Page 8 of Deserving Ryleigh
Instead, Ry forced herself to hold his gaze. She shrugged and shook her head.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t have a fairytale childhood, but my mom did her best. She loved me. My brother though…he was my best friend. We did everything together. He always had my back, and I had his. He would do anything and everything to keep me safe…just as I would for him. Anyway, I’m sorry you didn’t have that. Also…I want to apologize for my behavior.”
Ry’s head spun. Whowasthis man? It couldn’t be the guy she’d lived with for the last few months. Who glared at her every day, never let an opportunity pass to let her know he didn’t trust her as far as he could throw her, and had no problem taking out his every frustration on her.
“I don’t trust easily.” He snorted. “Actually, that’s an understatement.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed,” Ry told him without rancor.
His lips twitched. “Yeah. Anyway, I’ve taken out my frustrations on you. You lied to me, to all of us, and thatdidn’t sit well with me. I abhor lies. But after our chat a few days ago, I tried to look at your situation from…a more objective standpoint. I don’t know why you did what you did, or what you’re very obviously running from, but the lies you told us…they weren’t malicious. Yes, you used your skills to find information you shouldn’t have, but you also used them for good too. So…I’m sorry for being an ass.”
Ry’s hand came up and before she could think better of it, she poked Tiny in the chest. Hard.
“Ow! What was that for?” he asked, grabbing her finger before she could poke him again.
“I’m trying to figure out if I’m dreaming this or not,” Ry told him.
He chuckled.
And she could do nothing but stare at him in disbelief. Laughing around her twice in as many days? Because of somethingshe’dsaid? Yup, definitely dreaming.
“You aren’t dreaming. I’m not saying I’m going to magically start trusting you, oranyonefor that matter. Just that…I forgive you for what you’ve done in the past, and I’m sorry for anythingI’vedone or said that’s made you feel as if you don’t fit in here at The Refuge. Because you do. More than me, most days.”
Tears threatened. But Ry held them back. She loved the pseudo-family she’d found. But she couldn’t stay. Not after what she’d done. Not with her father out there hunting for her. Looking for any way to make her pay for double-crossing him.
“It’s a girl!”
Ry jolted yet again, and she didn’t miss the way Tiny steadied her before stepping away, giving her some room.
At Tonka’s announcement, cheers rang out in the waiting room. When everyone had settled down, he went on.
“Henley’s fine. They’re getting her settled and when they’re done with all the weighing and evaluation of the baby, they’ll let her have some visitors.”
Everyone started talking at once, giving Tonka their well wishes and letting him know they’d wait as long as it took for their turn to meet his new daughter.
Tonka turned to Jasna, who was under his arm, snuggled against his side. “You want to tell them your little sister’s name?”
The teenager beamed up at him and nodded. She turned to the group and announced, “Elizabeth Ryleigh Matlick!”
Ry’s mouth fell open in shock. No. They couldn’t have named their daughter after her. No way, not after she’d lied to them all.
“Elizabeth because we like the name. And Ryleigh for obvious reasons.” Tonka’s gaze met hers from across the room. “Because without you, we would’ve lost Jas.”
This time it was impossible to keep the tears from forming. Ry closed her eyes even as she felt herself surrounded by her friends. They comforted her and congratulated her. The mood was joyous, but all Ry could think of was how generous and loving these people had been.
She didn’t deserve it.
Her presence was putting them all in danger. If they knew…
Of course, theydidn’tknow, because she hadn’t told them. Was afraid the friendship they’d extended to herwould dry up faster than she could blink. And once again, she’d be alone. On the run.
But as she stood there in the middle of their friends, thinking about how Tonka and Henley had actually given their babyhername…she realized that she’d badly misjudged the men and women from The Refuge. If they knew her history, they wouldn’t turn their backs on her. They’d go out of their way to do what they could to help. Because that was the kind of people they were.
Tonka took Jasna with him when he left, so she could see her mom and meet her baby sister. They would spend some time alone together before everyone started shuttling in and out of the room to meet the newest addition to The Refuge family.
Ry got hugs from everyone as they impatiently waited to be able to meet little Elizabeth. Tiny didn’t approach her again, but every time she looked around, Ry saw him nearby. Instead of feeling as if he was watching over her because he didn’t trust her to be out of his sight, she felt…comforted. Her head still spun with the changes in his behavior. She didn’t really understand how or why he’d made the switch, but she couldn’t deny she much preferred this Tiny to the one who was curt and downright mean.
Ry let the others take their turn going back to Henley’s room to see her. She suddenly felt shy about seeing her friend. She’d had no idea Henley and Tonka had plans to honor her the way they had. This was why she didn’t like surprises. She didn’t know how to react to them.
