Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,217

afternoon, lazybones.”

“Really, Aaron?” I pull the covers back down and glare at him.

He grins. Then sends a message on his phone. “Yes, really. Now get up. I need you to ride to town with me.”

“No.”

“Yes, come on, get up. We’re going to go grab something to eat.”

I start to tell him I’m not hungry, but my stomach betrays me and growls. “Fine, but I need to shower first,” I relent.

“Twenty minutes, I’m starving,” he says, typing into his phone.

“Who are you texting?” I ask.

“Just the guys. They have some questions about the sale next week. I left early to come and take you to dinner.” He grins.

Twenty minutes later, we are in his truck and on our way to town. “I see you kept the ring on,” he says. “I went to see Evan this morning,” he tells me as if we’re discussing the weather.

“How are they?”

“He misses you.”

“He’s fine.”

“I really don’t think he is.”

I don’t reply and he doesn’t either. We are silent the remainder of the drive. He pulls into Subway. “This okay?”

“Yeah, I’m not that hungry anyway.”

“You think your belly got the memo?” he asks as it growls just as loud, if not louder, than before.

I smack his arm and climb out of the truck. We make small talk while we eat. I get a six-inch and can only eat half. It took effort to get that down. Aaron, on the other hand, ate his twelve-inch and the other half of my six.

“You have anywhere you need to go?” he asks.

“No, just home.”

He drives us toward home, only he turns down the road leading to Evan’s place. “What are you doing?” I ask him.

“You need to talk to him, McKinley. I’ll wait outside and I promise, as soon as you want to leave, I will drive you home. You will regret it if you don’t at least hear what he has to say.”

“What could he possibly say that hasn’t already been said?”

“Did you tell him you love him?” he asks.

“No,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Sounds like a good place to start.”

“I can’t—”

“Don’t,” he cuts me off. “Don’t make excuses,” he pulls up in front of the house I’ve called home the last few months. “Drop the pretense. Just go in there and talk to him. Listen to what he has to say. Be honest with him, and if you all are still in this same place after that, you will at least know you tried.”

“Fine.” I climb out of the truck slamming the door. As I walk up the steps, Evan opens the door before I even have a chance to knock.

“McKinley.” I can hear the pain in his voice. Was Aaron, right?

“Hey, uh, Aaron thought we should talk.”

“Yeah, I asked him to bring you here.” He opens the door wide. “Come in.”

I step toward him and, just as I’m about past him, his arms snake out and pull me close. The door slams shut, but it doesn’t faze him as he holds me tight.

Lexi babbles “Dada” from the living room, causing him to release me. “She’s going to be excited to see you,” he says, lacing his fingers through mine and guiding me into the living room.

“Can I hold her?” I ask as tears fill my eyes. It’s only been a day. Not even a full twenty-four hours and I miss them both so much.

“You never have to ask that question.”

I rush to her pack-n-play and lift her out. I breathe in her baby smell and more tears start to fall. She watches me as if she knows I’m upset. “I missed you, Lex.”

Evan turns on cartoons and her eyes are suddenly glued to the television. He reaches for her, sets her in her exer-saucer, and looks up at me. “I’m not going to be one of those guys, the kind who places their kid in front of the TV or video game, but right now, I need to. I have some things to say and I need to know I have your attention while Shrek has hers.”

I nod.

Reaching out for my hand, he guides me to the couch, I sit and he kneels in front of me. “I’m sorry. When you told me you were leaving yesterday, I panicked. I didn’t make myself clear.”

“Evan—”

“Please, let me say this.” He reaches for my other hand and smiles. “You’re still wearing your ring.”

“I just…forgot it was there really. I need to give it back, I know—”

“Shhh.” He places his finger to my lips. “I