Page 137 of The Path to Loving Him
“No, across from me is fine,” I answer.
She shakes her head and pulls out a salad from her lunch bag.
“What?”
“You’re just unbelievable, you know that?”
“Yes, because that’s what you said last night.”
Her eyes widen, then quickly narrow. “Jesus, Ryland, where is your professionalism?”
Yeah, where is it?
Apparently, it flew out the window the minute I saw her with another man.
“It’s still intact,” I say even though I fear it’s not. “Enough of this bullshit. Let’s talk about today.”
“Fine,” she says definitively. “What about today?”
“Did you get my email about our plan?”
“Yes,” she answers.
“Do you have any questions?”
“No.”
“Good,” I respond and then wait a second. “Glad we got that sorted. What else do you want to talk about?”
“That’s all? That’s why you kicked Christian away from us?”
“I didn’t know if you had more to discuss,” I say. “Or if you had questions.”
She shakes her head and, to my surprise, stands from her chair. “Unbelievable, Ryland.”
She takes her lunch to the table where Christian is sitting and settles beside him.
And the smile that crosses his face makes me want to knock his goddamn teeth right out.
Well, this fucking backfired.
Ryland:What do you guys think of Gabby?
Hattie:OH MY GOD! It’s happening, Aubree. I told you. I told you it was going to happen.
Aubree:You know, you did, but I didn’t really believe you. But you’re right, it’s happening.
Ryland:What’s happening?
Hattie:You’re falling for her. I could see it in your eyes this past weekend.
Aubree:I don’t usually go along with her foolishness, but I agree, I saw it this weekend as well.
Ryland:I’m not falling for her.
Hattie:Then why ask what we thought of her?
Ryland:Just general interest. She’s . . . different, right?
