Always My Hero (23 page)

“We need to discuss that offer on the store,” Ryan reminded his parents once everyone was seated and the bread basket had finished making its rounds.

“No!” His father’s fist came down hard on the table, rattling the plates and silverware.

Okay, this could mean that no, he did not wish to discuss the offer. Or no, he did not want to accept the offer. But the man had just spoken his first word since the stroke and, while he stared vehemently at his son, everyone else at the table wore broad grins. This was good. This was very good.

“Tell me how you really feel, Dad.” Ryan winked.

The man waggled his finger threateningly at him, but the sparkle in his eyes ruined its full effect.

“Tell your father about the position at the high school,” his mother prompted.

“Wait, Dad, you want to be a teacher?” Wesley asked.

“Not just a teacher, pal. A gym teacher. And the football coach. What do you think of that?”

“You mean we could stay? In Scallop Shores? Like, forever?” Hope shone on Wesley’s face. If only it would always be this easy to make his son happy.

“That’s the plan.”

“I have an idea. Let’s move out of our apartment and find a bigger place.” Wesley swiped at his mouth with a napkin and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

Uh oh. Thinking Wesley meant that their apartment was cramped now that Haley was staying with them, Ryan realized he probably ought to explain that she’d be leaving soon. Was it possible that mother and son had managed to bond during the time she’d lived there?

“You know your mom and I aren’t getting back together, right bud?”

“Duh! I meant a bigger place for you, me, and Bree. If we’re staying, that means you’re going to marry her, right?”

All eyes were now on him. Marry Bree. Ryan felt his smile stretch wider and wider. He liked the way this kid thought.

“Would you like that?”

“Yesh!” His dad’s fist came down on the table for the second time that evening, spittle flying from his lips.

Looks like it was unanimous. They were not going to sell the store and they were, no,
he
was
marrying Bree. If she’d have his stubborn ass.

Bree didn’t know if this new persona was better or worse than the shy one she’d hidden behind in high school. The new Bree certainly seemed a glutton for punishment. Take the other night for example. Ryan had left the photo shoot, that afternoon, before they even had a chance to talk. Old Bree would have taken that for the hint it was and slunk off to her apartment to read. New Bree banged on his door that evening until it was answered by Haley, wearing nothing but a tiny silk robe and sipping on a glass of wine.

If she were less sure of herself, Bree would have assumed that Haley was planning to throw herself at Ryan once he got home and Wesley was safely tucked in for the night. The funny thing was, by the time Haley finally got to the door, Bree had already discovered Ryan’s missing truck and figured out he was probably hiding from the both of them. So the smug look on Haley’s face really did nothing to cow her like it did all those years ago.

Whatever makes you feel better about yourself, you sad little witch.

But New Bree wasn’t going to slink away and admit defeat. Ryan may have needed some time to hide out from his women problems but enough was enough. They’d danced around each other for a few days, managing to avoid being alone together, but that wasn’t solving anything. Get over it already. They could discuss their relationship another time.

Today she had the final proofs for the calendar she wanted to show him. Damian had been working overtime to finish up her project to get back to the one he’d set aside. She was proud of how it had turned out and she wasn’t going to wait for Ryan to feel comfortable enough to come to her. She was going to him.

And because she was just that amazing, she stopped by Cady’s Dream that morning and picked up coffee for Ryan, herself, and even Haley. Someone, somewhere, better be keeping a tally of brownie points for stuff like this, ’cause she’d earned it. Holding the drink carrier in one hand, she reached out to pull open the door to Pettridge Hardware when Ryan suddenly loomed in the spotless glass.

Bree squealed, stepping back suddenly as he pushed the door open and held it for her to get through with the drinks and her laptop bag.

“Great timing. This concerns you and I think it’s only fair that you’re here for this.” He flipped the store sign to Closed and locked the door with a decisive click.

What on Earth had she walked in on?

“I brought coffee.” Uncomfortable with the palpable current of tension, Bree straightened her spine and made a beeline for the counter, where she set down the drink carrier.

“Ooh, you shouldn’t have!” Haley purred as she reached for the drink with her name on it. “Wait, did your little friend at the coffee shop spit in it?” She looked down her nose at Bree.

