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“My kind of guy,” I say, smiling at him. It still doesn’t feel real that this man wants me.
We just finish breakfast when I see Jared’s truck pull up outside. “Oh, shit!” I exclaim, “Shit. You have to go.” I stand so quickly, that I knock my hip hard into the edge of the table, making me wince.
“What? Are you okay?” Ryan asks, standing too and rubbing my throbbing hip.
“No! I’m sorry. That’s Jared’s truck and he’s bringing Emma,” I pause to check the time on the microwave, “Two hours early.” I start dragging him to the bedroom, halfheartedly thinking I can hide him and sneak him out once Jared leaves.His truck, dammit.I remember Ryan’s truck is in my driveway.
“You’re an adult, Summer. You don’t need to hide the guy you’re dating.” Ryan rolls his eyes, but comes along so he can throw his jeans on. I try not to get too distracted by the little flutter in my belly at the word “dating.” I’m still adjusting to it and it makes me want to do a little happy dance even though I’m supremely stressed right now.
“Look, I haven’t told Jared anything about you beyond implying that we’re friends.”
“You don’t need his permission,” Ryan says, getting all gruff and protective.
“No, I don’t. But, we did have an agreement that if we were serious about anyone, and wanted to introduce Emma to them, we would have them vetted by the other first. I need to do this right. I was planning on telling him today, but ideally without you almost naked in my house!”
He buttons and zips his jeans. “Okay, I understand. I don’t want to mess anything up for you or Emma. I’ll just say I’m herefor the leak.” He gives me a quick kiss and heads for the bedroom door just as the doorbell rings.
After throwing on a clean shirt, I rush to the door as Ryan carries the ladder we used yesterday to paint the ceiling into the hall under the attic access. I open the door and Emma bursts in saying, “Ew! It smells in here,” on her way to her room, sparkly bag in tow.
“You painted,” Jared says, stepping into the entryway. He cranes his neck up at the newly white ceiling and whistles. “Man, you’ve been busy. Whose truck is that?”
“Mine,” Ryan says, carrying his ladder into the room. An awkward beat passes while they size each other up like apes in the wild.
I’m about to whip out a ruler when Jared says, “Oh. Cool. You here for the leak?” When Ryan nods, a quick dip of the chin, Jared continues, “Yeah, I was going to fix that a while ago but just never got to it.” He turns to me, dismissing Ryan with his back to him. Ryan’s eyes go glacial and they narrow on the back of Jared’s head.
“Anyway, Summer. I brought you these.” Jared thrusts out a bouquet of red roses, the petals browning around the edges. “I know they aren’t the best quality, but it was all the store had this morning,” he says, rubbing his free hand against the back of his neck.
I look back and forth between Ryan and Jared, not sure if I should take the flowers or not. I finally grab them and say, “Thanks.” I set them on the coffee table and head to Ryan. “Let me walk you out.”
He nods again, glaring over at Jared who has sprawled himself comfortably on the couch. I follow Ryan outside and shut the door behind us. “I am so sorry. I’m going to talk to him right now, I swear,” I say, wringing my hands. I hope I haven’t already messed this up. I know Ryan’s past, and the last thing I want to do is poke at that insecurity.
“It’s okay. It isn’t your fault. I’m just trying to keep the caveman screaming ‘mine’ in my head at bay. I trust you, Summer. I do. Call me after, okay?” He kisses me softly before heading to his truck, ladder in tow. I know how much that trust means to him. He doesn’t give it away easily after Lydia.
I take a breath before going back inside. From the direction of my kitchen, Jared says, “What the fuck, Summer?” I cringe when I realize he’s seen the other bouquet that Ryan brought me yesterday, thriving and placed proudly in the middle of the table. He knows I never buy myself flowers, so he correctly guessed who they came from.
We had a huge fight about it one day. He had asked me why I didn’t buy my own flowers after I complained about him never getting them from me. When I explained that it’s the gesture behind the flowers that’s more meaningful, he sighed loudly and said that they were just dumb plants, on their way to dying.
“Yeah. I was going to talk to you about that,” I say, waving a hand at the flowers.
Jared petulantly throws his bouquet on the floor, petals scattering the wood planks in a mockery of romance. “Well. I was going to be nice and put these in water when I saw those. So, just fixing your leak, huh?” He crosses his arms, his brows drawn down over his angry, dark eyes.
“I’m not going to talk to you about it if you’re going to act like a child,” I say, trying to rein in my annoyance.
“I’ll act however I want when my woman is spreading her legs for another man!” he roars. To my horror, his voice echoes through the house.
I whisper between gritted teeth, “Shut up, Jared. Emma’s just down the hall and she doesn’t need to hear you spewing your bullshit. Outside. Now.” I head back for the front door, not waiting for him to follow. “I’m walking your dad out real quick, Em. Be right back!” I call, as cheerily as I can manage through the rage.
I hear her “kay” just as Jared slams the door behind us. Heopens his mouth and I jump right in, “No. You don’t get to speak yet. It’s my turn. First of all, don’t youdarespeak to me like that in front of our daughter. I don’t care what you call me when she’s not around, but if she’s here, you keep it civil. We agreed on that. Second, I am not ‘your woman,’ and I can be with whomever I want.”
He sighs, guilt flashing in his eyes, “I’m sorry. You’re right about Emma. I lost my temper.” His jaw ticks and his eyes harden again, “But you are mine, Summer. We just talked about this on Wednesday. I won’t share you.” He steps closer to me, getting in my personal space.
I am so stunned by the audacity that it takes me a second to react. I laugh humorlessly and say, “If only you cared this much when we were actually together.” I scrub a hand down my face in annoyance. “We never agreed on anything. You made your feelings clear on Wednesday, but like usual, you neglected mine. I don’t want to be with you. Period.” I’m trying not to be nasty, but I want to make myself clear.
“Oh, but you want to be withRyan?”He spits his name like a curse.
“I do, actually. I was going to talk to you about it today. We’re seeing where things go, and I want him to meet Emma eventually.” I hug my elbows and watch a kaleidoscope of emotions play over his face.
“You don’t even know this man. It’s been what, a month since I moved out? Were you cheating on me?” He steps even closer, his breath mingling with mine and making me look up at him.
