Maybe This Time (Maybe #1)(46)

“What are you doing here?” Ryan growls from behind me.

“I need to talk to Reid,” she says in a stern tone.

“Reid’s moved on, doc, you needa let him go,” Ryan says, nothing gentle in his tone. I should have known she'd show up here at some point, because that’s just how lucky I am. Ryan walks around her, his hand on my wrist, pulling me closer. While he unlocks the door, my gaze can’t help but be glued to Reid’s past, I never got a good look at her the first time around. She’s a lot older than me, that much I can tell. She must be in her thirties, so older than Reid, too. Ryan shuffles me into the house, hesitating with his hand on the door. She’s still standing there, and Ryan clearly doesn’t want to just shut the door in her face. He looks at me and shrugs his shoulder.

“We can’t just leave her standing there,” I whisper.

Ryan looks at me quizzically. “You’re a one of a kind woman, babe.”

“Why?”

“Other women would throw her down the stairs then slam the door shut in her face.”

“Great, now I’m thinking about it.”

Ryan gives me a belly laugh. We’re both saved from making any decisions about letting her in when we hear Reid’s deep voice.

“What the f*ck are you doing here?” he growls, and I cringe, because his tone is downright hostile.

“I wanted to talk to you,” she says, sounding a little unsure. Ryan and I share a glance before we shuffle against the wall so no one can see us standing here listening. We're terrible, I know, but I could care less right now. Reid isn’t much of a sharer of information.

“We have nothing to talk about, I told you the other night.”

“Reid, I want you back.”

Reid sighs, like he’s put out. “And I told you that isn’t gonna happen. I love my woman, nothing’s gonna change that.”

Wait, what? He loves me? I glance at Ryan, wide eyed, who is smiling his megawatt smile.

“You love her?” she says, her voice breaking.

“Yeah, I do.”

“That young girl? Is she even legal?” I open my mouth, but Ryan pinches me, reminding me where we are.

“For f*ck's sake, Mia. You needa go. I’m sorry, but don’t come back. I don’t need you ruining what I have, it’s good.”

“What does she have that I don’t? We were amazing together in bed, f*cking wild, so it can’t be that.”

And I’m back to thinking about pushing her down the stairs.

“We’re done, Mia. Please go home, alright?” he says, his voice softening a little. I hear her heels clicking away. Ryan grabs my arm to pull me away from the door, but then we hear Reid speak.

“Enjoy the show?” he says. Luckily he sounds amused, not angry. He walks in and wraps me in his arms, placing his face in the crook of my neck and shoulder.

“Missed you today, beauty,” he says, reigning kisses on my neck. He pulls back and kisses me gently on the mouth.

“Did you miss me?” Ryan asks, grinning.

“No,” Reid answers playfully. “You two are trouble together, I swear,” he says, shaking his head at us.

Ryan takes the plastic bag filled with food and puts it on the table. “Brought you dinner.”

“Thanks, bro.”

“Thank your girl,” Ryan answers mischievously.

“I plan to,” he says, fusing his lips to mine.

“Get a room!” Ryan calls out, heading into his own room.

“Ryan, don’t come out of your room,” Reid tells him and walks me backwards to the couch.

I hear Ryan say, “Kinky bastards.”

“Wait, what are you doing?” I ask, sounding panicked. Reid smiles and sits me down. He removes my black flats, and then pulls off my jeans.

“I needa taste you, now,” he says, the urgency evident in his breathy tone.

“Reid-” He kisses me, halting any objections. Taking my jeans and panties off, he kisses me until I’m breathless. Oxygen is trivial, all I need is his kisses to survive. When he pulls away to kiss down my neck, I’m panting. With no warning, Reid lowers his head and attaches his mouth to my centre, his tongue darting inside.

I scream, not even caring that Ryan can hear.





Chapter Sixteen


“Is it true?” I demand.

“Is what true?”

“Are you not dating anyone because of me?” I ask, frowning.

“After what happened with Tina…” he trails off.

“Cos Tina was a bitch, you decided not to date anyone else?”

“Not for a while, I just wanted to make you my primary focus,” he says softly. I love my dad.

“You don’t needa put your life on hold, dad,” I tell him, hating that he’s doing this because of me.

He chuckles. “It’s not some big sacrifice, baby girl.”

“Okay, but you don’t needa worry about me. And yes, Tina was a bitch, but I was selfish too. I shouldn’t have been happy you dumped her. Did you love her?” I ask, suddenly feeling guilty.

When dad bursts out laughing, I know that no, he didn’t love her. “You’re too cute, Summer.”

“Okay, but we’re good, dad, yeah?” I say, letting my eyes convey what he needs to know. We’re solid. I’m not gonna push him away, the past is in the past, and I’m not gonna be throwing any old demons in his face.