“Clearly.”
I shut the door and walked around to my side. I wasn’t sure why I was putting myself through the torture for a woman who clearly hated me. But as I dropped her off and waved goodbye, something lifted in my chest when she flipped me off.
All in all, it wasn’t a terrible night.
9
ELLIE
“Word around townis that you went home with Ryder Lawson last night.”
I spun around and glared at Delaney, taking the coffee from her. “Rumors around here suck.”
Chuckling, she checked out the latest styles I hung up. “So, what really happened?”
Grabbing the clothing hangers from the rolling rack, I hung them on the hooks on the wall, adjusting them to make them presentable as I went through my ordeal with my friend.
“I went to meet a date last night at The Beaver and Boot.”
“You didn’t!” she gasped. “Good for you!”
“Well, he didn’t show up,” I grumbled, continuing my work. “At least, if he did, he didn’t make his presence known. So, I was sitting at the bar when Ryder sat down.”
“Wait, isn’t Ryder the one who picked on you all the time?”
“Yes, but I didn’t realize it was him. He’s so much bigger and…”Hotter.
“And?”
The door chimed and Josie rushed inside, nearly slipping in her heels as she vaulted toward us. “I’m here! I’m here! Don’t say a thing until I?—”
“She went home with Ryder Lawson last night,” Delaney smirked.
“I did not go home with him!”
Josie’s jaw dropped. “You witch! You started without me?”
“She brought me coffee,” I argued.
“I would have brought you tea, but you’re on a coffee kick now.” Delaney grabbed the carrier and handed a drink to Josie, who guiltily took it from her.
“He still doesn’t know?” I smirked.
“No,” she sighed. “I’ll tell him.”
“It’s coffee,” I pointed out. “It’s not like you’re getting drunk.”
“I know, but—” She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re not getting out of it that easily. I want details, and I want them now.”
“I didn’t go home with him,” I nearly shouted.
Both of them started laughing at how upset I was getting, but they didn’t understand my hatred for the man. We all ran in different circles when we were kids.
“Look, I ran into him at the bar. We didn’t know who each other were, and we were talking about why date night isn’t the right night to meet someone?—”
“Wait, it’s not?” Delaney interrupted. “Why?”
“According to him, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the best nights for dates.”
