Maybe This Time(35)

“How was class, Summer?” dad asks, smiling at my obvious discomfort.

“It was good, I know I’m going to enjoy it,” I tell him.

“Proud of you,” he says, lifting up his drink in a toast.

Trying not to get emotional, I say thank you, and clear my throat. Reid squeezes my thigh, obviously seeing right through me. I can’t help it though, I never thought I would see the day when I'd hear my dad say things like that to me. We shoot the shit for a little while, until it’s time for me to start my shift. I change, clock in, and then take over from Tag, who heads out for his break.

The night passes quickly, and before I know it, it’s closing time. Ryan is sitting at the bar, going over some paperwork, while Reid is doing stock take. Tag already left to pick his kid up. He showed me pictures of his daughter, and she is absolutely beautiful. Her birthday is coming up and I make a mental note to buy her a gift. I finish wiping down all the counters when I see Jade standing at the entrance, knocking on the locked door.

“Ryan, why is Jade at the door?” I ask him, raising an eyebrow. He walks around the bar, and towards the door, unlocking it and letting her enter.

“What are you doing here?” he asks her, his tone neither friendly nor hostile.

“I haven’t seen you or Reid in a while so I thought I would drop by,” she says, sounding a little unsure. I slap the cloth down on the table and walk to the back. Reid is sitting there, writing furiously in a notebook. He looks adorable, his brow furrowing in concentration.

“Jade is here,” I announce, trying to keep a poker face.

“What?” he asks, standing up. I can tell by the look on his face he wasn’t expecting her.

I walk back out without answering, just in time to hear her say, “It’s not fair I don’t get to be in Reid’s life because of her insecurities!” Her pale face goes red, and it’s not a very attractive look.

“That’s enough,” Reid growls, walking up behind me and putting his arms around me.

“Summer, this is Jade. Jade, Summer is my woman, my first priority. You need to understand that,” he says, pulling me closer against his chest.

“So, what, you and I can’t even be friends anymore?” She gasps, tears forming in her eyes. I look at Ryan, who looks agitated. I’m so confused right now, isn’t she Ryan’s ex?

“Jade, why are you being so fucking difficult?” Reid sighs, letting me go and lacing his hands behind his head.

“Because this bitch came along and stole my only connection to my dead boyfriend! We had a plan, Reid, and this is fucking it all up!” she screeches, and I cringe. Dead boyfriend? Fuck. Reid’s brother that passed away, Reece. This is his ex-girlfriend?

“If you cared so much about your ex-boyfriend why were you trying to kiss his brother?” I spit out, feeling guilty when her face pales. She clutches her hands over her chest dramatically, and her bottom lip trembles.

“Summer,” Reid admonishes, and then I really lose my temper.

“So don’t Summer me! I assumed she was Ryan’s ex, since you didn’t specify which brother, and now she’s playing the guilt card? Well, she didn’t look fucking guilty when she was trying to kiss you! This act she’s pulling!” I gesture to her. “It's not working. I hate manipulative bitches,” I growl the last word, stepping away from Reid.

“You don’t know anything, you have been in their lives for a second! I’ve been here for years,” she says smugly, her damsel in distress routine ending.

“This isn’t a competition,” I say, my palms clenching into fists.

“Well if it is, you lose. They won’t choose you over me!” she snaps, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Jade, that’s enough!” Reid roars, clearly having had enough drama. I ignore him and walk over to Ryan, really needing to talk to him in that moment.

“Ryan, can you take me home?” I ask him. I see Ryan look over my head to Reid, before looking down at me, grimacing.

“I want to, babe, but I think my brother will kill me in my sleep,” he mock whispers. I turn around and pin Reid with a stare that would cause a lesser man to tremble.

“Ryan is taking me to your place, you deal with this,” I tell him, daring him to argue.

“Fine,” he grits, “but you aren’t gonna use this against me later.” I roll my eyes, unable to deny that the man knows me pretty damn well. He walks over to me and kisses me deeply, his hands tangling in my hair. I pull away.

“See you soon,” I say, walking to the front door. Ryan catches up, and we walk together to his car. We don’t say anything until we're both inside the car and he starts the engine.