Page 173 of The Path to Loving Him
“And he still asked you out?” There goes that anger, skyrocketing all over again.
“In a way,” she says. “He said if nothing was going on, he’d love to take me out. Either way, the asking out doesn’t matter because what matters is that he said he was going to give me some space to figure out what I wanted.”
“What a gentleman.”
“Ryland . . .”
“Sorry.” I zip my lips shut.
“The thing is, if I don’t go out with him, he’ll assume that maybe I decided to give us a chance, but I don’t want him knowing about us and then somehow spreading that around the school.”
“Okay, so . . . what are you trying to say? If it’s that you want to go out with him for a night and then let him down after, that’s not going to fly with me.”
“How else am I supposed to keep us a secret?”
“Wait.” I glance over at her. “Are you serious right now? You were really going to go on a date with him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Gabby, I’m trying not to be the asshole here, but I can tell you right now, you going out with Christian to keep us a secret is not an option. Not even in the vicinity of an option. Think of another way.”
“Then help me.”
“Uh, how about just telling him no, not even needing a reason. No is a full sentence. Period. He doesn’t need to know your personal life, nor does he need an explanation.”
“That seems so harsh.”
“It’s not,” I say. “It’s the truth. It’s what I’d tell my sisters to do. Hell, it’s what I’d tell Mac. No means no, simple as that. Not a single explanation needed. And if he looks for one, then tell him it’s none of his goddamn business.”
“Okay,” she says softly. “I guess I never really thought about it that way. But you’re right.”
“I know I’m right.” My shoulders relax because Christ, that was a stressful minute. I place my hand on her thigh and rub my thumb over her knee, calming my racing pulse.
“You okay over there?” she asks after a few seconds.
“Barely, fucking giving me a heart attack while I’m driving.”
She chuckles and leans into my shoulder again. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, but Jesus, don’t ask if you can date another man ever again. That shit made me nearly drive into another car.”
Her infectious laughter easily lightens up the mood.
“Got it. Ryland doesn’t want me dating other men. Glad I clarified that.”
“Christ . . . me too.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
GABBY
“Hello, this is Bower, how may I help you?”
“Why do you answer the phone like that? You know it’s me,” I say as I put my phone on speaker and start to lotion my legs. My shower works, and even though I would have loved to have taken a shower in Ryland’s house to spend even more time together, I’m giving him a touch of space and time to get ready for the week ahead.
“I do it because it annoys you, and how am I keeping you on your toes if I’m not annoying you?”
“Maybe just by checking in?”
