Page 175 of The Path to Loving Him
“Please tell me he got all ragey and ready to break wrists.”
“Wrists, faces . . . I think he was ready to break all the things.”
“We love an overprotective hero. Obsessed.” I hear her sigh. “I need to find myself one of those.”
“Abel’s still single.”
“No, I think I’m too much for him. I could already feel the vibe that he’d get annoyed with me but not think it’s cute. I need someone who can understand me when I say a one-bed trope is all I need in my life.”
“Not sure many would understand.”
“Which will make him a unicorn, and I’m willing to wait for a unicorn. Unicorns come glitter. What more does a girl need?”
“Jesus,” I mutter as I lie back on my bed. “Remind me why we’re friends again?”
“Honestly, I couldn’t tell you at this point.”
“Figured as much.”
Gabby:Headed to The Almond Store for more of those cookies. Do you want me to grab you anything?
Ryland:Is that why you bolted out of practice once it ended?
Gabby:That, and I really had to pee.
Ryland:And here I thought you were avoiding me.
Gabby:Why would you think that?
Ryland:You didn’t come over last night, didn’t say hi to me in the hall today. Barely looked at me during conditioning. You’re not playing it cool, Gabby.
Gabby:I’m working on it, okay? Sometimes I forget how hot you actually are until I see you, and when I saw you, I got all shy and weird. And yesterday, I didn’t come over because I thought you needed the time to reset.
Ryland:I’ll let you know if I need to reset.
Gabby:Okay. Also, if you could stop being so hot, that would be great too.
Ryland:I’ll try, not making any promises. But back to the cookies, grab one for me and come over tonight when Mac is in bed so we can have a cookie together.
Gabby:That I can do.
Ryland:And don’t wear underwear.
Gabby:Ooof, sorry, that’s a no can do.
Ryland:And why not?
Gabby:I got my period today, hence the cookies.
Ryland:Maybe I should be the one getting the cookies then.
Gabby:I got them, but I wouldn’t mind a snuggle when I see you.
Ryland:These arms are yours. See you in a bit.
Smile stretched across my face, I get out of my car and head toward The Almond Store, one of my favorite places in town.
When I open the door and the bell rings above me, I’m immediately sucked into the almondy goodness of the fresh,spotlessly clean store. Seriously, it’s like a comfort place for me being in here.
