“So you’re not with Tristan Stone?”
“Not that it’s any of your business or anyone else’s, but no. I’m not with anyone.”
“Then I have a chance.”
Please God, now is a moment you could send a distraction to save me from this conversation.
I wait.
Nothing.
“I don’t want to be mean when I say this, but we’re friends. That’s all we’ll ever be.”
Jeremy shakes his head. “I’m not giving up on us.”
Where the hell was all this persistence before? He was always so docile. Now he’s suddenly going to fight? Seriously, I’d prefer he not.
I may not want to be mean, but I feel like I’m going to have to, because he’s just not getting it.
“Jeremy, there is no us.”
I leave very little room for rebuttal.
“There is.”
I guess I left enough room for him.
“Please go,” I say, my head feeling like it’s been slammed around all day. I didn’t sleep, I can’t eat, all I do is think about yesterday and the man who has flipped my world upside down.
“Lark…”
“No. I’m really too tired for this.”
“I’m doing exactly what you wanted!” he says, coming forward. “You wanted a man who would fight. Who was willing to do what you needed. I’m here right now. I’m fighting for you.”
“It’s too late, Jeremy!” I yell back. “I don’t want you to fight now. I’m asking you to respect my wishes and see that we’re over.”
The barn door opens, and I feel a rush of relief. I don’t know the last time I was ever this happy to see Ryan.
“You okay?” he asks, striding inside.
I nod. “Jeremy was just leaving. He came by to see if I was okay.”
Ryan looks to him, and while I am not the least bit afraid of my brothers, that’s not the case with most people. They’re tall, intimidating, muscular, and assholes. It’s the wholecowboys with attitudepersona that just oozes from them.
Jeremy takes the cue and sighs. “I’ll see myself out.”
“Goodbye, Jeremy.” My words are forceful and final.
His eyes widen a touch, and then he bows his head, leaving the barn.
Once he’s gone, Ryan looks to me. “What was that about?”
I shrug, slumping back down on the hay bale. “People love me, what can I say?”
He laughs. “Uh-huh. You’re an eternal ray of sunshine.”
“See, you get it.”
