Page 47 of The Devil You Know
I look around to see if anyone is watching us talk, if they can see how angry I’m getting. “You’re being a baby,” I hiss at him.
“You’ll have a better time without me,” he says. He’s clearly made up his mind.
“Ben, you’re being ridiculous…”
“You know I hate these dumb parties,” he says quietly. “I didn’t want to come here in the first place.”
We just stare at each other for a minute. I can’t believe he’s doing this. Yes, I know he hates these parties. But I didn’t think he’d just abandon me at one of them. Usually he’d be okay with having some food and a fewdrinks while I schmoozed, but that was in Manhattan, where both of us could drink because we’d be taking a taxi home.
“Listen,” he says, “you coming or what?”
When I shake my head no, he puts his drink down on the table, then goes off in the direction of the front door. But I honestly thought it was all just a bluff until I see him put on his coat and walk out the front door without me.
I can’t believe my husband just left me stranded at a party in Ronkonkoma. I down the rest of my drink in one big gulp.
“Wow. I can’t believe he just left you like that.”
I whirl around and am not terribly surprised to see none other than Dr. Ryan Reilly standing behind me. He’s wearing a blue dress shirt, which is the first thing I’ve seen him wear in years that isn’t scrubs, and all I can think to myself is that they make his blue eyes look really, really blue.
I fold my arms across my chest. “Were you standing there and listening to that whole thing?”
“Just the part where Pip said he was ditching you.” He grins at me. “Why? Did I miss something juicy?”
“He just…” I glance in the direction of the door. “He doesn’t do well at these big parties. He’s not the social type.”
“Still.” Ryan’s smile widens. “He shouldn’t have left you here alone with me.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, he doesn’t know you’re here.”
He raises his light brown eyebrows. “Afraid to tell him?”
“No.”
He shrugs. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t blame you.”
I pour myself another drink and take a sip. Then I realize that more alcohol probably isn’t the best idea right now. Oh well.
“Don’t worry,” Ryan says. “I’ll drive you home.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. Lisa will take me home.”
“It’s no big deal,” he says. “And I’m sure my date will be fine with it.”
I’m surprised by the way my heart sinks when Ryan mentions that he brought a date. Well, ofcoursehe brought a date. Look at him—the guy’s gorgeous.
But then I look up at Ryan’s face and see him chuckling to himself. “Relax, Jane. I didn’t really bring a date. I just wanted to see your reaction.”
That cocky jerk.
“Youshouldhave brought a date.” I raise my chin. “Like what about that nurse I saw flirting with you the other day in the hallway? Who was that?”
He laughs. “You’re going to have to be alotmore specific than that.”
“She had blond hair and she was really pretty…”
“Again, you’re going to have to bewaymore specific.”
I roll my eyes at him again. What’s sad is that he’s not entirely joking. I’m sure every nurse on the surgery service is throwing herself at him. And probably a good chunk of them are pretty and blond.
