Crap.
“Ooh…can I have a bowl?”
“No.”
“But…”
“Tell me why you’re really here and then you can have ice cream,” Parker said firmly.
“Ugh…fine!” Then she proceeded to tell her about the argument with Ryder. She unloaded everything from their initial agreement months ago to him not honoring it, as she found out today. “So obviously I don’t really even know him! I mean…I trusted him! Loved him! And thank God I never said the words to him because I’d feel like even more of an idiot than I do right now!”
Without a word, Parker stood and went to the kitchen and prepared a massive bowl of ice cream. When she handed it to Peyton and sat back down, she smiled. “There. Doesn’t that feel better to get all that off your chest?”
Peyton couldn’t help but nod. “It really does.” She took a spoonful of ice cream and hummed with appreciation.
“It’s good, right?”
“Definitely. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome,” she said sweetly. “So…did the drive all the way down here help at all? Did you come to any conclusions about your relationship with Ryder?”
“Honestly? The drive did help, and it made me realize that I’m too gullible. He never gave me the contracts he said he would, and I was foolish enough to take his word for everything.” She sighed and took another spoonful of ice cream before shaking her spoon at Parker. “I’m second-guessing everything. Was he just using me all along? Was he sleeping with me so he could get help with his precious resort–which, FYI, is totally never going to fit in with Magnolia no matter what he thinks and I think that’s why the permits keep getting denied–and did sleeping with me help him get in even closer with our family?”
Frowning, Parker took the spoon from her and helped herself to some of the ice cream. “Why would he sleep with you to get to our family? He was already friends with just about everyone; he didn’t need you for that.”
“Yeah, but…he feels like this…connection to everyone. Like we’re the family he’s always wanted. And by we I don’t just mean us, the Bishops, I’m talking about the extended family. He loves how everyone is so close and happy and supportive of one another.”
“We are awesome…”
“Okay, so maybe that part had nothing to do with me and was just a perk, but I’m still convinced he was just using me for the help I was giving him.”
Her sister handed the spoon back with a dramatic sigh. “Oh, Peyton…I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but…you’re not that awesome.”
“Um…excuse me?”
With a nod, Parker explained. “You’re good at what you do, but Ryder’s a millionaire who could hire some of the best restauranteurs in the business to help him. There wasn’t anything you were going to help him with that he couldn’t get from a more qualified source. It’s obvious he wanted you for a reason.”
“I told him to hire someone more qualified, but he insisted he wanted me! That I was perfect for the job!”
“Or maybe you were perfect for him!” She groaned. “You can’t be this clueless!”
Rather than respond, Peyton ate a few more spoonfuls of ice cream way too fast and got brain freeze. When she winced, Parker laughed. “It’s not funny.”
“Oh, please, it totally is, and you deserve it. I can’t believe you blew this so badly, Peyton!”
“I didn’t blow anything. He did by lying to me.” And because she was childish, she shoveled even more ice cream in her mouth even though it felt like her head was literally going to explode.
“Okay, yes. I will agree that he was wrong to make changes to the plans without talking to you about them, but…so what? Nothing was done yet. It’s not like the place got built and you were completely blindsided. Everything is still in the planning stage. Maybe if you would have told Austin and Jake to scram so you and Ryder could talk, you would have realized that he’d listen to you.”
“He should have been listening already. He promised…”
“Oh my God! Enough with the promise!” Parker shouted. “Are you seriously going to sit there and tell me that you’ve never made a mistake in a relationship? That you never said or did anything that you wish with all your heart you could change or take back?” Jumping to her feet, she paced in front of the sofa. “And I’m not talking about this situation with Ryder because I know that’s what you were thinking, but I’m talking ever, Peyton. Ever!”
“Um…”
“Like…if someone shared how they felt to you and you blew them off and ruined everything. Or…or made light of something you should have taken seriously and lost something special. Can you really sit there and tell me that’s never happened to you?” she demanded.
“I kind of have a feeling we’re not talking about me anymore…”
Parker stopped and hovered over her. “You have to be honest with yourself, Peyton, and deal with the consequences. None of us is blameless in any situation and if you have the chance to make things right with Ryder–if you really do love him–then you have to deal with the fact that you behaved kind of bratty.”
“I did not…”
“You did! Maybe after a good night’s sleep you’ll realize it too. You were both wrong in this scenario and if you are able to walk away so easily, then maybe you were the one using him.”
Slamming the bowl on the end table, Peyton stood and got in her sister’s face. “It wasn’t like that! I would never do something like that! I love Ryder!” Tears stung her eyes. “That’s why this hurts so much. Don’t you get it?” She immediately sat back down. “God, it feels like my heart is literally ripping in two!” Looking up at Parker, her vision blurred as the tears fell in earnest. “I wanted him to fight with me–to tell me he was sorry–but instead he insulted me in front of Austin and Jake and talked to me like I was a child. It was humiliating.”
Fortunately, her sister sat down beside her, hugging her. “I’m so sorry, Peyton. I really am.” She sighed. “Okay, let’s drop this subject for tonight. You’re exhausted and I think you need some sleep. You’ve had a rough day.”
