Broken Love (Broken #4)(48)
She squeezed my hand and I fought like hell to hold my stupid tears back.
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“ARE YOU SURE about this?”
Pushing the door open to my apartment, I smiled when I looked around. “Totally sure, Mom. I need to see what all I have that I need to pack up and get rid of, and what I’ll want to take to Montana.”
If I’m still moving to Montana.
It had been almost two days since I’d talked to Ryder. At first I was going out of my mind crazy. What if something had happened to him? I broke down and called Nate last night, asking if Ryder was okay. When he told me all was fine and asked if I wanted to talk to him, I said no and hung up.
It was then I decided to ask my mother to drive me into Austin so I could spend a few days at my apartment. I’d already called Jay, who was over being a new bride and ready for a night out on the town.
“Have you heard from Ryder?”
Oh hell. The last thing I wanted to give my parents was ammunition against my engagement.
“Not today. I think he had some meeting with his father.”
“Ava, you know we’re going to have to talk about when you’ll be moving and all of that.”
My heart hurt for lying to her. “I know. I’m probably going back up to get the cast off and coming right back down.”
“You could get it off here, ya know.”
I dropped my head. She was right. There was no real reason I needed to rush back to Montana. Clearly Ryder wasn’t going to beg me to come back. Maybe we did move too fast.
“I’ll make an appointment and see if they can get me in this afternoon. Lord knows I’m ready for this bitch to be off.”
“Watch your mouth.”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “Like you have an innocent mouth.”
She reached for my hand. “Ava, something is bothering you. Please tell me what it is. You were so ready to leave and now you’re coming back to your apartment for a few days.”
Forcing a smile, I rested my hand over hers. “Mom, there is nothing wrong. I need to start getting everything in order. I just need some alone time, ya know? Get in some reading and clear my mind.”
“You’re so much like me, it is unreal.”
My heart was full as I looked in her beautiful blue eyes. “That is a compliment I’ll take any day.”
JAY FLOPPED DOWN in the chair next to me in the orthopedic doctor’s office. “You know, you up and leave me. Get engaged to a hot cowboy. Come home and the first thing you do is ask me to take you to the doctor. I should have said no.”
With a grin, I looked her in the eyes. “The first thing I asked you was if you wanted to go out tonight, then I asked you to bring me here. Cut me some slack; they had an opening this afternoon.”
“Ms. Moore?”
I got up and crossed my fingers. “Wish me luck!”
Jay lifted her hand dismissing me. “Yep. Good luck.”
After taking a ton of x-rays, I was led into an examination room. “The doctor up in Montana was able to scan your x-rays over, so we have them for Dr. Russell.”
“Oh good!” I said with probably too much excitement in my voice.
“He’ll be a few minutes more.”
I lifted my hand and gave her a thumbs up. Jesus. What is wrong with me? Am I twelve? “Um … great thank you.”
“Sorry about that wait, Ms. Moore.”
I was pretty sure my jaw dropped to the ground when the doctor walked in.
“Are you … um … you’re not the doctor are you?”
With a warm smile, he nodded. “I am.”
I could not believe the sight in front of me. The guy couldn’t have been older than me and not to mention he was easy on the eyes. Not nearly as good looking as Ryder … but none the less he was pretty to look at. “Wow.”
He stopped and turned to look at me. When he smiled that smile men do when they think you’re interested, I quickly snapped out of it. “Wow? Is that wow a good thing or a bad thing.”
I smiled politely as I felt my cheeks flush from embarrassment.
Sinking my teeth into my lip, I couldn’t help but notice his eyes drop and his smile widened. Shit. No! No! No! Not flirting, Mr. Hot Doctor. Just nervous. “Um … ahh … good.”
Clearing his throat, he put my x-rays up as I began to swing my legs. My cast felt heavy as hell but I didn’t know what to do with my now nervous energy.
“Looks like everything has healed really well. You were scheduled to get your cast off in a few days so if you’ve got the time, I’d be more than happy to remove it for you … myself.”
I swallowed hard. How in the hell did he make that sound naughty?
Shit! I wanted my cast off and I needed to derail him. “Great!” Too excited sounding, Ava. Calm it down. “I mean, I’d love for you to take my cast off.” Dear lord. How did I make that sound naughty? Flippin’ shit balls. Where is Jay when I need her?
His eyes lit up. Derail Ava. Derail. I went to talk, but he cut me off.
“May I ask what brings you to Texas?”
“I live here. I was visiting Montana when I broke my leg and ankle.”
“And you stayed up there for … work?”