Page 46 of Tainted Romance

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There were many reasons why this shopping trip was awkward. One being Ebony and I didn’t get on. Two, Zane and Ryder didn’t seem to be talking either and the third being, Zane and my’s…. well, mess.

Apparently, Ryder’s mom had asked both her boys to do the pack house’s shopping. Zane had roped in Ebony, and well, I apparently had put my hand up for this.

Ryder was tapping his finger on the steering wheel to the beat of a song playing on the radio. Zane and Ebony were silent in the back.

I was debating whether I should just make a run for it as soon as we hit the supermarket. I just had to come up with the perfect excuse.

“Don’t like the song?” Ryder turned his head to look at me.

To me, this song was a funeral march; me heading to a doom of three plus hours with Zane.

“It’s alright.” I gave him a small smile.

“You’re a lot quieter today than last night.” His sharp emerald eyes swirled with mischief. “Don’t tell me you’ve gone bashful because I’ve seen you with your clothes off.”

I coughed out a surprised laugh. Of all times for him to say that, why did he have to pick now when my mate was in the back seat?

“You woke up in a good mood, or are you always this chipper going to do the shopping?”

“Well, that’s me, chipper champ.”

“So, what is it you do?” I asked; seeing as we hadn’t really discussed it last night and any conversation was better than silence. Heck, I’d rather speak to Ryder then keep having horror conversations with myself about Zane. “Are you here visiting, or what?”

Ryder glanced at me, then looked back at the road. “Well, depends on who you ask.”

“I’m asking you.”

Ryder ran a hand through his blonde hair. He really did have this natural ease of good looking going for him. “I would say, I’m here visiting.”

“And if I asked, say…umm, your parents, what would they say?”

“They would say I’m here getting my life together.” Ryder slowed the car and pulled into the parking lot; which was full.

“So, they don’t think you have your life together?”

Was it shallow of me to think he does? He has the looks and a good personality; one would think things were easy for him.

Ryder frowned for a moment, then shot me a look that I hadn’t seen before. “No one has their life together, it’s just most act like they do.”

“Park on your left.” Zane’s voice was sharp, and I could taste bitter.

“Thanks, bro.” Ryder turned into the parking space.

“Ebony and I will do the groceries.” Zane opened his car door. “You two, do whatever, heck, maybe continue the heart to heart.”

The door slammed, and Ebony wasn’t far behind him to leave. Call it selfish, but I was glad he was quick to get away.

“Sorry…”

“Don’t bother, Ryder. It’s fine.”

“My brother can be an ass.” He pulled the keys out. “Don’t pay any attention to him.”

I unbuckled my seat belt. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

Heck, I wasn’t planning on giving Zane any of my attention for the rest of my life, but I know how life is, and not everything works out like you want it to, so I suppose all I knew for sure was that I wasn’t planning on giving Zane any of my attention until he deserved it.

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