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“Ryan,” Sarah Jo said, getting to her feet, not touching her soup.
“No, don’t get up on my account. I came to make a toast. To my little sister and my former best friend,” he said. “I hope you two assholes are happy together.”
“Ryan, stop it!” Sarah Jo said. “Why did you come here? Just to be mean? Upset everyone? You won’t be happy until you’ve made everyone as miserable as you are, Ryan. I feel sorry for you. And I want you to leave.”
I could hardly see straight. The entire room turned red for me, and all I wanted was to pound Ryan into the ground until he learned to keep his damn mouth shut. Blood throbbed in my head and behind my eyes, my fists clenched tight at my sides. With a massive effort, I tamed my fury enough to get a hold of Ryan by the arm. I dragged him to the door. I didn’t march him or get him to come with me, I just dragged him, his feet trailing a little behind us.
“Look, you’re like a brother to me or I never would’ve put up with your bullshit this long. Now, I’m giving you one more chance than you deserve here, Ryan. You can either go apologize to Sarah Jo for being an unforgivable asshole, or you can get the hell out,” I said through gritted teeth.
Before he could answer, my pager buzzed.
There was a fire over in Pendleton, and they needed backup. I wasn’t on call, but it was a big one and they needed all the help they could get. I threw a look at Sarah Jo, conflict and desperation.
“I know you have to go,” she said, holding my arm. She pulled me down for a kiss, quick and urgent.
“Want me to get rid of Ryan first? Or tell everyone to go home?”
“No. I got this. You be careful. I can’t live without my All American,” she said, her voice low and gruff, betraying the emotion behind her words.
I caught her in my arms and held her. I knew I had to go. I just had to steal one more minute with Sarah Jo first.
25
Sarah Jo
I didn’t care that Ryan ruined the dinner. At least I didn’t care very much. Not when I had to tell Luke goodbye as he went off to fight a fire. As my man, as my lover answered an emergency call. The emotional fallout, the needless drama of what should’ve been a lovely evening, was just pointless. I watched him walk out the back door, saw his haste as he shrugged out of his jacket and loosened his tie. I would not have been surprised at that moment to see him shed his button-down to reveal a superhero costume and take off to rescue the helpless and needy. He was a hero to me, so brave in the face of obvious danger. I longed for him, had the sudden stupid urge to go after him and beg him to stay, to stop risking himself, to take me home and stay the night. But I had to let him go. This was who Luke was, who he’d always been. A protector, a guardian. I bit my lip and turned to the company at the table. Ryan was over at the bar, pouring himself something that wasn’t about to make things any better, but I couldn’t worry about him right then. I had parents to deal with.
“Look, I appreciate y’all being here tonight. I need to set some things straight. This isn’t the slapdash engagement party before a shotgun wedding. This was Luke’s attempt to bring our families together, to make things right for us. Because we’ve been in love for a while now, and we were hiding it because we didn’t want to upset anybody.”
I stood at the head of the table like I was the waiter explaining we were out of the evening’s special. My hands were folded and my shoulders back. If Luke had the courage to assemble this crowd, I was brave enough to set the record straight for us both.
“Mr. and Mrs. Maddox, you’ve always been kind to me, and I’m happy to say that an evening here with friends a few months ago was what brought your son back into my life. I reckon I’ve always had a crush on him. Who wouldn’t? I mean, he’s the ultimate good guy. Strong and protective, the high school star athlete who stays close to home, fights fires to save people, helps his parents out, loves his mama. There’s never been a better man as far as I’m concerned. We fell in love before we were really old enough to know what it meant. Life has brought me back to this town, and here was this man I never dreamed I could meet the likes of—just waiting for me. I’m not sixteen anymore, and I’m not the same fool who gave him up without a fight. We love you, all of you, and we want your blessing on us to be together, but if you can’t see your way clear to give it… well, pardon my French, but that’s too damn bad. Because I love that man who just walked out of here to risk his life for complete strangers. Right now, my stomach’s in a big knot and inside I’m just praying he comes home tonight. Because I mean to be there when he does. Now thank you for coming here, we’ll have to finish up another time. Good night,” I said.