They sat in companionable silence for several minutes while Peyton cried it out. When she finally felt a bit better, she straightened and accepted the tissues Parker got for her. “Thanks.”
“Come on. I know there’s a guest room, but you’re crashing with me.”
That just made her chuckle. “It’s not like we haven’t done that a hundred times before.” And by the time they were both in the bed, all the exhaustion of the day caught up with her. “Oh, and I forgot to tell you the other big news of the day.”
Yawning, Parker asked, “There’s more?”
“Yup. I went and confronted Mom today.”
“What?! And you’re just telling me this now?” she cried before flopping over onto her back. “I know I said you needed sleep, but I have to hear how that all played out first.”
“Parks, come on. It’s so late and this bed is really comfy…”
“Ugh…fine. Just give me the highlights. Did you yell?”
“Not really.”
Frowning, Parker shook her head. “That’s not particularly helpful. Did she show any emotion?”
“She cried.”
“What?! You made Mom cry and now you think I’m going to let you sleep?” She gave Peyton a small shove. “This is huge! I’ve never seen or heard Mom cry! It’s like seeing Bigfoot and a unicorn having tea together!”
Okay, that did make her laugh a little. “Yeah, well…she just sort of burst into tears at one point and I didn’t know what to do. And it wasn’t the genteel sobs of a Southern belle. It was an ugly cry.”
“You are so lucky…”
Peyton gave her sister a hard look. “That’s really not very nice.”
“To be fair, neither is she, so…”
“You have a point.” Rolling onto her back, she stared up at the ceiling and sighed. So basically her day consisted of bullying her mother, arguing w
ith Ryder, and running away and keeping her sister up all night with her nonsense. Unable to help herself, she groaned.
“What? What’s the matter?”
“This day has just been awful and the common denominator in all of it is me.” Turning her head, she looked at Parker. “I don’t think I like the person I’ve become.”
“To be fair, you’ve been a bit of a marshmallow for most of your life and I think you’re trying to make up for lost time.” Reaching over, she squeezed Peyton’s hand. “Maybe don’t try to be such a badass to everyone who loves you and…you know…baby steps.”
“A little too late for that now, don’t you think?”
“Actually, no. I think everyone’s entitled to a little bad behavior and if the people around you love you like they claim to, then you should be forgiven. I can’t imagine Mom disowning you or Ryder just being willing to walk away from you because you dared to respond in a way that he didn’t like. I mean…no two people can think the same thing and feel the same way all the time, right? And…and…sometimes you need to just think for a bit before making life-altering decisions! People need to realize that and stop punishing…you know…people who just need time!”
Peyton’s frown returned. “Okay, again…I have a feeling we’re not talking about me anymore. What’s going on with you? Is everything okay?”
Parker’s blue eyes went wide before she rolled over and turned out the light. “You know what? It’s late, and the day has caught up to me, too. Get some sleep and we’ll talk more about getting you back to Magnolia and Ryder in the morning. Night!”
There was a part of her that really wanted to argue and push to find out just what in the world was going on with her sister, but it was hard to keep her eyes open or to even think straight right now.
She missed Ryder. Even as mad as she was at him, she missed him. As much as she adored her sister and appreciated her opening up her home and bed to her, this wasn’t where Peyton wanted to be.
Why did I have to run away? Why couldn’t I have just gone home and stayed there while I calmed down? Did I really have to go to such an extreme?
Her phone was out in the living room, and even though she hadn’t checked it since she crossed the South Carolina/Georgia state line, she couldn’t help but wonder if Ryder had tried to reach out to her. And knowing him, her silence just made her seem more childish to him.
Great.
She considered getting up and getting her phone and calling him to apologize, but…her body just wouldn’t cooperate. She was tired but she was also an early riser. So, she’d sleep now and get up tomorrow and call him first thing.
It was a good plan.
The right plan.
And hopefully by this time tomorrow night, she’d be sleeping beside Ryder instead of her snoring sister.
“Thanks, Cal. I appreciate you putting a rush on this,” Ryder said to his attorney the next morning when the contracts were sent over. When the bank opened, he’d go and get the cashier’s check and have everything ready to give to her by lunchtime so he could put this all behind him.
And damn, did it hurt to think like that.
She’d obviously turned her phone off last night because he hadn’t been able to reach her so today after he went to the bank, he planned on going to the café and speaking to her privately and giving her the check for the hundred thousand and the contract regarding the restaurant. Moving forward, she could be the one to talk to Austin about the plans because he was going to stay out of it.
Even though it was his money bankrolling the whole damn thing, but…whatever.
Last night, he hadn’t slept at all. He’d tossed and turned and found himself reaching for her more times than he could count. He missed her, ached for her, but…the reality was that he was going to have to get used to being alone again.
And possibly consider leaving Magnolia Sound.
There was no way he could stay here and have it be the utopia he had planned on making it while knowing Peyton was there, moving on with her life without him. There’d come a time when she’d start dating another man–possibly marrying him–and adding to the amazing Coleman extended family. He’d lose not only her, but them. He knew he’d get over losing the Colemans, but Ryder didn’t think he’d ever get over losing Peyton.
