Page 68 of Flashback
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not, Ry. I panicked and probably not for the reasons you think.” She breathed deep and used the air to push the words out. “I’d like to explain it to you. In person. Would you come over for dinner?”
“Sure. Want me to pick up something?”
“No, no, I can cook.”
“Don’t go to any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble. I was planning to cook for myself anyway, and I always make extra to freeze for the days I don’t feel like cooking.”
“At least tell me what to bring to go with it. Wine is out, but maybe I could pick up dessert or bread or . . . hell, milk?” He laughed. “I feel bad coming empty-handed.”
“Just bring your patience and understanding. It’s all I really need or want, Ry.”
“Maz, you already have those.”
Smiling, she blinked stinging eyes. “Thanks.”
“Okay, what time do you want me there?”
“Come over whenever.” Dinner wouldn’t take much effort, and they could talk while she cooked. Or before. It didn’t matter as long as she opened up to him.
“All right. I’ll see you in about an hour. I need to put away the mower and edger before I shower.”
“Oh, I did interrupt you!”
Chuckling, he said, “No, you didn’t. I was done, just switched off the mower when you called. It’s the only reason I heard my phone.”
“If you’re sure. I can wait to start dinner if you have more to do.”
“The back yard is done, and the front can wait until Thursday or Friday.”
“Okay. See you when you get here.”
“See you in a bit. And, Maz, you don’t owe me an apology or an explanation.”
“I do. I’ve asked you to be honest. I need to reciprocate.”
“Well, don’t feel as though you have to tell me anything if you don’t want to.”
“I don’t feel forced. I want to tell you, Ry.”
“In that case, I look forward to learning more about you.”
She couldn’t say she looked forward to telling him, but she needed to do it. For him and her. If she didn’t voice her concerns and the reasons for them, they’d never be able to take their relationship further. “See you soon.”
“Soon,” he said before hanging up.
Tucking her phone into her pocket, she headed for the kitchen, mentally running through what she had on hand to go with the chicken she had taken out of the freezer earlier. She needed to check the pantry for some spices, but she was pretty sure she had what she needed to make chicken curry with rice.
She’d gotten the recipe from one of her nursing colleagues years ago. It was quick and simple and delicious. Perfect for cooking and serving when you didn’t want or have a lot of time to spend preparing or watching.
She wanted to give Rylan and their conversation all the attention it deserved.
She could only hope once she’d revealed her part in being theother woman,he would still want to be with her. A lot of people had blamed her for Stuart’s cheating. Not caring she was clueless until the moment he had been brought into emergency on a gurney yelling for his wife and children.
Although the blame she’d heaped on herself had been far greater than what others had aimed her way.
