Broken Love (Broken #4)(43)
My hands dropped as I watched my brother head to the front door. “Where are you going?”
He looked over his shoulder and smirked, “To live the single life.”
After he left, I pulled my phone out and texted Jennifer.
Me: I messed up and need to swoon Ava
Jennifer: What did you do? Something bad?
Me: I don’t think so. Apparently she thinks I gave Vanessa Emerson the wrong kind of attention.
Jennifer: Huh. Did you?
Oh for Christ’s sake. Is she going to start on me as well?
Me: I was shocked to see her and yes, I might have been stumbling on what I was doing.
Jennifer: Do you have feelings for Vanessa still?
“It was a one-night stand!”
Hitting Jennifer’s number, I walked into the kitchen.
“That’s not a good sign you called me when I asked that.”
“No I don’t, Jennifer. I love Ava.”
There was silence for a few moments before she asked, “Do you see your future with Ava?”
“Of course I do. I couldn’t imagine my life without her in it.”
“Perfect answer! Where is she?”
Closing my eyes, I shook my head. “Upstairs lying down.”
“Oh … she must be upset with you. I know how much she was looking forward to going to the house.”
“You’re not making me feel any better, Jennifer.”
With a giggle, she said, “Make her a fabulous lunch. Take it up to her on one of the serving trays. Go to the greenhouse too; I know they keep fresh flowers in there. Pick a few and put them in a small vase.”
“Where are the vases?” I asked as I looked in the refrigerator.
No food. Great.
“In the butler’s pantry on the lower left side.”
“There’s no food, Jennifer.”
“Shit! I didn’t think about that. Let me go over this in my head for a moment.”
My sister Jennifer lived in Helena and worked for a law firm downtown.
“I’ve got it. I’ll order it from one of my favorite places to eat. All you have to do is take it out of the boxes and put it on the plates. Can you do that without messing up or will we need to worry about Vanessa wanting to help?”
“What?
“Ava just sent me a text … asking about Vanessa.”
My heart stopped. “W-what did she ask?
“She asked if Vanessa is always so willing to help you with things. She said Vanessa gave y’all a tour? Holy hell, Ryder! It’s your house; why would you let Vanessa come in and take over?”
“I know the error of my ways, Jennifer. Just tell her Vanessa is of no concern and for her not to worry.”
“Oh I already did … I told her Vanessa is a little tramp who would do anything to get into your pants or Nate’s because she is a money-hungry whore.”
My mouth fell to the ground as I stopped dead in my tracks on my way out to the greenhouse.
“Wow … I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk like that.”
“Hold on!” Jennifer said as she began ordering food on another line.
Opening the door to the greenhouse, I smiled as I looked at all the flowers. Reaching for some flower clippers, I cut three purple flowers that I had no clue of what they were. All I knew was they reminded me of Ava.
I set the clippers back down and made my way back to the house, securing the greenhouse door behind me.
“Okay, your food will be there in thirty minutes.”
With a grin on my face, I began my search for a vase. “I owe you, Jennifer.”
“Yes. Yes you do. And Ryder?”
The whole bottom left cabinet was filled with all different sized vases. Reaching in, I grabbed a smaller one and placed the flowers inside of it.
“Yeah?”
“I really like Ava. Please don’t do anything to hurt her.”
My entire world felt as if it had stopped. “Do you really think she was hurt by that? I mean, I didn’t say or do anything. I honestly didn’t think it was a big deal for Vanessa to be in the house.”
“Let’s put it this way. If you showed up at Ava’s place and a guy she grew up with showed up and Ava gushed all over him and then allowed that guy to go into Ava’s apartment and show you all around … how would that make you feel?”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I don’t understand women.”
“Ryder! Be honest. Would you like it?”
Filling the vase up with water, I thought about it. “No, I don’t guess I would like it.”
“Okay. There ya go. That’s how Ava felt because I know men and I’m sure both you and Nate gave Vanessa that googly eye thing guys do when a pretty girl shows up.”
“Googly eye thing?” I asked.
“Yes. Flirting.”
“I didn’t flirt with her!”
With a frustrated sigh, Jennifer whispered, “Just make it up to her with this lunch. I’ve got to go! Love you.”
The line went dead as I pulled my cell out to look at it. “I wasn’t flirting!”
Sinking down onto the island stool, I blew out a frustrated breath. “Lord, help me to better understand women. Please!”
I walked around the house while I waited for the food. Stepping into the sitting room, I walked over to the small library in the corner. New and old books were mixed together in no real layout. I wasn’t sure what I was searching for. Maybe a tell-all book on how not to f*ck up with the woman you loved.