Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
I sit down in the chair, sinking into the cushions. I should have known that Caroline would have already heard about last night. The Whiskey Run grapevine is in full effect.
“My car broke down.” I cover my face thinking about it. I’m still embarrassed to have been caught driving by Ryker’s. “Uh, I was driving by Ryker's new house, and my car broke down right in front of it."
I tell her the whole sordid story. She nods, eyes wide, and sits down next to me. “What are you going to do?
I laugh bitterly. “Wait for him to come to his senses?”
“Bullshit,” Caroline says. “So help me if you screw this up again... Isabel, this is your second chance. You loved him, and don't try to tell me you didn't.”
I stand up and look at myself in the full-length mirror. I tug at my shirt that fits tighter than it probably should. I suck in my breath and turn to the side and then blow it out. “Look at me. This is ridiculous. I have no business…” I stutter. “He can be with anyone.”
Caroline stands up and grabs my hands. “And he wants you.”
Overwhelmed, I shake my head. “This is crazy. You know that, right? Stuff like this doesn't happen to single mom divorcees. This is ridiculous.”
Caroline puts her hands on my shoulders. “Isabel, you deserve this. Promise me that you will be open to this and hear him out. Please. You deserve to be happy.”
I know my best friend is not going to let me out of here until I promise her, so I agree. “I promise."
She tilts her head to the side and challenges me. “Isabel.”
I hold my hands up, palms out. “I promise.”
Satisfied, she hugs me and then makes me promise to give her all the details.
My phone dings with text.
I’m hesitant to look, but I am glad I do when I see Ryker's name pop up.
“Your car is going to be ready in the afternoon. I'm going to take it to your house and park it.”
On edge, I ask, “How much is it? I can call and pay for it."
“It's free today,” he responds.
I frown at my phone and type back, “I thought you said you wouldn't lie to me.”
My phone starts to ring almost instantly.
“Hello?”
“Izzy. It's not free, but I'm not taking your money for it.”
I shake my head at the same time Caroline looks at me sternly. “I can't let you pay for my car."
He sighs. “Izzy. Let me do this. I want to do something for you—"
I cut him off. “Uh, hello. You had my car towed to the shop. You picked up my kid and his friends. You fed us dinner. Heck, you fed half his basketball team. You got up early and took Brock to school and me to work. I think you've done plenty.”
His voice is deep and filled with emotion. “I have twenty years to make up for, Izzy.”
If my silence unnerves him, he doesn't act like it. Calmly, he says, “Izzy, I know you're independent, and I know you can take care of all this on your own. But you don't have to. Can you just try to enjoy having someone around that wants to take care of you?”
More silence.
“Repeat after me. Thank you, Ry. Oh, and I'm looking forward to tonight.”
I sigh. “Thank you, Ry. I’m looking forward to tonight.”
I just know he’s smiling when he says, “See you soon, baby.”
He hangs up, and Caroline is standing next to me with her hands over her mouth. “Oh, Isabel, you might as well give up. That man wants you.”
I open my mouth just as the doctor's voice booms down the hallway. “Good morning, ladies.”
Caroline and I both get into work mode after she gives me an excited hug and then walks out of the break room to greet the doctor.
I follow her out to the nurse’s station and start going through the day’s appointments. I need to focus on my job instead of Ryker, but throughout the day, I think about him and everything he’s said to me in the twenty-four hours. I figure I have two options. I can keep doubting him, or I can trust that what he says is true. And Ryker Kirby really does still love me.
CHAPTER 9
RYKER
I'm happy. Really happy. I haven’t felt this feeling this way in a very long time.
But as I look over at Isabel, I can feel how tense she is. “Can I get you something from the concessions?"
She puts a hand to her belly. “Ry, you got me a double bacon cheeseburger, fries, and Blaze apple cinnamon cake from Red's Diner. I can't eat another thing."
She looks around the gymnasium and leans into me. “Everyone is looking at us."
I lean back. “I'm pretty sure they're talking about us too."
She tenses, and I nudge her with my shoulder. “Hey, are you okay? I can move if this is too much, too fast. I'm not in any rush..."