“Probably.” She smiled brightly as she reached for her own double shot mocha and took a sip before turning to see what sort of bug Ryan had up his butt today.

“Thanks for the coffee. I don’t deserve it, and neither does she.” He pointed to Haley. “Really.”

Bree’s heart started to pound and she wrapped a second hand around her drink to keep from spilling it. Oh God. The short robe. The wine. The other night. Wait. Was this why he’d still been avoiding her? He was going to admit to being seduced by his ex-wife, wasn’t he? Like a boa constrictor was slowly wrapping her in its clutches, her breath came out in quick little pants.

“What did I do now, Mr. Uppity? Are you still pissed that I left Wesley alone that time? I told him to run over and knock on the door.”

Ryan paced the front of the store, turning repeatedly to stare out the window. He seemed uncomfortable about having this conversation anywhere the townsfolk might overhear and eventually headed deeper into the store, back toward the office. Haley rolled her eyes toward the ceiling like he was being melodramatic. Bree followed quietly, declining the only chair in the room even when he gestured for her to sit down. She remained in the doorway, ready to run once she heard the awful news. Haley, unconcerned, sashayed into the room and dropped into Bo’s office chair, spinning around a few times for good measure.

“This might come off a tad hypocritical, but I had a very enlightening conversation with Doyle the other day. In the grocery store, of all places.” Ryan leaned against the far corner, folding his arms across his chest.

“Okay, so I went out with him once or twice. Nothing wrong with that. We’re both single and not looking for anything serious. Big deal. You aren’t my keeper.” She sounded like a petulant teenager who’d been caught sneaking out after curfew.

Bree wondered when the woman planned to grow up and take on adult responsibilities. Goodness knew she hadn’t taken any steps in that direction yet. But the tone of the conversation began to ease the tight band constricting her own breathing.

“I don’t give a damn what you do now. It’s what you did a long time ago that has me wanting to wrap my fingers around your skinny little neck and squeeze ... hard.”

Looking from one to the other, Bree tried to catch up on what wasn’t being said. Because there was a huge part of the equation she was missing. She wasn’t sure how this had anything to do with her. Haley’s eyes widened before she turned her attention to the paper cup in her hands, refusing to make eye contact with her ex-husband.

“Admit it, Haley!” He kicked backwards at the wall so hard that the frame holding the store permit fell to the ground and shattered.

“What do you want me to say? I screwed Doyle at the party you flaked on? Because I was lonely. Because you were in town getting some from your nerdy tutor? So what!” She set the coffee down hard enough for some to spill out, staining the papers on the top of the desk.

“You think that’s the part that bothers me? That you slept with Doyle? You two are welcome to each other. You deserve each other.”

He raked his hands through his hair, shooting a quick glance Bree’s way. He looked so sad, so guilty. Bree wanted to go to him, take him in her arms and tell him he did nothing wrong. But she sensed there was more to this story and fear rooted her to the spot.

“You knew all along. You knew I loved Bree. You knew I’d been with her. You knew I was with you only out of a twisted, stupid sense of guilt and shame. You knew I didn’t love you.

“You convinced me that you loved me. That you wouldn’t be happy unless we were together. You had our lives planned out. I went along with it because I thought I was doing the right thing, for you and for Bree. I thought I had betrayed you.

“You acted so fragile when we first got to college. You refused to leave my side. You never actually came out and said it, but you implied that you’d hurt yourself if I ever left you. I figured if you found out about that night, you’d do something drastic. And now I realize that was just an elaborate hoax. Congratulations, it was your best role yet.” Ryan clapped his hands together, his eyes empty and cold.

“Yes, thank you. I was quite proud. But had I known how things would turn out, I wouldn’t have bothered. You were going places. We were going places. Until you ruined your career. Brilliant move, by the way. Slipping in the shower? Who does that? I can’t believe I wasted the best years of my life on you. You really could have been something.”

Bree gasped. The woman had no shame!

“That’s it, I’m done. Get out of my store. Get out of my apartment. Pack up your crap and get the hell out of my life.” Ryan sneered, taking a threatening step toward his ex-wife.

“You can’t do that! Where will I go? You wouldn’t let the mother of your child live on the street, would you?” Haley was onstage now, in her element.

