Clive finished with a toast, and the room erupted into applause and cheers. Elle slipped away into the crowd and headed outside. She took a deep breath and hugged herself in the cool air. The band had started playing again, and the Christmas melody made her slide into a miserable state.
She sighed loudly into the night, thinking about the many scenarios she had run through in her mind about how her perfect run-in with Ryan would happen. She had envisioned approaching him feeling confident and self-assured. Instead, she was feeling sad and hopeless. She had been fooling herself thinking she had wanted only to apologize, for them to co-exist in the same town and in the same circle without it being uncomfortable. She really wanted him to feel all the things that she felt, the same passion and excitement that she had for him.
“Are you okay?” Ryan’s gruff voice came from the doorway.
Elle didn’t turn her head but could see his silhouette in the shadows. She steadied her nerves and voice the best she could before she responded. “I’m sorry,” she said.
“For coming outside? I don’t think you’re breaking any party rules, as long as you don’t sneak away without saying hello to old friends.”
“Not for leaving the party.” Elle turned and faced him.
The gray three-piece suit clung to him, and the way he filled it out… amazing. He was shrugging out of the jacket, giving Elle a view of his muscular frame. His hair was trimmed back to his shorter length, and his face was clean-shaven.
“For everything else. I’m sorry for not being up front about why I joined the gym, and I’m really sorry for the way you found out.”
He didn’t say anything as he stepped out of the doorway and stopped in front of her, placing his jacket around her bare shoulders.
“Is there any way you can forgive me, and we can be friends? It’s a small town, and we’re going to run into each other. I just don’t want it to be awkward.” Elle pulled the jacket tight around her. It wasn’t exactly what she wanted from him, but she had to admit it was the most she could ask for now.
“No, I don’t think so.” Ryan met her gaze for the first time. His brown irises caught the sparkles from her gold dress, and Elle watched the tiny dots carefully to distract her from the blow of his words.
“You weren’t totally honest with me in the beginning, but what’s worse is you didn’t feel you could come clean even after we spent so much time together.” Ryan frowned, looking sad and hurt.
She looked down, humiliated by her actions.
“In my whole life, I’ve never been so hurt by someone, but I’ve also never cared for someone the way I care about you.”
Elle lifted her eyes and stared into his. The crinkles around the corners as he smiled down at her offered a glimmer of hope, and her breath caught in her throat.
Ryan continued. “I went to the ball that night ready to lay my heart and life on the line for you, but at the first bump in the road, I ran. If anyone needs to apologize, it’s me. I’ve spent the last month trying to forgive myself and figure out a way I could deserve your forgiveness.”
“But at the club, you were so angry,” Elle said.
He ran a hand over his mouth, pulling on his bottom lip. “I wasn’t angry with you. I was furious that another man was touching you. It was irrational I know, and it wasn’t my right to be mad, but I just lost it.”
Elle recoiled in surprise. “You don’t think something is going on with me and Chris, do you? We’re just friends. He would never… I would never…”
Ryan held up a hand. “I know. I’m grateful, really, that you two have become so close. I hear he’s taken good care of you while I’ve been gone. I was mad at myself. That should have been me. It was my job to love you, take care of you, and to keep you safe, and I failed.
Elle pulled the jacket tighter around her chest, stunned by his response.
“You were mine. You’re still mine,” Ryan said as he reached out and tugged on the jacket, pulling her against him. “I wasn’t here for you when you needed me most, and I’m so sorry for that. I made a mistake, but I’m ready to grovel for as long as it takes. I’m not letting you go again,” he said, searching her eyes for a response.
She felt something cold and wet lightly hit her nose and lifted her head to the dark sky. Tiny snowflakes fluttered all around them, almost as if they stood in the middle of a snow globe.
“Say something, please?” Ryan begged, bringing her back to the moment.
“Did you say love?” Elle smiled slyly, pressing herself closer to him.
He grinned.
“Yes. I love you, Elle.”
Elle twirled around in the snow, her face turned up to the sky and her hands outstretched. Her heart swelled for this gorgeous man and this beautiful home she had found.
Ryan grabbed her by the waist.
“I love you, too,” she said.
“Thank fuck for that,” Ryan said before crushing her lips with an eager kiss.
“Ahem. We’re sorry. We wanted to give you some privacy, but it’s snowing!” Claire squealed.
Elle pulled back reluctantly to see all their friends gathered outside smiling at them, interrupting their intimate reunion.
Claire grabbed Elle by both hands and forced her from Ryan’s grasp. Elle cast a smile over her shoulder at Ryan before being whisked out onto the lawn by an excited Claire and Tori. The three of them linked arms and swayed together, basking in the snow flurries.
After only a few moments, she felt Ryan’s arms wrap around her and pull her to him.
“Hey, wait your turn.” Claire smacked playfully at Ryan’s arm, but he turned, placing himself between Elle and Claire.
“Still want to get snowed in and drink hot cocoa in front of the fireplace?”
She couldn’t stop herself from jumping with excitement. “Yes!”
“We better stop by your place. Might be snowed in for a week or more.”
Elle raised her head to the small snowflakes. She was no expert, but it didn’t look like it was going to amount to much. “Really?”
Ryan laughed and lifted her into his arms. “Snow or not, I’m keeping you at my house for as long as I can.”
That suited Elle just fine. She would be content to lie in his arms forever.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
REBECCA RESIDES IN Arizona with her husband and two kids. When she isn’t writing or plotting her next novel, you can find her binge-watching Netflix or at the gym.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
JAMIE, AUDREE, AND Max: I’m sorry you had to eat cereal for dinner so many nights this past year. Thank you for believing in me enough to not complain (too much).
My parents for buying me my first (and second and third) journal and fostering my love of writing.
To my Dad and Sister for everything.
The people who were brave enough to read this book when it was just a rambling of words and typos, Vickie, Natalie, Dad, Debbie, Andi.
Kristin – for seeing something in this book. Thank you!
Kay, Paula, Christine, and Jill. This book really would be nothing without you.
Jena. Your creativity inspires me to write more books.
Lydia, my oldest and dearest friend, I love you. You never cease to inspire and encourage me.
All my family and friends that have reached out to say congrats or good luck. I really appreciate it more than you know.
SUSANNAH. Look, I made your name all caps so you’d stand out! Thank you! Without you this book would still be an outline shoved away in a drawer. Your friendship and support mean so much to me. I’m so thankful for you.
Mom - Thanks for pulling whatever strings you had to up there to make this dream possible.
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Sweat (Sweetbriar Lake #1) Page 19