No Turning Back (Breaking the Rules #4) - A.M. Madden Page 0,12
with my lips. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Two crystal-blue daggers shot straight through me. So different than the warm brown eyes that had practically brought me to my knees even all this time later.
Like a magic trick, a switch flipped, and I knew Maggie and I were over before things even began. It wasn’t fair to compare the girl I once loved to the girl beside me… still, I couldn’t not.
It was also stupid to ignore Riana was in a relationship. But I’d rather be friends than be nothing, and maybe things weren’t serious between them.
Although I had planned on parting ways with Maggie before seeing Riana anyway, saying what sat on the tip of my tongue now would seem cold and calculating. It would have to wait until tomorrow.
“Fine,” she huffed and shot out of my car without a backward glance. This harpy jealous thing wasn’t like her. We may not have had a lot in common, but Maggie had been fun to be with. Was it something she’d seen in my reaction toward seeing Riana? Regardless, I knew before, and I knew now, that things with Maggie weren’t going to work out.
I also knew I’d be calling Riana sooner than later.
She appeared in my dream that night.
And then again in my fantasy during a shower.
I tried to go about my day, but nothing seemed to dislodge her from my thoughts.
Not the conversation with Wes, not even when I tapped on Maggie’s contact in my phone to say what I should’ve before now.
Her curt hello didn’t surprise me. Neither did the snarky response she threw my way when I suggested we continue as friends. “I have plenty of friends,” she snapped. “Take care, Ryder.”
My reciprocating well wishes went unheard, because she hung up before I uttered them.
Whatever… my soul mate she was not.
The next call I made was to a number I had refused to delete.
“Hello?”
Not wanting to assume she had also saved my number, I said, “Ree, it’s Ryder.”
“I know.” A thrill shot through me that she had. “Is something wrong?”
Wondering why she would think that, I responded, “No. Not at all. It was so nice seeing you, and I want to know if you’d like to grab dinner.” Remembering the guy that she was with, I quickly tacked on, “As friends wanting to catch up.”
“That sounds nice.” Her words relayed one thing, but her tone said something entirely different. “Are you visiting for long?” I chuckled because she had assumed the same as I had the night before. “What?”
“I live here too… in Miami.”
“Oh. When did you move?”
“About six months ago. I got promoted again.”
“Congratulations on your success. I’m happy for you, Ryder.” The sincerity was obvious in her voice. Yes, I was proud to be where I was in my career, but it suddenly seemed so unimportant.
“Thank you. What brought you to Florida?”
A long pause came before she said, “Life took a detour.” Her choice of words pinched painfully in my chest… they were words I had once used on her. Unfortunately, my detour hadn’t brought me back to the starting point like it was supposed to.
Even though she had a boyfriend, I desperately wanted to know all she’d been up to lately, to know what had really brought her to Florida. One way or another, I would spend time with Riana.
“Isn’t it funny we’re both in the same state at the same time?” I asked lightheartedly, but another pause made me anxious she wasn’t as excited about that tidbit as I was. Maybe assuming she’d be the same Riana was wrong of me. A lot could’ve happened in three years… I was a testament to that.
“Yeah, that is funny,” she finally said. “Where did you want to meet?”
“I can come pick you up. I know of a great place on the beach in Fort Lauderdale. How’s Saturday?”
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Not at all.”
“Okay, I’m at the Chateau until I can find an apartment. Will… um… Maggie, was it? Will she be joining us?”
“No, just me.” I didn’t want to get into how Maggie wasn’t in the picture any longer over the phone. I’d rather explain things to her in person. But then a twinge of disappointment hit from the possibility that she wanted to double-date. “Hey, feel free to bring your boyfriend, though.” It would kill me to have a front-row seat in their romance, but if she were happy…