Page 95 of Hungry Hearts

“See this elbow here?” She holds her phone in front of me and points to his right. “And that bump there?” She points to his left. “I’m the elbow and Nora, God bless her seven-month-belly soul, is the bump. We were giving him his tequila intervention when two floozies sauntered over and made a chair out of his lap. Ryder couldn’t have been more disinterested. Didn’t even ward them off with his charm. They tried, tried hard, and he didn’t give them the time of day. Don’t believe everything you see online.”

“And don’t believe everything youhear.”

“Touché. So. You and Ry-dog gonna kiss and make up now?”

“Kind of hard to do when he won’t pick up his phone.”

“And when he isn’t sleeping at his apartment. He’s been hiding out in the penthouse.”

“Exactly. And I’m not going to cause a scene at Red.”

“Which is why I’m here. You love him. He loves you. He misses you and your adorable daughter, and we’re going to make sure he gets his stubborn head out of his ass.” Avery takes both my hands in hers and pulls me out of the chair and plants herself in it. “Finish my trim while I tell you the plan.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

I’ve had three days to mull over Avery’s plan. A plan she claims her husband agreed to as well. I’m still not comfortable with it though. It’s overstepping and invading Ryder’s privacy. But before I can face Ryder, there’s another man I need to deal with.

“Hey, babe. You made my day when you asked me to meet you for Sunday lunch.” He drops a kiss on my cheek, I turn my face when he slides his mouth close to my lips. “No Ruby this afternoon?”

“She’s at Laney’s having a playdate with Kimmie.” He sits in the chair across from me and I take in his appearance. Fresh haircut, a new collared shirt I’ve never seen him in, a close shave, and cologne.

“Emmaline couldn’t join us?” I ask as I unfold my napkin and lay it across my lap.

His lips turn down for a moment before flicking up again. “We’re not together anymore.”

“Hm. Why is that?” I take a sip of my ice water and study his eyes. I’ve known him for more than half my life. Flynn has tells. He’s a terrible liar and looks to his left when he’s not telling the truth. His right leg gets bouncy and he pulls at his sleeves.

It’s not that I’ve witnessed him tell many lies. That I know of. Adam and I used to tease him in high school when he’d try to let an interested girl down, or when he’d tell his parents he was spending the night at Adam’s when really, he was going to a party in the woods.

Innocent lies that never hurt anyone.

“Wasn’t working out.” He fidgets in his seat and stares to his left over my right shoulder. “Wasn’t the one for me.”

A waiter comes by and takes our order. I keep it simple with water and a chicken quesadilla. I missed out on the quesadilla dinner because of him. Today, I want what he took from me.

Dragging this out is only going to make the conversation more uncomfortable, so I follow Avery’s example and blurt it right out. “Why did you set Ryder up?”

“Me? What? I...uh...I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I fold my arms across my chest and raise my brow at him. He shifts in his seat and his body jostles from the fidgeting of his leg.

“Slashing my tire? Leaving my front door unlocked and having sex with Emmaline in my shower? God, Flynn. What if I got home first and Ruby was with me?”

“I—”

“Don’t. Don’t lie to me, Flynn. We’ve been friends for too long. Adam loved you like a brother.Iloved you like a brother.”

He snorts and shakes his head. “Maybe I don’t want to be loved like a brother. Hell, Maia, I’ve held back for too many goddamn years and then this playboy shows up and you all but spread—”

“Don’t you dare go there.”

“I’m sorry.” He lowers his chin to his chest. “I’ve always been second place. Adam made high honors and I made honors. He was the quarterback and I was his backup. He got your heart and I got your friendship. But I never begrudged him. I felt honored to be a part of his world. To be his best friend, after you of course. Because even in friendship, I was second best. When he died, hell, a piece of my soul died too. We both grieved for so long, and I was okay with being your friend. For once, I was first. Your closest friend. And then you started seeing that guy and I fell to second again.”

“Flynn.” I’d reach across the table and hold his hand, but I don’t want to give him mixed signals.

“I promised Adam I’d look out for you.”

“You did. You have. I’ve always felt safe and loved. You’ve always been there for me, Flynn. So why did you want to hurt me?”

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