Page 17 of Deserving Ryleigh
She frowned. “Because I could stand to lose a few pounds.”
“No,” Ry said firmly.
“No? No what?” Alaska asked, sounding confused.
“You’re perfect exactly how you are. And I know Brickwould say the same thing. You get plenty of exercise running around this place. Helping guests, going on hikes, playing with Jasna, taking Mutt for walks…you’rehealthy, Alaska. You want a cookie, eat a cookie. Life’s about balance.”
“That’s…wow.”
“Women are way too hard on other women…including ourselves. We nitpick every little thing. Look down our noses at others when we don’t know a damn thing about them. We’re willing to let men get away with just about anything because they’re easy on the eyes or simply because they’re guys. But we’re super judgmental toward each other. I hate it. You’re beautiful, Alaska. You’re hardworking, you keep this place running so smoothly, you’re the one everyone looks to when they need help with something.”
“Ry,” Alaska said, blinking furiously to keep the tears in her eyes from falling.
“All I’m saying is, don’t think you need to lose weight because you don’t look like the people in magazines. You could weigh eight hundred pounds and I’d still think you were the most beautiful person I’ve ever met because of your personality, your goodness. Because you didn’t even blink when you found out I’d lied to you, that I’d finagled myself a job here. You stuck up for me, supported me—and don’t think I missed every time you glared at Tiny when he was being…well…Tiny.”
“He was being mean,” Alaska said with a sniff.
Ry couldn’t help but smile a little at that. “He was beingprotective. Of the place he and the other guys built with their blood, sweat, and tears. I don’t hold that against him.”
“Well, I do,” Alaska said stubbornly. “But I’ve noticed he hasn’t been quite so mean lately.”
For some reason, Ry blushed. She shrugged. “He said he wanted to start over.”
Alaska wiped the rest of her tears away and smiled. “It’s about time.”
“About time, what?”
“He got his head out of his butt and saw what was right in front of him. We were all pretty excited when he moved you into his cabin. Even though he was being a jerk, we still thought it would ultimately be a good thing.” Alaska grimaced. “But then he got meaner toward you, and we were allpissed. I’m relieved he’s finally figured his shit out before the guys had to intervene.”
“Intervene?” Ry’s head was spinning. She’d had no idea Alaska and the others even thought that way.
“Yeah, knock some sense into the man. Threaten him if he didn’t start treating you better.”
It was Ry’s turn to struggle with her tears.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t. It’s just…I haven’t had friends before,” Ry blurted, then immediately wished she hadn’t. Who admitted something like that? It was pathetic.
Alaska came around the desk and pulled Ry into a huge hug. “Me either,” she whispered before she pulled back. Her hands stayed on Ry’s shoulders as she met her gaze. “When I was kidnapped, I was vacationing in Russia.By myself. Because I didn’t have anyone to go with me. When I was in high school, I was too weird and too poor for other girls to feel comfortable around me. I admit that I didn’t try very hard to befriend them myself, because my mom was too unstable. Anyway, that continued when I got older. I switched jobs alot, so it was hard to make true friends. Moving here to The Refuge was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
It was on the tip of Ry’s tongue to agree. But she wasn’t staying. So she simply nodded instead.
“Right, so…cookies. You’ll see if you can swipe me a couple?” Alaska asked.
Ry was glad for the reprieve from the intense moment. “Of course.”
“Thanks.”
The two women smiled at each other for a long moment, then Alaska squeezed Ry’s shoulders before letting go and heading back behind the desk. “I’ve got a little more paperwork to do, then I’m done for the day. The new guests have all checked in and I’ve answered all the email inquiries. I just need to update the schedule with the newest bookings.”
She nodded. “Cool.” Alaska worked really hard and was good at what she did. She thrived on making sure the guests were happy and on keeping everything organized. She was an amazing admin, and The Refuge was lucky to have someone as skilled and friendly as her manning the front desk.
Ry turned to head to the kitchen but didn’t get two steps before the door to the lodge opened. Looking to see who it was, she stopped in her tracks when she saw Tonka. He looked spooked.
“What’s wrong?” Alaska asked. She’d obviously seen his distress as well.
Ry stayed where she was, unabashedly eavesdropping. She didn’t like it when her new friends were upset, and something had definitely upset Tonka. Her thoughtsimmediately went to the animals he cared for. Had something happened to one of them?
