Two to Tangle (A Tangle Valley Romance #2) - Melissa Brayden Page 0,113
set up a meeting with the DA. I don’t know much about this stuff, though.”
“About the love. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Lana laughed. “Gotcha. What happened to Madison?”
She swallowed. “I don’t know.”
“Huh. This is complicated. A love triangle. It’s like The Young and the Restless over there.”
“Definitely the restless part.” Ryan heard the front door open, and in a matter of moments, Billy, the enjoyable dope, appeared with a six-pack of brewskis in his hand.
“Hang on. Billy’s here. I called him for reinforcements.” Dale ditched her and jumped in circles around his work buddy.
“What did I miss?” Billy asked, placing the beer on the counter and then scratching Dale behind his ears vigorously. “Oh, that’s right. You’re a criminal.”
She held up a finger. “A misunderstood innocent. But there are bigger fish.”
He looked around. “Awesome. I’m starving.”
“No,” she said, closing her eyes. She returned to Lana. “So far, he’s not helpful. Save me.”
“Is this about the thing you texted?” Billy asked. “Chef-oh-la Gabriella? I say close your eyes and leap. Was thinking about it on the car ride over here. What else do you have going for you?” He looked in boredom around her empty living room. “I like her. She’s a knockout with a fantastic rack and probably makes great snacks. Great snacks go a long way.”
Ryan adjusted the phone. “He’s being a guy. I need guidance. Putting you on speaker.” She looked to Billy and put the phone down between them. “It’s Lana.”
“Does she know you threw down with her ex last night? Bam,” he said, imitating a punch. “I can’t believe I missed it. No one got the swing on video, either. I asked around.”
“Would you focus? This is my life we’re talking about.” She heard the foreign desperation in her voice.
“Yep. Got any chips?”
She pointed at the cabinet, and Lana chimed in, “Well, does knowing that Gabriella’s feelings match yours change anything for you? I feel like a therapist right now. I should look into a license. And smart glasses.”
Ryan replayed Gabriella’s confession. Yeah, I did mean love. Her eyes had confirmed it. Ryan had been so surprised, affected, and rattled since she’d heard the words. “I think it’s making me look back over everything we’ve said to each other with new eyes. It all comes with a different meaning, and I can’t stop my mind from racing. I’m literally pacing in my kitchen right now.”
“It’s true.” Billy munched chips from where he sat on top of her marble counter. “What if you just misinterpreted everything and screwed it all the hell up? I’ve done that before. A lot.”
She closed her eyes. “That’s the first helpful thing you’ve said since you arrived.”
“Hurtful.” He went back to his chips.
“Well, is he right?” Lana asked. “Did you screw it all up?”
“I don’t know. Probably. Yes.” Ryan ran a hand through her hair, which was likely a jumbled mess from having done the same eighty times that day. She thought how much Gabriella would have loved it and felt that familiar flutter in her midsection. Why was she fluttering again? The thought of Gabriella these days made her stomach feel sick and uncomfortable. Was this a sign that she now had hope that they could be…something? “I decided that Gabriella would be happier with someone else.”
“Damn right, you did,” Billy said and turned his cap backward. “Wasn’t your call.”
“I’ve never done this before, okay? I was winging it.” She felt her eyes go wide as the full brunt of understanding swept over her like an enormous tidal wave. “But we were actually really happy together.” She touched her chest. “I’d never been that happy in my entire life. What if she was that happy, too?”
“Imagine that,” Lana said.
Billy nodded. “Everything was fine and you tanked it.”
Ryan blinked, her chest tightening and her brain screaming. “What do I do?”
“Nothing. You live with your sorry choices.” Billy grinned. “Kidding. Tell her you’re sorry.”
“I think it’s gonna take a little more than that,” Lana offered tentatively. “I saw her body language at Maraschino’s. Totally closed off to you. Uncomfortable as hell.”
“Because I really hurt her.” She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, forcing herself to be honest. “I’m a stupid asshole.”
Billy nodded. “But a likable stupid asshole. She’ll see that.”
“Call her,” Lana said.
“No.” The idea terrified her now. All she wanted to do was go back in time, scoop Gabriella into her arms, and not let go. She shook her head, imagining Gabriella looking for her at the restaurant opening