Page 105 of Clashing
My shoulders slumped. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Mom’s eyebrows shot up. “He ended it?”
Ryker’s presence had never been more potent. I picked at my nails. “I did.”
Don’t look at him.My attention flicked to him briefly anyway. His expression? Unreadable. His eyes? Intense as ever. Intense, and a magnetic force I had to tear my gaze away from before I got sucked in.
Mom didn’t miss a thing. Her eyes darted toward Ryker before returning to me. “I thought you said he was sweet.”
“He was, but I’m not in a place to be in a relationship right now.”
She quirked a doubtful brow and I cleared my throat as I racked my brain for any other topic. “Can we eat? I want all the carbs.”
I didn’t think she’d let it go so easily but she averted her eyes and twiddled her thumbs. Nervous. She was nervous?
I tilted my head. “What?”
Her sheepish expression raised alarms. “I wondered if you’d be willing to maybe let Mike eat with us tonight?”
Shoot me.“Oh.”
“Please give him a chance.” She gripped my arm, her eyes alight with hope. “I like him so much, Scar. He’s good to me and he’s been alone for days while I’ve been with you. One meal, and if you hate him, I won’t bring it up again.”
I inhaled and mentally scolded myself. I’d be so annoyed if she did this to me. I shouldn’t do it to her.Calm down the protectiveness, Scarlett.
“Yeah, he can eat with us.”
“Good.” She squeezed my arm and stood. “Because he’s outside.”
I pouted. “How’d you know I’d agree?”
She shrugged. “You’re a pain, but you have a big heart. You wouldn’t say no to me.”
Rude.“I say no to you all the time.”
She didn’t hear me over her excitement as she flitted toward the doors. I inhaled and reminded myself that if I could find a good guy like Collin, Mom could too. Our pasts didn’t have to shape our futures.
Ryker nudged his foot against mine. “Say the word, and I’ll make him disappear.”
An unexpected laugh bubbled out of me, and the way it made his eyes shine caught my breath.
“I guess I should at least meet him before giving him over to you.” His lips curved in a smirk I rolled my eyes at. “Be careful what you promise me, Ryker. I might hold you to it.”
His eyes bore into mine. “Please do.”
Afraid of what might happen if I continued sinking into those ocean eyes, I directed my attention to the man who entered the bar with my mother.
Not her usual type. Maybe that was a good sign, even if he wore khakis. Nice crisp shirt. Hair styled neatly. Big smile, and not a scowl in sight. Yeah, not her type at all. She and I had very similar types and well . . . obviously, Ryker was mine, and this guy was his polar opposite.
Mom pointed at a table. Meeting boyfriends was always awkward, but I didn’t want my mom alone forever, so I returned the friendly wave he offered and slipped off my stool.
A worry line creased Ryker’s forehead, and his gaze bounced between me and them. Butterflies making a mess in my stomach at his attention, I patted him on the shoulder. “I’m fine.” I strode toward them.
Here goes nothing.
Chapter thirty-three
Fallen for Her
