Chapter 1 #2
If it’s not obvious, he comes from a very tight-knit family.
They are close, and his father is a hard-ass NHL coach.
He felt like he was always being coached rather than loved.
His father’s pride and joy was his older brother until recent times, and his mother favored the crap out of his youngest brother.
So, he and his sister, Maddie, are a team.
She’s the only person that comes before me, and I’m okay with that.
After graduation, our Wednesday routine turned into Mondays because I quote, Ryan said that seeing each other in the first hours of every week is a good start to every week.
I can remember the exact moment I knew I loved Ryan Wilder.
It was on a not-so-freezing Wednesday morning and our feet were in slush from the melted snow.
I accidentally slipped on my ass and slid down the sidewalk as my runner’s jacket scooped the snow into my back.
I yelped because it was freezing, and I was soaked.
Ryan, without hesitation, took off my wet jacket and gave me his.
When I stood, my ankle hurt like hell. He scooped me into his arms and carried me the two miles back.
I hung onto him and enjoyed those miles in his arms. But that’s just Ryan.
He has manners and a generous heart. He would do that for anyone, not just me.
I have been in awe of him since that day.
We always knew that Ryan would play in the NHL.
His dad is an NHL coach for crying out loud, but he didn’t know he would play on his dad’s team.
Shouldn’t there be a conflict of interest?
Ryan claims he doesn’t mind it, but sometimes I see the built-up tension in his shoulders.
Or when he’s being screamed at by Coach Wilder on the sidelines, he’ll look up at me.
I sit in the stands, no special seat, in the same spot at every game.
Fifth row up, second over, and near the stairs.
He can always spot me without thinking too hard.
And when Coach is being hard on him, I flash Ryan my best smile and a thumbs up.
I told him that it’s code for: You’re doing great.
The beginning of the season was a good start to his career, and it wasn’t only him with a good start to something. I opened up my dream coffee shop.
Ryan lost his last game. His dad screamed at him for missing the puck because he is the goaltender, and the goaltender’s job is to keep the puck out of the net.
I can imagine Coach Wilder shouting, aren’t you the China Wall?
Act like it! So, I expect Ryan to push harder than usual today, even though it’s the start of a new week.
My favorite memories are interrupted when Hailey asks, “So, what are you doing here so early?” Her face is asking me another question. What she really means is why the fuck are you here at his house this early in the morning without knocking?
I steal a sip of Ryan’s coffee, glad to have made it to perfection. “Just here with breakfast.” I use the warmth of his cup to warm my fingers now.
She scoffs. “Are you secretly in love with Ryan? It would be such a shame because I’m his girlfriend.”
I smile now. The funny thing about her saying she’s his girlfriend is that it’s true, but I’m his best friend.
Does she expect an award? Maybe a round of applause.
I’m not going to clutch my heart like it’s broken and shout, Oh No!
Let me run out of here with my tail between my legs.
We’re adults, and adult males and females are allowed to have friends of the opposite sex.
Just because she’s the girlfriend, doesn’t mean that every female in his life needs to lay off.
Maddie, his sister, would agree. Ryan needs me around.
He’s not one to date very much, so when he does, it is a big deal.
However, lately, he’s been going through something.
I promised not to tease him about this new girl because he did beg and warn me.
“It would be a shame,” I reply. “If it were true… You are his girlfriend, and I respect your relationship. Mondays are our tradition. I’m sorry he didn’t tell you.”
The look on her face screams what the fuck did you just tell me?
A weekly routine? I can tell by her flared nostrils that she’ll be here every Monday morning from now on.
But that’s if Ryan will let her after this.
He doesn’t want our schedules to collide.
And the reason for that is written all over Hailey’s face.
Whoops. She glares at me, probably biting her tongue before she makes this more awkward than it already is.
I take another sip of his coffee again, impatiently patiently waiting for Ryan to get out of that shower. What the hell is taking him so long?
“Well,” she says. “I know a lot about you that I probably shouldn’t. Ryan talks about you like he talks about his sister.”
And there it is.
The truth.
I’m like his sister.
It doesn’t hurt to hear that because I’m well aware of what Ryan and I are. When you find a Ryan Wilder, you don’t let him go. We can’t help that since the moment we went on that run, we’re inseparable. Best friends.
“You graduated with a business degree and are using that for your own small business, the coffee shop. And you’re a horrible liar. You don’t have your parents around. And you hate the cold, but you’ll sit at his hockey games for the entirety of it. Do you still do that?”
I nod as she retells my life story. All while using a vicious tone that I don’t like. Ryan really did tell her everything about me. I don’t know if I should be annoyed or flattered.
