Page 17 of Ashes to Ink

This was just a first date. She knew Ryan. They were friends.

She didn’t have to freak out about this.

But, apparently, that was exactly what she was going to do.

“She’s at Mace and Adrienne’s. Shepand Shea offered since Livvy and Julia are like bestfriends now, but Adrienne sort of drove over and kidnapped my daughter.”

Ryan snorted, shaking his head.

Abby grabbed her bag, smiling as well. “I know, the Montgomerys are a little bit insane.”

“But that’s why we love them.” She locked up behind herselfand then walked out to Ryan’s car, letting him close the door behind her, eventhough she could have done it herself.

She kind of liked being taken care of, but maybe that wasbecause it was Ryan. He and the Montgomerys didn’ttry to take care of her in a way that said they thought she couldn’t do it onher own.

They just wanted to help. And like she’d said before, shewas doing better at accepting that help. Even if it was one small step at atime. Of course, she was just going to have to keep thinking of life as onestep at a time if she didn’t want to fall in love herself. It was easier saidthan done.

“So I didn’t actually ask where we’re going. All you saidwas to dress nicely casual, which is not that helpful.”

Ryan laughed. “Yeah, sorry about that. I was picking betweentwo different places, seeing which one would need a reservation.”

“A reservation? Look at you, getting all fancy.”

He grinned at her as he pulled out of the driveway. “I can’thelp it. I’m just the kind of fancy guy you think I am.”

She glanced at the tattoos peeking out from the cuff at hiswrist and figured, yes, he was just as fancy as he needed to be.

“Anyway, we’re going down to that new Italian place. Macesaid he and Adrienne really like it, and they don’t take reservations. But Icalled ahead, just to make sure there wasn’t that long of a wait. So we’re goodright now. There was another place that’s more like a deli that I figured youmight like, but they did need reservations.”

Abby shook her head. Colorado Springs was growing by leapsand bounds with each passing day. New people, higher-priced homes, and newrestaurants made the city feel like it was booming, even if it still felt likethe place she had come to when she needed to heal. She just wondered what itwould feel like in a couple more years when they were out of space and all thatwas left were people and the mountains they could see everywhere they looked.

“I’ve been to that deli place, it’s not really a deli. It’smore like a harvest area where they try to tell you exactly how homegrown andfarm-to-table all of the meals are. In detail.”

Ryan grinned, getting onto the highway. “Yeah, I know. Goodfood, but even with the reservations, I wasn’t sure that you really wanted alecture before our date.”

“Well, at least it would give us something to talk about ifthings got awkward.”

There was silence.

Well…speaking of awkward.

“You know, I didn’t think of that. Maybe I should have madereservations.”

She pushed at his arm, and he grinned over his shoulder ashe turned off the highway. “You’re mean.”

“You’re the one who brought up awkwardness. But, I figuredwe’re friends first, right? And if we can’t figure out something to talk about,we can always bring up the Montgomerys or Julia. Or keepstuffing our faces full of food so we don’t actually have to think about it.”

“I like that idea. Although I might gain ten pounds tonightif I get too nervous.”

Ryan parked and looked over her body. “You know, I’d be okaywith that. Or you staying just the way you are.” He winced. “I was trying tosay that you look hot, but I feel like I sort of mansplained to you about yourown body. Please ignore me.”

She shook her head, laughing as she undid her seatbelt.“Well, at least we’re starting the awkward talk early.”

Ryan just shook his head as the two of them got out of thecar and she met him around the front. He took her hand then, and she smiled.“Okay?” he asked.

“Okay.” And it was okay. Just because this was a first datedidn’t mean that she had to overthink every single movement. Because, in theend, no matter what, Abby still wanted to remain Ryan’s friend. Even if thisall turned to hell, and their chemistry really was just friendship with a touchof butterflies? She wanted him in her life.

She’d already lost enough, and she didn’t want to forfeitthe friendship she’d already made.