“Watch me.”

“Ryan, sweetheart, I have the perfect solution.” Now Haley was backpedaling. “Never want to see me again? Sell the store to that buyer offering the butt load of money. Give me enough to pay off my creditors and float me for a few months in LA, just until I get back on my feet. I’ll get out of your hair. I’ll disappear.”

“I’m not selling the store, Haley.”

“You’re not?” This from both women, who stared at him, puzzled. It was an incredible offer with the ability to set him and his parents up for life. He’d be crazy not to take it.

“Look, it’s not my store to sell. It’s Dad’s. And he doesn’t want to sell. Bottom line. I’ll run it myself. It’ll work out.” Again, he was looking at her and not Haley.

If that’s what made him happy. She just wanted him to be happy.

“Fine. I’ll stay with Doyle. He’s the only person in this podunk town who appreciates me.” Haley stood up with a flourish, brushing past Bree, still standing in the doorway.

They both turned to watch her go. She got about halfway through the store before she spun around, fixing Bree with a calculating glare.

“But since we’re all spilling our nasty little secrets, you ought to know that sweet, innocent Bree has the juiciest one.”

No! She said she’d tell him. It wasn’t Haley’s place.

“This isn’t your business, Haley. I already explained that I’d tell him. Not you.”

“You’ve had thirteen years to tell him. I think that’s plenty long enough, don’t you?”

Haley looked her up and down, sneering. The cold, flinty look in her eyes chilled Bree to the bone. Ryan turned to her. She could see him out of the corner of her eye but she was too ashamed to face him.

“What’s she talking about, Bree?”

Please don’t hate me. I love you, Ryan
.

“You know that amazing night you spent with Bree? The night you cheated on me? Did you remember to wear a condom, by any chance?”

Haley let that sink in before she continued.

“Our darling Wesley wasn’t your first child, Ryan. You and Bree made a baby too. But she wouldn’t keep it. So sad.” Haley’s pout was a mockery of all the pain Bree had experienced.

“That’s a lie! I lost the baby! I didn’t abort it. Ryan, I had a miscarriage. I swear to God!” Tears filled her eyes and panic drilled through her gut. She was going to throw up or pass out, she wasn’t sure which yet.

“Get out! Get the hell out of here!” Ryan pushed past her, grabbing Haley by the upper arm and hauling her to the front door where he unlocked it with one hand, opened it and shoved her onto the sidewalk.

Turning around, he began to walk back toward the office, eyes unfocused and hands trembling.

“Ryan, she’s lying. I didn’t have an abortion. The doctor didn’t know what went wrong. He said these things just happen. That it was probably for the best. Twelve weeks. Our baby lived for twelve weeks inside me. I’m so sorry I couldn’t bring it to term.” The words were tumbling from her lips, mixed with the salt from her tears.

“Haley’s lied to me all along. There is no possible way I could believe her now.” However, he refused to look at her. “I need to be alone, Bree. Please just let me deal with this my own way.”

He didn’t say another word as he slumped into the desk chair, banged his elbows down on top of the desk and dropped his face into his open palms. His shoulders were quaking and Bree wasn’t sure if he was crying or just really, really close. She waited a moment and when he still didn’t acknowledge her, she slipped quietly out of the store.

That was it then. It could have gone one way or the other. At least now she knew. Whether he harbored any doubts over her version of the loss of their baby versus Haley’s, or whether he was upset because she’d kept her miscarriage from him didn’t really matter. It was too much. They were through.

• • •

Crack! The brightly colored billiard balls spun crazily toward the far end of the table. Ryan sunk two of the striped ones on the break, earning a high five from Luke. After he missed the next shot, he propped his cue stick against the wall and retrieved his beer mug. No bottles for him tonight. He was drinking from a pitcher.

At first he felt guilty for asking his mom if Wesley could spend another night there, especially since it was a school night. But she’d gushed about all the time they had to make up for, that she was just so grateful to finally have her grandson living in the same town that she
could
take him for sleepovers. She told Ryan they’d make their own pizzas from scratch and probably a batch or two of cookies. Then she’d insisted he take all the time he needed with Bree. Damn it. She thought he was with Bree.