Choose Me by Heidi McLaughlin

Author:Heidi McLaughlin [McLaughlin, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romance
Amazon: B00V9EXRYM
Barnesnoble: B00V9EXRYM
Goodreads: 18948711
Publisher: Heidi McLaughlin
Published: 2015-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

THERE HASN’T BEEN A time in the past six years that I haven’t jumped when Ryley has called, until today. As much as I want to sit down and talk with Evan, spending the afternoon with him is not high on my list right now, especially with his team members and Jensen and Carole around. Jensen has never been shy about his feelings toward me. Evan was, and probably still is, the son he’s always wanted. At best, he tolerates me because he has to. But now that Evan is back, I can’t imagine Jensen wants to pay attention to me at all. If that’s not going to be awkward, I don’t know what is.

I walk to the back gate instead of through the house. I don’t know why, but with Evan here, it feels like I shouldn’t. After giving Ryley the letter that Evan wrote, I’ve been second-guessing my spot in Ryley’s life. Maybe it was my subconscious that forgot about the letter. It had been so long since he gave it to me that I just didn’t remember it until yesterday. I knew that as soon as I handed it to her, I’d be sealing my own fate. He was madly in love with her at eighteen. I can only imagine what that letter says.

Steeling myself for what’s surely going to be a rocky afternoon, I open the gate and walk into the backyard. Deefur is the first one to greet me. At least he’s happy to see me. One can always count on man’s best friend. Ryley walks over to me and I pause. I can be like Evan and take her here, piss on her leg and show him that she’s mine or I can treat her like I’ve always treated her - with respect.

The respect always wins out where I’m concerned and I kiss her lightly on the cheek. “These are for you,” I tell her, showing her the flowers I’m holding. Her hand caresses mine as she grabs a hold of the packaged stems. Her eyes never leave mine as she inhales the flowers’ fragrant scent.

“They’re beautiful.”

“Not nearly as beautiful as you,” I say and this time I ignore the people in the backyard and pull her into a kiss. When she pulls away there’s a smile where my lips just were.

“I’m going to go put these in water.” She’s gone before I can respond and even though her family and mine are mingling in the backyard, I feel utterly alone. Jensen and Evan are deep in conversation, and it makes me wonder whether my showmanship was even witnessed. Did Evan see Ryley react to me? Did he see how good Ryley and I are together? And then there’s my sister, hanging on every word coming out of Evan’s mouth right now, laughing at anything he says. Where’s my greeting? And more importantly, where’s my son?

Climbing the steps of the deck, I step into the house. Ryley is standing at the sink with her attention focused on the backyard.

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