“He didn’t tell me how you looked like or what you’d really be like. I had this old lady pictured in my mind.” Her hands struggle around dramatically as she depicts an old lady. I think she could make a better impression.
My brows furrow as I study her. Wow, she is baring teeth.
And the thing is, she won’t win. Ryan thinks jealousy is ugly and with any hints of that in a woman, he’ll be out.
Plus, his loyalty is a beautiful thing. I can’t bring myself to say anything back to her.
She wins by being in his bed, and I win by being the friend he wants around. We’re equal in that sense.
Hailey and I stare at each other as the bedroom door shuts in the distance.
It echoes through this open floor plan. And I’m counting my lucky stars that I won’t be alone with Hailey any longer.
What an awkward experience. I hope Ryan sees this awful side of her because my first impression is not good.
“I could recognize that smell anywhere,” Ryan says with a smile as he cuts the corner. “You made exactly what I needed this morning.”
Ryan and I lock eyes. “Baddie Addie at it again.”
I’m embarrassed by that ridiculous nickname, especially with Hailey as an audience. He ignores the cup of coffee she poured him and drinks the cup I made just for him.
“I’ve been craving this all weekend,” he says. He takes a long sip. “So good. Thank you.”
I grin, probably red in the face. His eyes look between the both of us. “Oh, you two haven’t met yet. Addie, this is Hailey. Addison.”
I nod, looking over my shoulder at her. “Yeah, we were catching up.”
She flashes a fake tight smile.
Ryan has his shirt and jacket over his shoulder as he sips my coffee with a bright smile.
I catch a quick glimpse of his abs, which he claims is always best in the morning.
Hell, he’s even asked me to judge them. I gave him a nonchalant ten.
He claims his physique has nothing to do with hockey and everything to do with the gym. Hot girl fit.
“I also brought this.” I nudge the paper bag that was burning my fingers when I walked in here.
Ryan glances at the croissant with stars in his eyes, even though I’ve eaten half of it. It’s agreed that we share half because who needs the full thing before a run? Not us.
“You just couldn’t help yourself, huh?” Ryan cocks his head at me.
“Here I had Hailey making us homemade coffee.” Hailey’s mouth drops as he continues, “But she spilled it all over me, so thankfully you pulled through.” Now Hailey’s face is priceless.
If I was a bitter bitch, I would be eating this up.
But right now, I feel bad for her. I can see how I’m the threat here, especially when he’s talking about her like she isn’t standing right there.
She’s suddenly the third wheel. Unfortunately, all his relationships have been this way.
As I said, Ryan is loyal to his friends. And I am his friend.
He tosses the donut into the other hand and pecks my cheek in a platonic way. I kiss his cheek back, well, technically the air as I touch his bare shoulder. He glances at Hailey while eating the donut. “Want a bite? Only a bite though because we split it half and half.”
“Do you split the coffee too?” Hailey scowls.
Ryan shrugs, looking over at me. “We could, but this is all mine. She can make her own.”
“I did take a sip,” I admit with big eyes. “Or two.”
He pushes my head as I laugh. He would do the same to his sister. Careful there, Hailey. Her stare is murdering me. She could punch me right now. She looks like she wants to blast me as far away from Ryan as possible.
“Oh, please, like you don’t take sips from mine.”
Ryan grabs my cup and gulps. I ignore Hailey as I try to get my cup back. She looks sick to her stomach once I get my cup back.
“You have a double this morning? Everything alright?” Ryan asks.
I nod, even though I’m lying. Sort of. Ryan can’t know that me and my boyfriend of three months broke up last night.
Okay, that’s a bit dramatic. He can know, but I don’t feel like answering the flood of questions that comes with him knowing.
I need to hit the ground running without having to explain what happened in detail.
Ryan sips his coffee and says, “Maybe get more sleep next time.”
I click my tongue, snap my finger, and wink at him. “I could if–”
Hailey cuts me off. “Are you seriously about to go for a run?”
Ryan is now putting on his running clothes. He looks ready to go. “Yeah,” he says, finishing off his coffee and donut.
Hailey scoffs, watching him closely. “Is this why I’m not allowed to stay on Sunday nights? I thought you had work!”
It sounds like I shouldn’t be here for this conversation.
“That’s true,” he says, looking over at me with save-me eyes.
Don’t give me those eyes , I stare back at him. Is he seriously asking me to save him right now? No way I’m going to. This is his girlfriend, his relationship, and I know better than to say anything. The second I try to walk away, Ryan says to me, “You’re not going anywhere.”
That’s when Hailey starts mouthing off to Ryan.
I tune both of them out because I feel so incredibly awkward. I could stick my head underground. I wish Ryan would have let me walk away. They start bickering, and I’m pretending that I’m no longer in this room.