Maybe This Time(65)
“I overheard Reece and Mia talking before the fight,” he says, looking down at the table.
“This is a clusterfuck,” I say, puffing out a breath. “You look like shit, Silas. Go home and rest. And… stop punishing yourself,” I say softly.
He makes a scoffing sound. “If only, Summer, if only.” He gets up and walks out, without looking back.
Right here and now I decide, there's no way in hell I can ever tell Reid about this.
He’s not mine to worry about anymore anyway, right?
I force myself to study for a few hours and then head home. When I see Ryan’s motorcycle parked at my house, I’m extremely surprised. I walk into the house a little warily, not knowing what to expect.
“There you are,” he says, standing in the kitchen drinking a juice box.
“Hey.”
“How you holding up, babe?” he says, his eyes softening.
“I’m okay.”
“You don’t look okay,” he says knowingly.
“That’s not very nice of you to point that out,” I snap.
“He’s gonna realise he fucked up,” he says.
“And he’s gonna be too late,” I reply softly, walking to the couch and sitting down. Animal Planet is on, Ryan’s favourite channel.
“He was hurt, babe, he'll get over it.”
“You’re not mad at me?” I ask, turning my head to follow his movements as he walks towards me and takes a seat next to me.
“No. Xander told me what happened, not your fault, babe,” he says, pulling gently on a lock of my hair.
“I’m not working for you anymore,” I announce.
“Babe-”
“I’ll stay for two weeks so you can find someone else.”
“Stubborn.”
“I’m serious.”
“We’ll see babe, two weeks is a long time,” he says with a sly smile.
“Where is he?” I ask.
“At home in his room, sulking.” I lean forward and wrap my arms around Ryan’s stomach.
“I’m glad you’re not mad at me. I thought you were gonna cut me out of your life,” I admit.
“Cos my brother overreacted? Don’t think so.”
“Love you, Ry.”
“Love you too, Summer, babe,” he says, holding me in his arms.
Chapter Twenty Two
Four days later, I’m getting dressed for work, dreading having to see everyone, when there’s a knock on my door.
“Come in, Xander!” I call out, looking under my bed for my shoe. I find it and cheer, and then glance up at the door.
Reid.
I get up off the floor and scowl. “What are you doing here?” I ask. He looks good. Definitely isn’t pining away for me, that’s for damn sure.
“We need to talk,” he says, rubbing his right hand through his hair. He’s cut the sides off even shorter, and the top is thick and full, pushed back on his head.
Fucking hot.
“I’m pretty sure you said all that needed to be said,” I say, sitting down on the edge of my mattress.
A flash of remorse passes over his expression. “I fucked up. I saw him, you were touching him, and I lost it.” I don’t say anything so he continues. “We got into a fight before you and Ryan arrived. I hit him, he didn’t even fight back, he just stood there and took it which pissed me off even more.” He closes his eyes.
“You realize choosing to fight comes with certain consequences. Silas didn’t get into that ring with a plan to kill anyone.”
Reid’s jaw tightens at my defence of Silas. “I know,” he admits quietly after a few tense moments of silence.
“Do you?”
“I’m trying.”
Well, that’s something, at least.
“Okay, thank you for coming by to explain, Reid,” I say, picking up my handbag.
“That’s it?” he asks, frowning.
“What, you expected me to run back into your arms after you spoke to me like that? Treated me like that? I’m sorry for what happened, Reid, and I don’t know what girls you’re used to. But as far as I’m concerned, this right here is done. Now excuse me, cos I gotta get to work,” I say, waiting for him to move away from the door.
“I fucked up, baby, it’s gonna happen. I’m sorry, I never should have spoken to you like that. I love you so fucking much-”
“I gotta go to work, Reid.”
“I’ll follow you there,” he says, trailing me as I walk out.
Xander looks at me and Reid curiously, arching a brow. “Bye, Xander.”
“Bye, sis.”
I drive to work and Reid follows me on his bike. I turn up the volume on T-Pain's ‘Booty Wurk’ trying to block out the image of him in my rear view mirror, looking sexy as hell on his bike. I park and exit my car swiftly, walking into the bar without even looking around.