Broken Love (Broken #4)(16)

Jennifer’s eyes lit up. “Wow. He broke up with you at the cake store?”

With a wave of my hand, I chuckled. “It was for the best. I quickly realized it wasn’t love I was feeling. Especially when I ran into Ryder.”

“And it was love at first sight? Did you feel a spark between you? Did your skin feel as if a blaze of fire was moving along it when Ryder touched you?”

I stood there staring at Jennifer with a stunned look on my face. “Ahh—”

She spun around as she wrapped her arms around her body. Stopping, she quickly ran over and took both my hands in her hands. “What did he say to you? Did you exchange numbers?”

“Well no, we didn’t. I hadn’t even gotten his name. I called him … mystery man.”

Jennifer gasped. “No!”

“Yes!” I said with a little bit too much excitement.

“Then what happened?”

Okay, I had to admit, I was getting caught up in her euphoria. “Well … I thought about him for a few days. His amazing eyes were constantly in my dreams.”

“Oh, Ryder does have beautiful green eyes.”

I nodded. “He does.”

“So go on! Go on!” Jennifer said as she hopped a few times.

“I saw him at a club. I was drunk out of my mind and he ran into me again.”

“Again? It was destiny!”

Jennifer was really much too caught up in this story and I had to admit, it was fun pulling her along. “Yes. I was drunk, though, and ended up not really remembering anything other than the fact that your brother brought me home and took care of me when I was sick from too many shots.”

Her body relaxed as her eyes went dreamy. “Ryder always was the romantic one out of my two brothers.”

With a smile, I looked down. “So anyway, being the gentleman that your brother is, he arranged to have my best friend there when I woke. Well much to my surprise, I found out he had stayed all night.”

Jennifer slammed her hands over her mouth. “No! Did you … you know?”

I widened my eyes. “I wasn’t sure. I figured we had, but I didn’t … you know … feel different.”

Jennifer looked at me with a lost look on her face. “What?” she asked.

“You know. I didn’t feel different.”

She slowly shook her head. “Oh, I wouldn’t know, Ava. I’m a virgin.”

Oh. My. God. That explained this whole crazy conversation. Jennifer had to be at least twenty. I was super impressed she had kept her virginity, especially since she was knock-me-over gorgeous. “Oh. Well, at any rate, I had to be at my father’s house that day for this huge meeting he was having with two gentlemen from Austin. My father and Layton were talking about going organic.”

Jennifer jumped up. “No freaking way! Ryder and Nate?”

With a giggle, I nodded. “Yes! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Ryder standing before me. Of course, then I got mad because I thought we had slept together and how could he sleep with a girl so drunk out of her mind.”

“Right. Of course, that would be a douche move for sure!”

I glanced through the front window and saw Destiny was still talking to Ryder. Turning back to Jennifer, I gave her a sweet smile. “But your brother is far from being a douche. He simply took care of me while I suffered from taking way too many shots.”

Jennifer sighed. “And you have been dating since. How sweet.”

I shook my head. “Oh no. We haven’t been dating.”

With a frown, Jennifer turned her head and looked at me with a stunned expression on her face. “But, the way you look at each other. You were just kissing on the front porch.” She let out a confused chuckle. “I’m confused, Ava.”

“Don’t be. It’s not that complicated. We just needed a little push I guess. I think it’s safe to say I’m very much interested in your brother.”

Placing her hands over her heart, Jennifer sighed loudly. “Oh. My. Gawd. That was the most beautiful love story I’ve ever heard.”

My smile faded. “Well, I think our story is just beginning, at least I hope it is.”

“Oh my gawd! That’s such a beautiful thing to say, Ava! I’m so happy Ryder has found you. It’s like destiny met fate! Oh it’s all so perfect.”

Now I’m so confused. What is happening?

“It’s like watching one of my romance books coming to life before my eyes.”

Ahh. It all made sense now. “Jennifer, have you had a chance to talk to my mother yet?”

Shaking her head, Jennifer said, “No. Why?”

I laced my arm in hers as we made our way back into the living and over to my mother.

“Jennifer, this is my mother, Courtney. She’s an editor. She loves romance books.”

I thought Jennifer was going to leap into my mother’s arms. “Oh. My. Gawd!” Jennifer said as she quickly began spitting out book names. One look from my mother and I knew I’d be catching hell later on from her. She loved talking books, but talking to Jennifer would wear her out and she would quickly find my father and say she was ready for bed.

My evil plan of getting my parents up to their room early was working. Even though I just came up with it two minutes ago.