Page 121 of The Path to Loving Him
Her expression flattens. “I told you that in confidence.”
“And it will remain in confidence unless you act like you just did . . . down there.”
Chapter Eighteen
RYLAND
“Do you think Bower’s single?” Abel asks as he stares over at Bower and Gabby sitting under the large oak tree, both eating hot dogs and chatting with Aubree and Hattie.
“Dude, she’s way too much for you,” I say. “From the brief interaction I’ve had with her, I’d say it’s a no.”
Hayes shuts the lid of the grill and whispers, “She reminds me of Maggie, Hattie’s best friend. Not a filter in sight and has zero embarrassment. Ryland’s right. Not for you, man.” Hayes pats Abel’s shoulder.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“Are you interested in dating?” Hayes asks. “Always got the impression that you weren’t really into it.”
He shrugs. “Now that Ryland has a . . . has a Gabby?—”
“I don’t have a Gabby,” I say, annoyed.
“I just feel like I need something in my life. Maybe not a woman. Could be a pet. Maybe I need a dog.”
“You realize that a woman and a dog are not the same thing, right?” I ask.
“Well aware. Just feeling out my options is all.”
The girls all laugh, and I hate to admit it because I’m not that guy who’d even consider a girlfriend, but Gabby seems to fit in well.
“Uncle Ry Ry,” Mac says as she approaches us, ketchup smeared across her face. “Uncle Wyatt wants another burger, and I’d like more chips.”
“Did you eat your fruits and veggies?” I ask her.
She glances toward her plate, which I can see from here. She and Wyatt are having a picnic out in the grass with the Chewys. No one else was invited. And from what I can see, cucumbers are still on her plate.
“Not all of them.”
“Well, you need to eat them all. Then you can have more chips.”
“Fine,” she says in a deflated tone.
“And tell Uncle Wyatt he’s not getting another burger until you eat all of your cucumbers.”
An evil grin spreads across her face. “He’s not going to like that.”
“Those are the rules.”
“Uncle Wyatt!” Mac shouts as she runs up to him to tell him the news.
I stare off at them, and the bond that they share makes me feel . . . slightly left out.
And I know I shouldn’t feel that way. I should feel happy that she has Wyatt in her life, but hell, their bond is just different.
“What’s that look for?” Hayes asks.
I clear my head and avoid looking at Mac. “What look?”
“The look of sadness, like you’re doing something wrong.”
