Page 112 of Fake It For Love (Faux Love)
RYAN
Iheaded downstairs to make myself a sandwich before sitting on the deck for a while. It was the way I’d been spending most of my days this week.
When I left the island, I told Claire I had work commitments. That was bullshit. I had no work commitments. I had cleared my schedule so I could enjoy my time on the island. I came back a week early and found myself bored out of my mind. I spent the last few days browsing. When I was indulging in retail therapy, I bought planes. Some people bought shoes or lottery tickets. I bought planes.
I was thinking about going to check one out this afternoon. It was more of a hobby plane and not one I would take up all that often. I needed a hobby. I needed something to distract me.
If I didn’t do something, I was going to drive myself crazy.
I thought I could get away from Claire and get some clarity. She was the one that said she wanted to end things sooner rather than later to save herself the heartbreak. As it turned out, she was wrong. It still sucked. This was my own fault. I had mixed business with pleasure and was paying a heavy, heavy price for it.
My phone rang in the other room. I ignored it. I was sulking and wanted to do it alone. The phone stopped ringing while I slapped mayonnaise on some bread. Then the phone started ringing again. “Dammit!”
I stomped into the living room and snatched up my phone. My attitude softened when I saw it was my sister. “What’s up?” I answered.
“Finally! I’ve been calling you for days.”
“I told you I was on vacation,” I said.
“That’d be fine if you were actually on vacation,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not in the Caribbean anymore,” she said irritably.
I sighed. “How do you know that?”
“Because I have spies everywhere,” she retorted. “What’s going on? Where are you?”
“Home,” I answered.
“You want to be more specific?”
“California,” I replied.
“Ah, that means something happened,” she said. “What happened?”
“Why do you think something happened?” I asked.
“Because when you go to your home in California, it’s because you’re withdrawing,” she said. “You hide there when you want to be left alone. And you want to be left alone when something is bothering you.”
“I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Does this have anything to do with Claire Sullivan?” she asked.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I’m your sister and I know you,” she replied. “You flew through a storm to get to her. What happened between the two of you? Did she out your fake engagement? Did everyone find out and you’re embarrassed and hiding?”
“No.”
“Ryan, you can tell me, or I can drag it out of you,” she said. “What happened?”
I blew out a breath. My little sister could be obnoxious. She would hound me until I told her something. “As it turns out, I liked Claire.”
“Like? As in you cared about her?”
“Yes,” I answered.
