Finding Our Reality (The Reality Duet #2)

Chapter 25

ELLA

You know the saying ‘ tension so thick you could cut it with a knife’? Well, the sexual tension between Ry and me has been so thick you would need a chainsaw powered by jet fuel to slice through it.

I spent the remainder of Friday night and all day Saturday babysitting Kristie at my house. Holt had to stay with Ridge because I was afraid Kristie would hit on him. It wasn’t hard to confirm Ry’s suspicion that Kristie was high. I tried to stage a one-woman intervention, threatening to tell her father. Kristie swore up and down that she doesn’t have a drug problem. She said she just started a new anti-anxiety medication and she had an adverse reaction when mixing the medicine with alcohol and her normal sleep medication.

I don’t know if I believe her, but I’ve been out of her life for so long I don’t know if it’s my place to enforce rules on her. One rule did get enforced, though—Will has banned her from the bar. She’s not allowed to set foot in there again.

By the time I drove Kristie to her house Saturday night, Ry had caught a big case. A missing thirteen-year-old girl, lured away from home by an older man she met in a chat room. All the detectives were overwhelmed, chasing lead after lead all week long. I tried to stay out of the way, knowing they would ask for my help if they needed it. We only saw each other for a few minutes here and there when I was in the station working. But those few minutes were filled with unspoken passion, electricity, and desire. Stolen glances and passing touches gave me enough hope to dream about what our future may hold.

Am I really ready to dive back into a relationship with him? Are we really ready to try this again? I can’t have my heart broken. Not again. There’s no way I would survive it. Lying in a ditch and being run over by a train would be easier than living through that.

And now, on this Friday afternoon, I can’t help but wish we weren’t going to see Trash for a follow-up interview, but instead, tumbling into bed together. I daydream of pulling the covers over our heads and rediscovering all the different kisses and touches that make us each scream out in pleasure. Because it’s been a long damn time since I’ve had some pleasure .

“You’re blushing.”

I cover my cheek with my hand, watching as Ry locks the conference room door. “What?”

He laughs, pocketing his keys. “You’re blushing. What are you thinking about?”

I snort, pretending what he’s saying isn’t true. “Don’t be silly. I’m not thinking about what you probably hope I’m thinking about.”

“And what do I hope you’re thinking about?”

I ignore him, holding the lobby door open for him. “What’s the latest on the girl? Have they let her go home yet?”

“Yeah, she’s been released from the hospital. That was more of a precaution than anything else. She’ll definitely need some long-term counseling. I’m just glad we found her when we did. And from what it sounds like, the district attorney’s office feels confident the guy will plead guilty. The evidence against him is overwhelming.”

“So, you finally got some rest last night?”

Ry laughs, returning the favor and holding the outside door open for me. The sound of his raspy breath makes me dizzy, and I literally grow weak in the knees when his hand grazes the small of my back, guiding me out into the heated summer air. “Yeah, I slept for twelve hours straight. I don’t think I’ve ever done that. At least not since I was injured.”

“Marcum was the same way. I talked to Nancy last night, and he was already passed out by seven.”

“Maybe I’m getting older than I realize.”

I stop walking and turn to him. My hip bumps against his thigh. Squinting my eyes, I pretend to pluck at his hair. “Come to think of it, I thought I noticed a gray hair.”

Smiling, he playfully slaps my hand away.

Switching topics, I ask about Trash. “So, does he know it’s us coming today?”

“Yeah, I figured the novelty of a surprise visit would wear off by now. I told him we just needed to ask some questions about the visitor and phone call logs from when Trey was in prison.”

We’re right by the truck when someone catches our attention, yelling Ry’s name. Turning, we see a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black department-issue polo and khaki pants. The look on Ry’s face doesn’t give me much—no smile, no grimace. Nothing.

“Give me a minute?”

Nodding, I slowly walk around to the passenger’s side and climb in. Ry opens the driver-side door, leans in, and turns the ignition, cooling the cab from the heat. He shuts the door except it doesn’t latch all the way and the noise from his conversation floods though the vehicle despite the fact that he attempts to move out of earshot, near the back door.

“Hey, I’m so sorry to keep you.”

I discreetly turn around, trying to get a glimpse of the woman. She’s short, only coming up to his chest. Cute. Not gorgeous, but cute. Plain brown hair, not much makeup.

“It’s fine. I’m just heading out on an interview. What’s up?”

She sighs, nervously. “I can’t believe I’m having to say this, but I just got a phone call from the summer camp. Laura broke her glasses.”

“Her new glasses?”

“Yes. Not the lenses, just the frames. Apparently, she got hit in the face with a volleyball.”

“Is she okay?” The worry in his voice is hard to ignore.

“She’s fine. Just the broken glasses. I called the eye doctor, and they have another pair of the exact same frames in stock. But…” the woman stalls, twisting her fingers back and forth in a cat’s cradle, “payday isn’t until next Friday, and I—”

I watch as Ry reaches across, gently rubbing her arm. “Don’t worry about it. You know I’m here for you and Laura. Always. Just tell me how much you need.”

She sniffles, wiping away a tear. “I feel so bad. You just bought those glasses two months ago.”

“Brooke, she’s a kid. Stuff like this is gonna happen. You can’t get this upset every time she breaks a pair of glasses or stains her new clothes or accidentally breaks a toy.” He takes a step closer to her, bending his face closer to her height. “Now, tell me how much you need.”

Bile swirls in my stomach, rising up against the back of my throat. The sour taste consumes my senses. Something deep in my heart tells me this conversation is about more than just charity.

“The frames are $89.”

“I don’t have cash on me right now. I’m gonna write you a check. Just swing by the bank and cash it before going to the eye doctor’s office, okay?”

Opening the door, he leans in, grabbing a checkbook and ink pen from the center console. He doesn’t look me in the eyes. He doesn’t say anything.

And that makes my heart thunder against my chest. Powerfully. Hard and wild, like a rabid animal is chasing me through the dark night.

“I didn’t even ask…do you need me to get her from camp and take her to the doctor? You’re on shift, aren’t you?”

“It’s slow right now. Stinson said I can take the afternoon on sick pay.”

“You sure?” He tears the check and hands it over to her.

She nods and turns the check over in her hand. “Crutch, I only need $89. This check is for $200.”

“I know,” he says, simply. “It’s been a while since Laura’s come over to my house. You know she loves it there. Let me come get her… I’ll pick her up tomorrow morning and she can stay the night. I promise to have her back Sunday evening before bath time. You need a break, some alone time. Use the extra money and go get a manicure or a pedicure or what-the-hell-ever you women like. It’s on me.”

Brooke stutters over her words. “Are…are you sure?”

“Of course, I’m sure. She’s family.” He tucks a finger underneath her chin, lifting her eyes to his. “You both are.”

The world stops spinning. I stop breathing. Panic doesn’t even come close to describing it. Life as I thought I knew it ceases to exist.

I always do what I shouldn’t do.

I knew I shouldn’t have allowed myself to fall for him again.

Ry—the man I’m in love with—has a child with another women.