35
ELLIE
“I heardhe went back to New York,” Raleigh whispered to Kasey, glancing back at me and ducking her head sheepishly as she continued to rifle through the dresses in my shop.
“Because his girlfriend called,” Kasey hissed. “Apparently, he’s getting back together with her. They were engaged, and he broke things off with her because she cheated on him.”
“Figures he’d go back to her.” Raleigh looked over at me, a small frown pinching her face. It was almost as if she felt bad that she was gossiping about me.
Not that it mattered. Ryder and I weren’t together anymore, and while I thought it was strange that he would leave his practice so soon after setting it up, it didn’t really surprise me.
After all, there was nothing holding him here. I wasn’t sure he ever really wanted to be here. It had been two weeks since he left, and I hadn’t heard a word about him until today.
Considering the source, I couldn’t be sure any of it was true.
The bell chimed over the door, and Delaney rushed in, followed quickly by Josie.
“He’s back!” Delaney shouted, grabbing my arms as soon as she reached me, her eyes wide with excitement. “He just got into town, and he’s coming here!”
“What?” I asked, sure I had heard her wrong.
“He’s got flowers and chocolates,” Josie exclaimed.
“And a horse-drawn carriage!”
I rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of what they were saying. “You guys have to stop listening to gossip,” I said, walking around the counter to busy myself and hide the shaking of my hands at the prospect of seeing him again.
But there was no point in believing any of it. I knew better than anyone how quickly gossip spread in this town.
“It’s not gossip!” Delaney gasped, grabbing me by the sleeve and practically pulling me over the counter. “He’s here, and he’s coming here right now!”
Her eyes quickly examined me, and then she flipped out. “Just look at you! Why didn’t you do your hair or makeup? You look like a hobo!”
“It’s not like she knew he was coming,” Josie said, running around the counter, grabbing my bag. “She must have something in here. We can do her hair or?—”
Her hand stalled in the bag as the bell over the shop chimed again. I held my breath as I looked up right into the devastatingly handsome eyes of the man I was hopelessly in love with.
Unwanted tears filled my eyes the moment I saw him, and pain carved through my chest. Why did I have to feel so much for him when he would only break my heart?
“There’s nothing we can do now,” Josie hissed.
“Fix her hair!” Delaney whispered.
“He’s standing right there!” Josie slipped her a lipstick. “Here, put this on her.”
Delaney slinked in front of me, crouched down as her hand slowly rose up to my lips, smearing lipstick all over my face. “Shit! That didn’t work! Wipes! I need wipes!”
An amused grin slid over Ryder’s lips as he watched my best friends trying and failing to discreetly doll me up for him.
“Delaney!” I hissed, slapping her hand away as she tried to wipe my lips with a tissue from her crouched position.
“Sorry, but it’s everywhere!”
“What are you doing here?” I finally found the courage to ask.
His eyes flicked to Kasey and Raleigh, but he didn’t seem all that concerned that they were here.
“I came back for you.”
