Page 38 of Hometown Cowboy
“You screwed her, then she finds out she’s pregnant, then you dump her. What else is there to know?”
“I guess that’s what youwouldsee. That conversation you’re referring to was over fifteen years ago. I would’ve thought that being an adult and all would imply that she can do what—or who—she damned-well wants.”
Gabe spun back. His fist hit Ryan deep in the gut, bending him in half. His breath burst from his body as pain registered and spread like lightning.
He dragged in a rasping breath and shoved himself forward, arms out. He connected with Gabe’s middle, theoomphof impact satisfying, if short lived.
Gabe grabbed him and swung. Ryan didn’t let go, his arms tight around Gabe’s waist.
They both hit the hard, compacted dirt. Ryan shoved at him and flung Gabe off and rolled onto his back, breathing hard. Bill whined and shoved his face into Ryan’s, licking his cheek. He scruffed Bill’s neck and gently pushed him away.
Gabe shoved at Ryan’s shoulder, both of them on their backs in the dirt, a half-arsed attempt at pushing him away.
“Just tell me why?”
Gabe’s breathless, pain-laced question sliced him deeper than any angry pounding ever could. He knew Gabe could’ve pounded him into dust if he’d really wanted to. The fact that he hadn’t flooded Ryan with relief.
“I don’t know, okay?”
At Gabe’s weary sigh, Ryan’s belligerence dissipated. Gabe had only come after him because he cared, for both him and Darby. Ryan knew that. And he knew it was one hell of a messed-up situation. It didn’t change the fact that he’d screwed up royally, but he knew Gabe’s anger came from a good place.
“That’s a lie. Of course I know why. Because I like her. I’m attracted to her. I always have been. After your wedding, she drove me home. It just happened, Gabe. It wasn’t some attempt to screw with you, to betray you or any of that shit. It just… happened.”
He glanced at his lifelong friend. Gabe scraped his hand over his face and shook his head as well as he could lying in the dirt of Ryan’s driveway.
“I’m assuming it wasn’t just one night. You know what? I don’t want to know. What I do want to know is where were you? Why did she have to tell us on her own, and why was she so damned upset? I can’t believe you’d turn your back on her. That really hurts, man.”
Gabe turned his head, his anguished gaze spearing Ryan’s heart, twisting and turning pain throughout his body.
“That’s just it—I didn’t. I freaking-well proposed. I asked her to marry me and she turned me down flat.”
The shock on Gabe’s face couldn’t have been greater than if he’d told him he wasn’t human.
“You what?”
Ryan shook his head and stared up at the brilliant blue sky above. Puffy white clouds skipped across the wide expanse as he watched.
“I asked her to marry me. She said no. End of story.”
“Well… hell.”
Ryan let out a humourless chuckle. “Yeah, a few stronger words than that ran through my head.”
“Are you in love with her?”
That question again. His gut tumbled and rolled. He wasn’t sure if the nausea was from worrying he’d lost his best friend, lost Darby, or both.
What are you talking about? You never had Darby to begin with. It was a bit of fun.
Wasn’t it?
“She asked me the same thing.”
“And?”
“And what? What do you want me to say? Profess my undying love and grovel like some lame-arse guy in one of those movies?”
Silence stretched. Ryan chanced looking at Gabe, who stared at him, his considering glare spearing his soul. “Am I a lame-arse for loving Emma, and admitting it? Is it such a bad thing to actually get that close to someone, to let someone in?”