Page 6 of Liberating Bells
I recall the last time we encountered each other when Ryan’s boss, Teddy, married my sister, Sage. We were just as magnetic then as I feel we are now. Though there’s a whole room of distance between us, I can feel him as though he were right next to me.My body responds to him being so near, as if no time has passed at all.
Butterflies erupt in my stomach as I remember the last time Ryan held my hand as he led me to his hotel room. How careful he was as he unzipped my bridesmaid’s dress, letting his fingers linger longer than necessary on my bare back and over the ridges of my spine. How he?—
No.
That was then. This is now.
I finally tear my eyes away from Ryan and look down at the floor. Mark’s right. It’s probably a good idea to keep to myself tonight. I shake off the memories and allow Mark to lead me into another room. But the entire way, I can feel Ryan’s gaze on me until I’m out of his sight.
Mark leads me through the living room and into the dining room, where Juliet is busy feeding the birthday boy spoonfuls of applesauce. As soon as I set my eyes on her son, Ashton, I feel a smile form on my lips.
Juliet glances up as soon as we get closer, and her eyes light up. “Hey, guys! I was wondering when you were going to get here!”
“We got a little…distracted,” Mark says, squeezing my hand suggestively. I blush and look away, wishing he wouldn’t be so brash sometimes. Not to mention, his superfluous insinuation makes the moment seem a little more thrilling than it actually was.
Juliet raises an eyebrow with a smirk. “I’m sure. Well, help yourselves to some food. I’m just going to finish up here, and we’ll cut his cake.”
“Did Liam do the grilling today?” Mark asks.
Juliet nods and scoops another spoonful. “Sure did. We’ve got hotdogs and burgers, so help yourselves. All the fixings are on the counter.”
As soon as we’re out of the dining room and heading into the kitchen, Mark pulls me to the side. “I think we should probably just wait to have dinner ourselves later.”
I frown at him. “Why?”
He gives me a sheepish but serious look. “I don’t really trust Liam’s grilling. It’s always only half-cooked.”
I laugh, despite myself, and pat him on the cheek. “I think we’ll probably live. If you’re worried, have a hot dog. They’re pre-cooked.”
Mark’s hand covers my own on his cheek, and he leans down to kiss me, his lips pressing against mine gently. “You’re right. Here, why don’t you go back and sit with Jules, and I’ll make you a plate.”
I kiss him again before heading back to Jules’s side. As soon as I’m settled, I scan the room to make sure Ryan hasn’t snuck in without me knowing. The last thing I need is a confrontation between Mark and Ryan. That would be one surefire way to ruin a birthday party.
Mark has never been a fan of Ryan’s. Even as far back as when we were in high school. Ryan Miller was always the golden boy, and I think Mark got overshadowed one too many times.
On top of that, Mark was with me throughout Ryan’s and my entire long-distance relationship. Not that Ryan specifically did anything wrong, but the distance wore us both down. Mark was always the one there to cheer me up when I was feeling blue.
I think Mark probably still holds a little resentment for Ryan putting me through that. When I told Mark that Ryan and I had broken up, he wasn’t the least bit sympathetic. I’m pretty sure his exact words were, “Good, you can do much better than that tool.”
“Where’d your loser boyfriend go?” Juliet mutters under her breath.
I look over at her and bristle. Just as Mark doesn’t like Ryan, Juliet likes Mark even less. “He’s getting food. He said I could come and sit with you.”
“You can, can you?”
“Unless you don’t want me to,” I fire back. Juliet sits up straighter and narrows her eyes at me, sensing the challenge in my words.
The two of us stare at each other until she finally caves. Her shoulders drop, and she gives me an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Izzie. I just don’t like the way he controls you sometimes.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Mark isn’t controlling me. He offered to get me food.”
We’ve had this conversation hundreds of times. I’m not sure what Juliet’s issue is. I don’t see anything wrong with what Mark’s done. In fact, I think it was sweet of him to offer to get me a plate while I hung out with my friend.
Juliet took the news of the breakup between Ryan and me pretty hard. She’s always been holding out hope that Ryan and I could set aside our differences and get back together. I honestly thought she was going to throw me in the lake when I told her I had started dating Mark officially.
She has never gotten along with him. Whenever I bring anything up to her about our relationship, she’ll glare at me and say, “Well, he’s just not Ryan, is he?”
I understand where she’s coming from. I do. Ryan was an amazing first boyfriend, the best I could have ever asked for. I just wish she would let it go. It’s been years. Ryan is the past, and Mark is my future. It’s not fair to Ryan or me to keep questioning what could’ve been.
