Chapter 7
Seven
“Did you hear the good news?” April asks excitedly as she slips into my workstation.
“I could use some good news,” I mutter, glancing up from my sketchbook.
Dillon just called and told me he can’t fix my car.
No, that’s not right… he said it’s totally fucked.
Awesome, that’s totally awesome for me. I have no idea what I’m going to do without a car.
Public transportation doesn’t exist in a town this size.
I’m already on an extremely tight budget—there is no way I can afford to buy something else without finding a second job or three.
I wonder if Bob’s is hiring; I could probably wait tables.
“You know Ethan and Hailey? He proposed to her last night.”
“Oh, yeah?” I say, setting down my graphite pencil and leaning back in my chair.
“Mm-hmm. They’d just finished dinner at her parents’ place, and he asked her if she wanted to go for a walk.
They were walking along hand in hand, and he stopped her beside an old oak tree in the centre of the yard.
Right there, he dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him.
Her sister was hiding in the bushes to capture the moment.
And get this—the tree is where they had their very first kiss when they were in high school. How sweet is that?”
“That’s…really sweet.” I bite the corner of my lip and look down at my red nails.
“You should see the pictures Hailey posted online. She’s crying. Ethan is smiling. And the ring is absolutely stunning. It’s like a scene out of a Hallmark movie,” she gushes. “They are so young, but they have been together since high school. I guess when you know, you know.”
“That’s really…good news. I’m happy for them.” I am happy. They are a genuinely nice young couple, and I wish them the absolute best. Does it make me a horrible person that this good news also stings a little?
Not in a million years did I ever believe that Braden would drop to his knee and propose to me under a tree.
But I thought our relationship would eventually move forward.
That he would grow up. That we would get married, buy a house, and have babies.
Right dream, wrong man, I guess? Was I putting up with all his bullshit just so I wouldn’t end up alone? I don’t know. I wish I had the answer.
The bell above the door, jingling at reception, distracts me from my thoughts. Then I hear my friend Megan call out. “Hello?”
“Come on back,” I yell, standing to greet her. This is a nice surprise and a great distraction from my impending pity party.
Meg peeks her auburn head around the door and smiles when she sees us. “Hi, I have a special delivery for you.” She extends the familiar pale pink bakery bag she is holding.
“Aww, that’s sweet.” I take the bag from her. “You didn’t have to buy me lunch, Meg. Thank you.”
“Nope, it wasn’t me.” She shakes her head and winks conspiratorially at April. “I’m just the delivery woman today.”
“Oh, Aunt Maggie sent me lunch,” I say, peeking inside before looking back up to Meg.
“It wasn’t Maggie.” She shakes her head and rolls her lips inward, trying to suppress her grin.
“Okay,” I drawl, narrowing my eyes. “Why are you being weird? Who bought me lunch and asked you to deliver it?”
“Yes, do tell,” April pipes up, leaning forward, clearly invested.
Meg’s eyes shift between us before she whispers, “Ryan.”
“Really?” April pulls back in surprise. Turning to me, she quirks her eyebrow and crosses her arms over her chest. “Do you want to tell us why Ryan has sent you food in the middle of the day?”
“Ryan sent it for me? What did he say?” I question Meg as I take soup, a sandwich, and a bottle of water out of the bag. There is a note written on a napkin at the bottom.
“I was at Maggie’s on my lunch break when Ryan came in to pick up his order.
We were leaving at the same time, and he stopped me to ask if I would walk this down to you before I had to go back to work because he was running behind.
I agreed, and that was it,” she explains.
“So, Beck, since when does Ryan buy you lunch?”
“I’m not sure,” I say honestly, looking down at the note.
You can’t exist on caffeine and sugar alone. I’ll pick you up at the same time tomorrow. Ryan.
“What the fuck?” Turning it over, I look to see if there is anything written on the back.
“Well?” April asks expectantly.
I explain to them both about my terrible day yesterday, how Ryan saved me when my car broke down, and how we shared Thai, omitting the part about him filling in for Jenna and how he saw me crying. I told them about how he offered to drive me this morning and about our stop at Maggie’s for coffee.
“Huh, interesting,” April says, with a hint of amusement in her voice.
“What are you thinking?” Meg’s eyes widen as she turns towards April. “Do you think he’s interested in her?”
“It doesn’t have to mean anything. Don’t read into it. This isn’t one of your romance books,” I say, opening the container of roasted vegetable soup and placing it on a nearby table. I love soup season, and this is one of my favourite kinds.
“You could do worse.” April spins a ring around her finger and quirks her eyebrow.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, glancing up from my food.
“I think it’s great that Ryan likes you. Besides being a genuinely nice guy, he’s ridiculously hot.”
“He isn’t interested in me,” I deny, shaking my head. “He’s judging me for having a cupcake for breakfast. Which was delicious, by the way.”
“It wouldn’t be the worst thing though, would it?” Meg asks, leaning her back against the wall.
“I assure you it’s nothing like that. Ryan doesn’t even like me most of the time.”
“Men who dislike you wouldn’t drive you to work and make sure you eat,” she counters.
“What she said.” April points to Meg. “Besides, the best way to get over one man is to get under another. When was the last time you got laid?”
Ignoring her question, I say, “Even if that is true, Ryan is not my type. Not even a little.”
“Girl, Ryan is every woman’s type. Don’t lie to yourself like that.” The bell over the door chimes again. “I need to get back out there.” April gestures towards the waiting room. “But I expect regular updates on this developing situation.”
“There is no situation,” I call after her, rolling my eyes.
“Would it be the worst thing?” Meg asks again when April is out of earshot. “He is a good man. Is it because he’s older than you?”
“No, it isn’t like that. Period. End of story. Seriously, he has shown me some kindness for less than twenty-four hours. That’s it.”