Page 65 of Don’t Look Back

I shook my head, staring at the black computer screen. “No… He didn’t want me to say it while he was still in the hospital. He says life isn’t a romance novel,” I finished with a laugh.

“A man like you, in a town like this, ending a long-term relationship and questioning his sexuality—sounds like some Nicholas Sparks shit to me.”

“Okay, I’m impressed you know who that is.”

Charlie threw her arms up and said, “I’ve seen The Notebook!” She checked the time on her phone and winced. “Will you be alright?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Go home. I’m itching to get out of here myself.”

After Charlie left, I did nothing more than consistently check my phone. Ryan had checked in a few times, but staring at the screen hurt his head too much.

In the end, I set the paperwork aside for future Jason to deal with. I wanted Ryan in my arms right that second, and I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way.

“What are you doing in here?”

I hadn’t expected to find him standing in the kitchen when I got home. He cautiously peered over his shoulder, trying not to jostle himself too much. “Hey… I wasn’t expecting you home this early.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.” I stepped up behind him, wrapping a gentle arm around his waist and pressing a kiss to his temple. “You should be resting, not making… tuna fish salad?”

Ryan laughed, setting the spoon down in the bowl. “It’s the only thing I could make without doing too much bending or lifting. You’ve been doing so much for me. I wanted to make you dinner tonight.”

“I love tuna fish salad. Thank you.” My lips moved against his skin as I talked. “How are you feeling?”

“Restless,” he responded immediately. “I can’t wait until I can get out for a little while.” Letting out a defeated sigh, he spun in my arms to look at me. “Stacy called me today.”

Uh-oh.

“What happened?”

“They um… They heard about everything. They’re worried that something might happen when I’ve got the kids so they’re paying me through the month, but they’re letting me go. And if I’m not staying there…”

“You can stay here,” I said without hesitation.

Ryan tilted his head. “You’ve done so much for me. You can’t let me live here too.”

“You practically are.” I had my hand wound deep in his hair, lightly massaging his scalp. “It wouldn’t change my life at all. I want you to stay. Please… stay.”

Slowly, Ryan nodded, tipping his head back and taking my lips in a kiss so tender that it left my legs shaking.

Deciding to wait to tell Ryan about Sawyer, I gestured towards the bowl on the counter. “Why don’t we pack this up? There’s bread and a bottle of wine in the cabinet. How do you feel about a picnic under the stars?”

Ryan’s face lit up. I knew his cabin fever was getting bad having been cooped up for weeks on end. “I… I’d love that, but I’m not sure how far I can walk.”

“Don’t worry.” I tucked a stray piece of hair behind his ear. “I’ve got you covered.”

After packing everything away, I lifted Ryan into my truck and we made the drive to one of my favorite places in town. Deep in the woods was my own little hideaway, and I couldn’t wait to show it to him.

“Um, I’ve seen enough horror movies to know where this is going,” Ryan joked as I slowed down on the gravel roads.

“Baby, I know you’re feeling better, but I don’t think sex in the woods before getting brutally murdered is in the cards for us tonight.”

That comment earned me a swift smack in the chest, but still made Ryan laugh. “You called me baby.”

“I did. On purpose.” I took my right hand off the wheel in favor of placing it on his thigh, feeling the warmth of his skin through his pants. “Don’t worry, I used to run these woods all the time with my friends.”

“… and they were never heard from again?”

“You know what? Fine. You work on Candyman, I’ll get Bloody Mary, and we’ll see who wins in a fight.”