“Great way to start the day, sinking further and further into misery and self-loathing,” he murmured before making himself a second cup of coffee.
It was going to be a long day.
“It’s going to be an even longer life,” he mused darkly, taking his mug. He needed to shower and get dressed and get going. The only way he was going to survive was to keep moving. If the plans for the resort got denied again, he’d pull the plug on the whole thing, sell the property and move on.
Feeling better about having a plan, he went to shower.
Leaving the house an hour later, Ryder wasn’t looking forward to anything he was about to do. He knew he was doing what was best for Peyton, but it still felt wrong on so many levels. In the car, he glanced at his phone and decided to try calling her again, but it went directly to voicemail.
God, why was she so stubborn?
It was after ten in the morning and he knew her schedule as well as he knew his own. The fact that her phone was still off was very telling.
She didn’t want to hear from him.
Letting out a long breath, he frowned as he pulled out of the driveway. Whether she liked it or not, she was going to have to hear from him one more time because once he went to the bank, he was showing up at the café and wasn’t leaving until everything was signed, sealed, and delivered. He was sure she’d be glad to see him go. After all, she never was thrilled with the plans he was making to her precious town so…again, maybe it was all for the best.
But why did it have to hurt so badly?
“Shake it off, Ryder,” he muttered as he made his way across town.
Dealing with the bank took a little longer than he wanted, but he simply reasoned it was because they were dealing with such a large amount of money. Once he was done there and back in his car, he nearly jumped when his phone rang. His heart hammered in his chest as he prayed it was Peyton, but…it wasn’t. With a muttered curse, he answered. “Hey, Austin. What’s up?”
“Hey,” he began slowly, and Ryder knew he wasn’t calling with good news.
“The plans didn’t get approved again, did they?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Part of him wanted to rail and carry on and demand to know what their problem was, but…he didn’t.
“We can go back to the drawing board and modify your plans again, Ry,” Austin explained. “It seems part of the issue is…”
But he didn’t want to hear it. It didn’t matter. “Don’t worry about it, Austin. I appreciate the call. Let’s just call this done.”
“Done? Ryder, come on. You can’t be serious!”
“I am,” he replied solemnly. “Listen, I appreciate everything you’ve done, but I know it’s time to pull the plug. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
“O-kay…so what are you going to do with the property? I’m sure you already have alternate plans.”
“Yeah. I’m going to sell it.”
“What?!” Austin cried with disbelief. “Why? Why would you do that? You were so psyched to utilize the property! Just because this one design didn’t work doesn’t mean something else won’t! Why don’t we meet for lunch and talk about it?”
“I can’t, Austin. My day is booked. I’ll be in touch, though. Thanks.” And he hung up before his friend could say anything else. It was just one more thing he couldn’t deal with right now.
Within minutes, he was in front of the café but didn’t see Peyton’s car. Maybe she was out running an errand, but he could easily wait for her inside. Maybe he could have something to eat to pass the time.
When he walked in, Dana greeted him. “Hey, Ryder! What can I do for you?”
“Hey, Dana. I’m here to see Peyton. I
s she around?”
She looked at him funny, like she was mildly confused. “Um…I’m sorry, but…she’s not here. She decided to take a few days off.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks. Have a good day,” he said as he forced a smile. Walking out of the café, he felt incredibly foolish and wondered if the entire staff would now be talking about how there was obviously trouble between him and Peyton that he didn’t even know where she was.
But he immediately pushed that train of thought aside and drove over to Peyton’s.
She wasn’t there.
Now he wasn’t sure what else he could do but wait.
Which wasn’t his strong point.
He considered going to her parents’ place or simply driving around town in hopes of spotting her out and about, but that seemed a little stalkerish. With nothing else to do, he began to drive home.
But at the last minute, he turned around and drove to the Coleman Construction offices. He knew Austin was working there today and walked in as if he owned the place. When he spotted his friend, he said, “I need Parker’s number.”
“Why? We were just on the phone like ten minutes ago. What’s going on?”
“I can’t reach Peyton and…”
“Dammit, I told you I didn’t want to be in the middle of this!”
“Then just give me her number and I’ll be on my way.”
“No. Absolutely not. I’m done with this whole situation so…no.” His phone rang and the man practically dove for it. “I have to take this. You know the way out.”
It was pointless to argue, and Ryder knew he could simply search for himself for Parker’s number. He just thought this would be quicker.
Back to square one, he was walking back to his car when he spotted Mallory Summerford–Jake’s wife and Peyton’s cousin.
And said a silent prayer that she had no idea about what went down yesterday.
“Hey, Ryder!” Mallory approached him with a smile. “How are you?”
“Good,” he replied easily. “Good. Where are the kids?”
“Oh, they’re with my mom so Jake and I can have lunch together,” she told him. “It’s easier to sneak out during the day than to go out for dinner. Bedtime is rough when Jake and I aren’t there.”
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