Page 93 of Stick With Me
“Of course,” he says. “You’re here, babe. And you haven’t been answering my calls. I’ve seen what you’ve done, launching your rescue here. I knew you weren’t going to leave it all to come back to Dallas.”
He should have known it doesn’t matter where I am, I won’t be going back to him.
“I miss you.” He leans forward and rests his hands, palms up, inviting me to place mine in his. “I can’t stand seeing you with him. I want us to go back to how we were. I messed up; I never should’ve asked for this break. I’ve been miserable without you.”
The man I spent years loving and supporting, is someone I don’t recognize. After treating me like a toy he tossed aside, he only wants me back now that someone else has me.
Part of me wants to tell him to go screw himself, but the other part is still wary of his potential wrath. I won’t make things worse for Ryan. So I aim for diplomacy. “I’ve moved on, Jace, and I think you should too. I’m sorry you thought moving here would give us another chance, but I’m with Ryan. I’m happy.”
Anger flashes across his face before it transforms, his feature smoothing into cool indifference as he leans back into his chair. “I’d hate for you to be separated.”
Ryan was right.His intentions are far from noble. He doesn’t want to smooth things over. He wants to ruin us.
My jaw drops. Is he really going to try to get Ryan dropped from the team? I suspected, but hearing the veiled threat makes every muscle in my body tense. “Are you blackmailing me? Us?”
“Us?” He laughs bitterly. “Really, Hannah? It’s been two fucking minutes. There is no ‘us’ when it comes to you and him.” His voice drips with condescension.
An evil gleam flickers in his eyes. How was I so blind to this side of him? Was it always there? I try to keep my expression neutral, but I suspect I don’t have a future as an actress.
Just as everything comes together in my life, it feels like it’s falling apart. I hate that Ryan’s connection to me is what’s gotten him into this chaos. I was so worried about Ryan distracting me from my career goals, but in reality, it’s me messing up all his plans.
Before I came back into the picture, his career was on the rise, a newly crowned All-Star. And now look at where he is—not even sure if he has a spot on the team he loves, where he’s spent his entire hockey career. All because of me. Because of the baggage I dragged with me, and into his life.
My throat tightens, and I struggle to keep my emotions in check, desperate to hold it together until I can get back to Ryan’s car. But despite my best efforts, I feel the wetness spill over my lashes, a tear tracking down my cheek.
I quickly wipe it away, but not before Jace notices. He rounds the table, crouching beside me, and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Don’t cry, babe. I know you’re confused. I don’t know what he’s told you, but I love you. You’re going to see.”
He pulls something out of his pocket and attempts to place the engagement ring I haven’t seen since All-Star Weekend back on my finger. I pull back before the metal reaches my skin, causing him to lose his grip on it. The clink of the ring reaching the floor is drowned out by a loud crash of the café door slamming against the wall. Heavy footsteps follow, and Ryan storms toward us.
Before Jace even realizes what’s happening, Ryan grabs the back of his sweatshirt, yanking him to his feet and pushing him away. He doesn’t say a word to Jace, instead, focusing his attention on me. Leaning over the table, he boxes me in, his anger replaced by concern that tightens his face.
“Hannah, are you okay? What’s going on?” he asks in a rush.
The words lodge in my throat as I stare into his deep brown eyes.
The eyes I looked into six years ago for the first time.
The eyes that never judged me and always supported me.
The eyes that have watched as I’ve laughed, and cried, and everything in between.
The thought of Jace taking them away from me makes the moisture tip over and pour down my cheeks again.
Ryan’s worry reaches a breaking point, and he cups my face gently. “Hannah, will you come with me?” His voice is firm, but soft at the same time.
I still can’t find my voice, so I nod.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” Jace snaps, but we both ignore him.
I place my hand in Ryan’s, and he leads me out of the café, as Jace’s shouts of protest register. “This isn’t over!” He sounds like a madman.
Ryan’s car idles at the curb, double-parked and blocking traffic as he swings the passenger door open for me, guiding me into it. The blare of horns echoes as he pulls into the street, taking my hand in his. “Baby, I need to move the car, and then we’ll talk. Okay?”
I nod and glance over at him. His knee bounces as he grips the wheel, and every so often, he sneaks a quick look my way. But the drive passes in silence. After a few turns, he pulls into a spot at North Pond Park, cutting the engine with a deep exhale.
“Why didn’t you just drive home? It was the same distance away.” Why the first words out of my mouth are about his driving choices, I have no idea.
“I wasn’t thinking clearly. This is just where I ended up. Do you want me to take us home?”
