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“Media circus?” I questioned, standing to take Bella from Ryan, but she wouldn’t budge.
Ryan squeezed into the small space behind the door. “Seems like a few people recognized me.”
Shit.
He was trending in three top films this week; of course people would recognize him.
“Well, we’re almost finished up here,” Dr. Nolan said before wrapping up the Xray conversation. “He’ll need a cast. It’s a hairline break, and this one is a temporary cast. I’ll have you call the local orthopedist to get the official one set up.” He stood, smiling at us all, and exited the room.
“Bex, I don’t know if they’re still out there or not. I didn’t think anyone would recognize me here.” Ryan’s aqua eyes pleaded with me to understand.
It wasn’t his fault; there was no reason to be angry with him.
“It’s okay. I don’t blame you for it,” I said softly.
Dammit, it was about time I introduced the kids to Ryan, the man they’d been riding around with for the past hour.
“Baby Bell, can you turn and look at me real quick?” I asked, stepping up to rub her back. She still wouldn’t leave Ryan’s chest. “Bella.”
Nothing.
Ryan smiled, stifling a laugh.
“Well, all I wanted to say was that Ryan is my good friend from college. He’s here visiting the area from…” I looked up, not sure what to say. I had no idea where he lived.
“Portland,” Ryan finished for me.
“Our dad lives there!” Cole replied excitedly.
The tic in Ryan’s jaw was almost impossible to catch, but it was the same tic he’d gotten when one of my old boyfriends would talk to me in college, or when someone would hit on me.
“Anyway, I know everything was rushed before with the bike accident, but I wanted you to know who he is.”
“Is he your pwince?” Bella finally detached from Ryan.
“Uh…Bella, were you crying?” I asked, hoping to the sweet Lord above that I was successful in changing the subject.
“I think the photographers scared her,” Ryan suggested while rubbing her back in soothing strokes.
My heart felt like it was melting like a popsicle at the end of August.
“Speaking of which, um…do you need to go? We understand if you do, but we should probably call Shay, or an Uber to get us home.”
“I can take you,” Ryan said, holding on to my daughter more firmly than before, “but maybe we could use a back exit or something.”
* * *
Hospital security had clearedthe hallway for us and walked us to the parking lot. Ryan had asked if I had any sunglasses for Cole or myself, to hide our identities. It caught me off guard…I didn’t have anything for Cole that would fit his face, so Ryan gave him his ball cap. It was too big, but it worked to hide his face. Bella’s face was still shoved into his shoulder, and I had a pair of oversized sunglasses I wore.
There was a big group of people, much like at the sports center that first day. They were all shouting questions about filming, asking for photos and asking where Henna was.
The Henna questions made my gut sink. In fact, the entire situation made me feel like we were imposters, little kids playing dress-up. I might have had a claim on Ryan Prince at one point, but he belonged to the world now, and to women like Henna.
I was in a sour mood on the way home. I hated that I was allowing the reality of his life to affect me so much, but my stupid shore-living heart started piecing together the image of the four of us in that little exam room and wove this picture…one that looked a lot like a future.
It was stupid.
Ryan was just visiting, and there I was already latching onto the idea of him staying and wanting to settle down with a single mom of two.Not likely.
