Chapter 3 #2
Just because she had felt heat between them, some kind of connection, it didn’t mean that she should be up in arms in her head trying to figure out exactly where she stood with him, and what her thoughts with Max would be if she thought of Ryan more.
“Well, whenever you want to talk, I’m here for you. All of us are. And we love you. Because you’re family now, even if you don’t really understand yet that the Montgomerys take over your life and never let you go.”
They both laughed at that, and Abby rolled her eyes.
When they finished their tea, Adrienne left to get back to work.
Abby finished up her online orders and then helped a few customers who came in to shop for the holidays.
Over the next two hours, Abby moved right into lunch.
Teas’d was full of people. The holiday rush was nice, and she knew that her bank ledgers would be happy after today.
Abby was just finishing up the last of the rush, thinking that she would probably grab something quick to eat over at Thea’s, when Ryan walked in, his hands in his pockets, and his leather jacket zipped up to ward off the cold from outside.
She was so surprised to see him, she nearly dropped her tea canister. She shouldn’t be shocked. He came in often for tea, especially since he had coffee in the morning over at Thea’s and then enjoyed afternoon tea with her.
She didn’t know why, but she couldn’t stop looking at his eyes.
She really should stop looking at his eyes.
“Hey, I just wanted to check in on you. See if you were okay. Adrienne said Thea took you and Julia over to the pediatrician’s and that Julia is fine. But I didn’t know if you went to the doctor, too.”
Abby set the tea canister down on the counter, grateful that she didn’t break it open, but a little annoyed that she didn’t have anything to do with her hands.
“I didn’t go, but I’m not bruised. I don’t even have a seat belt burn.
We were going so slow, I think I’ve hurt myself more running into the couch. ”
Ryan’s lips quirked into a smile. “I’ve broken a toe running into a couch, so I get it.”
Abby cringed. “Me, too. It’s those damn pinky toes. They just like to latch on.”
She was talking about toes. Broken toes.
Apparently, she was rusty at this. Whatever this was.
“Yeah, pretty much. But I’m glad to see you’re okay. And I’m glad Julia is, too. I could use some tea if that’s okay with you.”
Abby jumped into action, moving around the counter and closer to him. “I’m so sorry, I should’ve asked. What can I get you?”
“You don’t have to serve me, Abby. I’m just here because I like your company. And I like your tea.”
Her stomach did that weird flopping thing that she hadn’t felt in so long, and she was kind of worried about it. What was she doing? Was she reading this wrong? Or maybe she was going insane and just thinking too much. Because Ryan was her friend. Nothing more.
She just had to get that through her head.
“What are you thinking about, Abby?” Ryan leaned forward, his hands still in his pockets. He didn’t touch her, but she could still feel the heat of him. “You look like you’re thinking hard. Are you okay?”
She paused. “Are you saying that thinking hard will hurt my head?”
Ryan blinked and then threw his head back and laughed. She really liked that laugh. It was deep, and a little rough.
And she really needed to stop thinking about rough.
“No, that’s not what I meant. But, apparently, I ramble when it comes to you.”
“I don’t think you rambled. But maybe that’s because I ramble even more than you.”
“See? You think I ramble if you said ‘even more.’”
Abby put her hands over her face and let out a tiny scream. “I think we need to start over on this conversation.”
“No, I don’t mind. But I really could use some tea.”
She nodded, letting out a breath. “I have that peppermint that you like. The one without the chocolate.”
“I love the one with the chocolate, but for some reason, I do like the other one more.”
She quickly got to work steeping it as he looked around the shop, gazing at each of the gift baskets she had made. She kept her eyes on him rather than her hands, and was grateful she was a pro at this, or she probably would have burned herself.
When it was done, she poured herself a cup as well, not knowing why since she’d had enough tea for the day. But she didn’t want him to drink alone.
“Here you go.” His hands brushed hers as he took the cup from her, his gaze meeting hers, as well.
She swallowed hard, wondering why she felt like this. Why there was a fluttering in her stomach and in her chest.
Ryan was just her friend. They had done this countless times before.
It shouldn’t feel like this.
But it did.
“Thank you.” A pause. “Would you like to go out with me sometime?”
And then his eyes grew wide, and he set down his tea. “I didn’t mean to ask that.”
That sharp stabbing sensation in her chest hurt more than she thought it would at his words. At the fact he hadn’t wanted to be with her…had thought it a mistake? Just after one moment of clarity?
Ouch.
She stood there, blinking, then looked up at him.
“Oh? I see.”
Ryan cursed under his breath and then moved around the counter. He cupped her face. He’d never touched her like this before. And it made her freeze.
He was touching her, his hands soft. He was caring. And he was touching her.
“I didn’t mean it like that, I swear. I only meant that I didn’t mean to ask you out like that. The thoughts were going through my head, and I didn’t realize the words had spilled out until they did.”
“So, do you want to take it back?”
He was silent for so long that she was afraid she might cry. Even with his hands still on her face. She didn’t know why she felt like this with rejection.
But she did.
“I didn’t know what you were going to say. So I didn’t ask before. And I didn’t want to take advantage of our friendship by asking. But now that I did, I don’t want to take it back.”
“Oh.” Her words a breath.
“So? Abby? Do you want to get some dinner with me?” He ran his thumb across her cheek, and she barely resisted closing her eyes and leaning into him. “Any time you want. Any place. All you have to do is say yes, and I’m yours.”
That sounded nice. Being his. Though she didn’t know what that would entail.
And she knew she was ready, but she didn’t know exactly what that meant.
Because she took so long to answer, she saw his gaze shutter, saw the way he wanted to move back. He thought she was going to say no. He wondered if he was making a mistake.
And because she knew she should say no, because their friendship was more important than anything, she did the one thing that she shouldn’t do.
She opened her mouth and spoke. “Yes. I’d love to go out with you.”
She just hoped she hadn’t made another mistake.