Let Me Be the One (The Sullivans #6)(34)

Vicki was suddenly hit with a memory of the first time she’d met her ex-husband. She’d been with a group of nearly graduated art-school students out touring a few studios. Anthony had taken one look at her and claimed her. First, by insisting she work out of his studio. Second, and far worse, by slowly but surely convincing her she was far better at making statues of people and animals rather than the more nature-inspired sculptures she’d been interested in creating up until then.

At the time, it hadn’t occurred to her that he’d been abusing his power. But hadn’t he? Especially since she’d been so young and so inexperienced that he’d seemed like an all-knowing god of a world she so longed to be a part of?

“I agree,” Chase said. “Chloe had some trouble with her ex-husband and I would have done anything to protect her. She ended up spearing him with a pair of scissors, which took him down pretty damn well, but I’d hate for your situation to come to that.”

Gabe nodded. “Dispatch calls in with too many incidents that start out the way you’re describing. Sounds like you trusted your instincts and were smart to call Ryan in before anything could escalate.”

“Besides, we love having family secrets like this,” Lori said with a small grin. “And who knows, maybe you two will be inspired to actually get together for real by the time you get the fellowship.”

Not knowing what to say to that absolutely mortifying bit of pressure Lori had just put on Ryan to throw her a dating bone, Vicki said, “Excuse me,” and bolted for the bathroom.

* * *

“Jesus, Lori, could you have made her feel any more uncomfortable?”

“Sorry,” Lori said, even though it was clear she felt anything but. “I just really, really like Vicki and think you two would be perfect together.”

Ryan wasn’t actually angry with Lori. He was pissed at himself. Swearing, he said, “You guys probably remember how hung up I was on her in high school.”

Gabe looked confused. “The way I remember it, you two were just friends in high school.”

“We were.”

“And you were always going out with other girls, weren’t you?” Lori asked in a far too innocent voice.

He knew Lori’s question was meant to grate on him. “I was an idiot. But it didn’t matter because she wasn’t interested. She still isn’t.”

“Why don’t you just tell her how you feel and that you wish it all was real?”

He’d asked himself that question a thousand times by now, but every time it came down to the same unbreakable reason. “I can’t risk losing her as a friend by coming on to her.”

He’d meant it when he said she shouldn’t have to pay a price for being beautiful. Not just with some creep who had power over her career, but with her friend who could barely remember to keep his hands off her.

Ryan ran a hand over his face. “Plus, her ex was such a dick that she isn’t exactly looking for a replacement right now.” He looked up and realized his brothers and sisters were staring at him like he was speaking Greek. “What?”

Sophie looked around the table before saying, “I think we’re all a little bit stunned. Not about what you and Vicki are doing with the whole fake engagement thing. That seems to make sense, strangely. But because—” She paused to weigh her words. “—everything has always seemed so easy for you.”

“Well, it isn’t,” he snapped.

“Tell us what you need and we’ll do it,” Smith said.

Ryan was pretty sure the subtext behind his brother’s question had just as much to do with helping him to get Vicki to fall for him as it did with making sure some creep on her fellowship board didn’t hurt her.

Knowing there was nothing anyone could do to get her to change her feelings, that she was too strong to be manipulated by anyone, he said, “If anybody asks about us, just back up our story of two old high school friends who reconnected and realized we weren’t going to let our second chance pass by without taking it. We’re going to talk to Mom after breakfast to clue her in.”

Vicki returned to the table just in time to hear Lori say, “Your story really does sound romantic. Like every fantasy of how things could go with the one who got away. Unrequited love made right is the ultimate, isn’t it? No wonder the press is all over you guys.”

Vicki’s face was perfectly blank as she slid back into her space beside him. Before he could smooth over Lori’s ridiculously on-point statements, their waitress came to the edge of their booth.

“Something wrong with your food?” She glared at the table of completely full plates.

It was the perfect opportunity to change the subject, especially because he hadn’t missed the way Vicki had tensed up at the word romantic.

“Everything’s great, thanks.” Ryan picked up his fork and shoved a bite of egg into his mouth before saying to Smith, “So, how’s preproduction going on the film?” It was his cue to all of them that they were done talking about the fake engagement.

And he was definitely done with everyone in his family feeling sorry for him because he was in love with a woman who had only ever looked at him as a friend.

* * *

After Ryan and Vicki had left the diner to head down to Palo Alto to meet with Mary Sullivan, Sophie said, “Ryan’s never been like that before. So frustrated...almost angry. I’m worried about him.”