I opened my mouth to talk, but Ryann cut me off with a glare. “Nothere.”
She was right. Shame consumed me, head to toe. If she wasn’t pissed at me before, she was now. I almost blew it.
She would never forgive me if I was the reason Michael found out. I needed to apologize, to do something so she wouldn’t look at me with fire in her eyes. But I didn’t get the chance. Ryann avoided me until she left an hour later.
She departed by flipping me her middle finger, causing her brother and the twins to laugh, and I counted down the seconds until I could leave.
15
Ryann
Patrick almost saw us.
And for what? Was he going to kiss me? There? At the damn hockey house?
I shook my head and clenched my fists at my sides on the walk back home. He had no business looking at me with heated eyes and hope on his face. His explanation about the girl was cute and made my insides feel all warm and gooey because he freaked out, but if we were both around any teammates, we had to act like roommates.
Strictly, roommates who bickered.
Flipping him off wasn’t my best idea, but it did the job. Patrick laughed hard, and it would stifle any suspicion he had about why Jonah and I were talking alone in a hallway with his fingers an inch from my face.
I blew out a breath and walked faster, hoping to change into work clothes and head out before he got home. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to him or see him, because I did, but the distance was needed.
It didn’t take me long to put on black jeans, a gray T-shirt, and closed-toe shoes before pocketing my phone and making the walk toward the café. Hannah had a date tonight for the first time in years, and I volunteered to work from four until midnight. It would be a long shift, but it helped both of us. The extra cash from tips would ease my growing worry about money, and she could have a night out.
Plus, not seeing Jonah until tomorrow would be better for both of us. I wasn’t entirely sure I could keep my hands off him when we were alone in the house.
The café only had a few patrons when I arrived, and Hannah greeted me with a huge smile. “Ryann, you’re early.”
I rolled my eyes and clocked in with the card she gave me to track hours. “I want you to have time to get ready, have a glass of wine, and enjoy yourself. I’m so damn excited for you and want all the details of this date tomorrow.”
She smiled, and her entire face softened. “I’m so glad we’re friends. It’s been awhile since I’ve had someone happy for me, you know? My parents live too far away and are great, but my world has been my ex, Preston, and this café. I didn’t realize I was living in a bubble of despair.” She winced. “I love Preston. Hope that didn’t come across poorly.”
“I know what you meant,” I said, grabbing a towel and wiping down the counters since there wasn’t a line at the register. “I’m glad we’re friends too.”
“We haven’t checked in at all about your new place, the roommate, or you telling your brother you moved out of the dorms. I feel so bad.” She pushed her hair out of her face and stepped closer to me. “Is it going okay?”
“It’s… going,” I said, biting my lip to prevent a nervous giggle from escaping. It would be wonderful if I could tell Hannah everything—the friendship with J.D. and the worry about Michael. Plus, I was nervous about Michael leaving next year. I needed to have my shit in order, and I wasn’t sure I could do it. But this overworked, tired woman had a date, and she needed a night out. “We can talk, just not now. You deserve all the wine tonight, so go. Take a bath, shave your legs.”
She twisted her lips to the side before her shoulders relaxed. “Thank you, Ryann.”
I waved her off as she headed out, and I busied myself with all the tasks I could find. Cleaning the coffee machine, reorganizing the pastries in the pastry case, sweeping the foyer. Sitting still gave me time to think, and that meant my brain went to Jonah.
It was quiet—which unless it was finals week, Saturday nights meant only a few people hanging in the library working on stuff. It would’ve been me if I didn’t have this job, and I frowned. I should’ve brought a textbook. Hannah told me I could study if there wasn’t anything to do, and now I had hours before leaving.
I could text Jonah…
I pulled out my phone which already had two texts from him.
Jonah: Are you coming home soon?
Jonah: Please don’t avoid home if you’re mad at me. I can shut myself in my room.
Ah, my roommate felt bad.
Good. He should, but I wasn’t vindictive or cruel.
Ryann: I’m working all night—not avoiding home. I have a huge favor to ask you actually.
