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Chapter Eight

Then

“Is this the last of it, baby?” Ryan asks, nudging me as he carries a box into our new house and I shake my head.

“No, there’s one more bag in the front seat.”

He nods, setting the box down before turning and walking back out to the truck. My teeth sink into my bottom lip and I fight back a smile as I glance around the cozy little living room that I fell in love with only a week ago. Getting to know Ryan over these last few months has been amazing and I’m seriously head over heels for the man so when he started talking about taking the next step in our relationship, I jumped on the chance to move in together. If he had his way, we might even be engaged right now but he knows that I’m not ready for that yet. Not to mention that my brothers would absolutely lose their shit.

In the three months that Ryan and I have been seeing each other, my brothers still don’t like him and at this point, I don’t know that they’ll ever give him a chance. I’ve argued with them until I’m blue in the face and I just can’t do it anymore so either they’ll come around or they won’t. I can’t lie and say the distance growing between us doesn’t break my heart because it does but I’m not the one putting it there. At least Ryan is there for me, no matter what. So many times, I’ve called him crying because things are so strained right now and he drops everything to come over and hold me but it makes him so angry to see how upset they’re making me. Even if they decided to give him a shot, I’m not sure it would help at this point. I’m being split in two by the people I love and I hate it. Thank God, Addy and Daisy haven’t turned their backs on me, too, because I’m not sure what I would do without them.

Sliding one of the boxes across the floor, I sigh and look around our new place. After deciding that we would move in together, we quickly realized that neither one of our apartments were big enough for the two of us so we went looking for something new. It took a couple days but we were pretty lucky to find this cute little bungalow on the edge of one of the nicer neighborhoods in our price range. The house is small compared to the newer homes just one block over but it’s perfect for us with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Plus, the best part is the studio apartment in the back that I’m using for my art.

“Where should we start?” Ryan asks, coming back into the house with my duffle bag in his hand. He sets it down and looks over at me as I stare at the towers of boxes around us.

“Uh… right here, I guess.”

He nods and turns toward one of the towers, popping open the first box.

“Uh, babe…what’s this?” he asks, holding up a teddy bear I’ve had since I was a little girl.

I point to it. “That’s my bear.”

His lip curls in disgust and I put my hands on my hips, staring him down.

“What is that face for?”

“Nothing.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “That was not a “nothing” face. What’s your deal?”

“It’s just… disgusting.”

I gasp, reaching out and grabbing my bear from him as I hug him close to my chest. Sure, the bear isn’t new but he is important to me and I’ve taken good care of him over the years. I can still remember Daddy taking me to the county fair and spending an hour winning this bear for me.

“You leave my bear alone,” I tell him, turning away and tucking the bear away safely in the side pocket of my duffel bag.

Ryan lets out a sardonic laugh and playfully pushes my shoulder. “God, you’re such a dork. Does he have a name, too?”

I know that he’s just joking but I’m getting irritated with his total disregard for my feelings.

“Don’t call me a dork.”

“Why?” he taunts. “Did it hurt your feelings?”

“Yeah, it did.”

He laughs, stepping over a box and wrapping his arms around me as he pulls me into his chest. “Oh, baby, you’re so sensitive. It was just a little joke.”

My cheeks burn and I feel thoroughly chastised as I bury my face in his chest. Am I being too sensitive? I can’t really see myself ever making fun of him for something that he cherished. Then again, he just called me a dork… it’s not really that bad. Maybe I am being too sensitive. I just need to buck up. What’s that saying they teach little kids?

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

“So, what are you thinking for dinner? I could go grab something real quick,” he says, releasing me.

“Oh. The girls wanted to go out tonight to celebrate Addy’s birthday and the new house.”

“Seriously?” he snarls, taking a step back as though I hit him.