Page 65 of It Never Was

I watch him gulp before her, eyes in awe as if he was in the presence of a goddess debating if he should kneel at her feet.

Willow is enjoying this too much because she just sits there letting the moment drag out.

"I'm Gabriel."

"Gabriel, huh?" She bites her bottom lip, and his eyes follow.

"Down Willow." I state, trying to save him from the fire he is about to touch, "Don't you need to clock in?"

"Yes, ma'am." her eyes still on Gabe as she pushes herself off the counter walking around him. Parker moves out of the way and gives his brother a knowing look.

"So, it's just a cafe of hot women working here, and you didn't think to tell me?" Gabe shoots a look Parker's way, as if Parker had the obligation to tell him this information.

I couldn't help but elate a small fraction at Parker's deep chested laugh.

"Shut it." He says pushing the side of his head playfully, "I'll grab my stuff and we can head out. Nothing else for me, right?" His attention now returning to me. He was sweet, and caring, you could hear in the way he talked to Gabe, in the carefree interaction between brothers.

"No, you are all good. I am about to head out as well since Willow is here now."

Gabe leans into Parker's ear saying something I can't pick up from the space between us. I didn't bother to try to hear anyways. I was going to finish my end of shift tasks.

"You want to join us?" Gabe's voice was trying to sound a little deep now, probably because we were still in the presence of Willow.

Normal Ryen would have giggled at his attempt to seem 'manly' but now Ryen didn't have the energy.

36

Parker

"Hey Ryen, since you're off too, you should come with—"I elbow Gabe right in the ribs mid-sentence.

"Gabriel." I state dryly through my teeth. The last thing I needed was my younger brother inviting her to hang with us. I didn't want our first time hanging out to be his doing. I also didn't want to push her too fast. I wanted to let it happen when she was starting to…feel again.

Ryen froze in her tracks, and I noticed the small tension that her shoulders gained at the words, "What?" Her voice was soft, like she was scared to reply, to let it be known she heard what Gabe said.

"Well, what I was gonna say, before I was rudely assaulted by my brother, was if you wanted to come with us to lunch?" Gabe said, rubbing the sore spot in his ribs.

"Oh." was all that Ryen said. She remained frozen in place.

"You don't have to. I am sure you're busy." I rushed out.

"Umm…" She takes a breath.

"Ryen. Can I talk to you?" Willow says not waiting for an answer as she drags her behind the kitchen door, leaving Gabe and I alone.

A small snicker comes from behind the counter. Chrissy is standing there, hands occupied with sauces, I didn't even see her walk up here.

"What are you doing?" I snap at Gabe.

"What? You won't." He levels his eyes with me. Gabe is shorter than me, but he is trying to square up at this moment, "You obviously like her. Even the hot blonde, Willow, can see it." His eyes heat as Willow's name passes his lips, it looks like little brother has a crush of his own he doesn't want to talk about. "The only two that don't want to mention it are you and Ryen. Better to rip the band aid off." He sips the cold brew Ryen just made him.

My emotions were battling themselves in my head.

It's not that I don't want to hang out with her, fuck I have been dreaming about it is more like it. I was upset for putting that on Ryen, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable or forced, but I was also hopeful that she would say yes. This pull I have to her just keeps getting stronger and stronger. No matter how closed off she gets I don't want to give her up. But I wanted her to want to be around me, not be pressured into it. I wanted her to have a choice in the matter.

37

Ryen

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