“Who’s Katie?” I ask, wanting to join in on their conversation.
Ryan looks at me, eyes wide like he’s forgotten I am here. “Someone I used to know.”
Mel stiffens while screwing up her face. “Really, Ryan?”
“Mel, please… leave it,” he chides, making goose bumps litter my skin.
There’s more to this… Katie, whoever she is.
I want to ask, but I can tell he’s shutting down.
Mel frowns. “Fine! It’s been good seeing you. I’m proud of you, Ryan,” she says, leaning in and kissing his cheek. Then, she turns and heads off toward Danger.
I glance at Ryan, who’s purposely not looking at me. Huffing, I grab his hand, and he looks at me with glassy eyes.
That look? It worries me completely.
He’s on edge, and I have no idea why.
“Ryan—”
“Don’t! Just leave it.”
He walks off, leaving me standing here with my heart aching and a knot forming in my stomach. I exhale, feeling the weight of the distance between us. I want to know more than anything about who Katie is and how she fits into everything, but he won’t let me in.
He sets up with the other guys to meet his fans, all smiles and charm, while I stand back, my insides slowly unraveling. It’s like watching a stranger, someone who can pretend everything is fine while I’m left drowning in uncertainty.
Ryan has a secret, a past he doesn’t want to share, and I’m not sure if that says more about him or me.
Am I not worth trusting?
Or is he too scared to reveal the truth?
I feel like I’m losing him, one piece at a time, and it terrifies me that I might not be able to hold on.
Where the hell do we go from here?
***
After the meet and greet, Ryan did his utmost to keep away from me. He managed to find a way always to be talking to someone else. He even sat with Nate on the way back to the hotel, which is weird because he thinks Nate’s the biggest asshole of all time, and he hates listening to him bitch and moan.
Now we’re walking to the penthouse, and I’m wondering if he’s even going to sleep in the same room as I am tonight.
Lunar steps up to me and raises her brow. “You guys have a fight?”
“No, I don’t think so… I don’t know. I just asked him who Katie was, and now he’s avoiding me.”
She purses her lips. “Katie… you say?” I nod. “Never heard that name mentioned before. What makes you think he knows a Katie?”
“Was something a friend of his said. I think Katie might be an ex or something, maybe the girl that broke his heart. I don’t know, but I pushed a button, and I think he’s pissed at me.”
She frowns. “Well, if he decides to be too much of a bitch, come tell me. You can sleep in my room tonight, and I’ll make Danger sleep with Ryan. Deal?”
“I don’t think Danger would—”
“Deal!” she says, opening her eyes dramatically.
“Okay, okay… deal.” I giggle, shaking my head. “Thank you.”
