in my work and forget about Lily.
It was easier said than done, with her eyes taking up space in my head. When I emerged hours later, hungry and muscles tight from holding myself in awkward positions for so long, I wondered if Lily’s head was as messed up as mine was.
She occupied so many thoughts and desires running through my head. What if we gave in to our physical desires and enjoyed ourselves? Was there anything wrong with that? She didn’t expect me to be the good guy.
Ten
LILY
“Do you like Lily?”
“Fuck no.”
Each time the exchange ran through my mind, I cringed a little more. It hurt more than I cared to admit. His words shouldn’t have surprised me. He’d been prickly every time we ran into each other.
The resulting pain caused a physical ache in my chest, making it impossible to draw in a deep breath. I felt lightheaded. Almost sick to my stomach. I should be used to rejection with the way my parents treated me, but I wasn’t.
