This Time Around (Maybe #2)(48)

And then I want to know what the hell Sarah would possibly have to talk to Taiya about.





Chapter Twenty-Seven

Taiya

After Sarah enters, I close the door behind us. I stand in front of the door facing her, my arms crossed against my chest. “What?” I ask rudely, wanting to get this conversation over with.

She looks down at her feet, as if gathering her thoughts. “I kissed Ryan for a reason.”

I scoff. “Yeah to try and seduce him.”

“No, well, yes,” she says, cringing. “I wanted him. The way he treated you… I wanted that.”

I wait for her to continue.

“You know that my dad died…”

I nod. “Yes, I used to know everything about you. We were best friends after all.” I don’t even want to think about all the things we’d been through together, all our good memories. And there were some good memories. Also the bad memories, like when her dad died, I was there for her as best as I could be at that age. I know her mum and her didn’t always see eye to eye, and she took the death of her dad really hard.

“Shit was going on at home with my mum. I was jealous, okay? You had everything I wanted, including Ryan, so I went for it. I’m sorry.”

“Okay,” I say, dragging out the word. What does she want from me? Her being sorry doesn’t change anything; she still betrayed me, and she still was a shit friend.

I move away from the door, hoping she takes the hint and leaves. “You know if you had problems in your life, I would have been there for you no matter what.”

“I know. And I didn’t mean what I said about Ryan. There was no second kiss. I’m sorry.”

With that, she walks out of the door, and hopefully out of my life.

*****

I told Ryan about Sarah’s apology. I know he felt like shit, because he was involved too, and we were trying to move on from everything that happened. There is no room for lies or omissions in marriage, so even though it hurt to bring everything up again, I told him what she said and we spoke about it. Ryan went quiet for a few moments, then said he was sorry for everything, including being a part of me losing my best friend, then said he’s going to talk with Reid. He gave me a simple kiss, then left the apartment. I cleaned up the kitchen, trying to keep myself busy. When two am arrived and he still wasn’t home, I sent Summer a text message. She replied instantly and said Reid and Ryan were talking and playing with Reid’s PS4. I take a warm bath, sipping on a glass of red wine, trying not to get my favourite paperback wet. When the water turns cold, I get out and dry myself, then slip on my leopard-print robe. I’m about to head to bed when I hear Ryan coming home.

“Hey,” I say as he walks into our bedroom.

“Hey, sorry I was gone so long,” he says, sitting on the bed and taking off his shoes.

“Don’t worry about it,” I say. I’ve been around them enough to know that there are certain times they just need to be in each other’s company. I would never hold that against him.

I walk over to him and sit down next to him on the bed. I lay my head on his shoulder, wanting to be close to him, to touch him any way I can. “I’ll have a shower, give me a sec,” he says, kissing me on the forehead and then heading to our bathroom. I slide to the middle of the bed and get under the covers. I hear the shower turn on, and I close my eyes for a second.

*****

I grab my phone to check the time, six am. What am I doing up so early? I turn to face Ryan, who is fast asleep on his back, his blond hair partially covering one of his eyes. It should be illegal to be that gorgeous first thing in the morning. Deciding to wake him up in a way I know he will appreciate, I scoot down the bed, lifting the covers over my head. Kneeling, I bend low and find Ryan’s naked hip, placing soft kisses on it. I nibble down his thigh, grinning when I hear a moan escape his mouth. I take him into my hand and slide him into my mouth. I know he’s awake when I hear him utter a curse, followed by the blanket disappearing. His hand reaches down to push the hair out of my face.

“Fuck, I love you,” he says hoarsely, his voice husky and low. My mouth tugs into another grin, then I lick my lips and get to work.





Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ryan

“Where have you been recently? You’ve been missing in action,” I ask Sephie. She finally rang me back, and I asked if she wanted to come over for lunch.

She gives me an odd look before answering. “Just busy with work and stuff.”

“Okay, let me know if you need anything.”

“I’m not going to take your money, Ryan,” she says, puffing out a breath that makes her hair blow off her face.

“Trust me, I know. But we’re more than happy to help you with whatever you need.”

“I know. I know. I just like to do things for myself. I don’t like handouts,” she says, looking down at her jean-clad knees.

“It’s not a handout, Seph. What’s mine is yours and the same goes with Reid, so don’t even think like that. You’re not a burden. We love having you in our lives,” I tell her, hoping she understands it’s the truth.

She nods. “I know. You’ve never made me feel like I was a burden.”

“Good.”

“So what’s for lunch? I’m assuming Taiya didn’t cook.” We both laugh.