Falling into Place - Forbidden Heart Series

26| Tonight

What a day.

After everyone left Jamie and Cherise's, I stayed the rest of the afternoon in support of my friend. This whole Ollie thing was really getting to her. Every time someone brought it up, she got more depressed. I tried to ask her about it twice but got shot down.

So we sat on her couch and ate cake while we watched Must Love Dogs, 10 Things I Hate About You, and finally He's Just Not That Into You. I offered to stay for dinner after the last movie, but she said she was fine and for me to go home.

Since Ryan was working at the bar tonight, I was planning on getting his voicemails when I called on my way home. So I was pleasantly surprised when he answered his phone. He explained that since the boys had everything under control at the bar, he decided to take tonight off. Then when I asked if he wanted me to pick something up for dinner for us, he surprised me again by informing me that he was cooking dinner himself.

We'd been so busy lately with the baby shower and everything else that we always ordered our. It was a nice change of pace to have a home cooked meal. And my husband there waiting for me.

There'd been so many nights where he had to work so late either at the bar or his dad's business that I would spend the evenings alone. Some nights it was okay. I would order in some take-out and binge on the latest new episodes of shows recorded on my DVR. Then on the nights where I felt a little too alone, I had my girls. I would either go see a movie with Karma and Harper, or I would go to Lanie's and spend hours gossiping or playing with little Nate. On the rare nights when the bar was insanely busy and all of our men were working, we would have a girls night/sleepover at Lanie's.

Not tonight, though. Tonight I was sliding the key into the lock of our front door and pushing it open with a smile. My eyes went to the kitchen immediately. Our large condo had a pretty open floorpan, which I liked. I could see into the kitchen and living room from the entry way.

With the volume of the sports game playing on the TV, plus the sizzle of the food Ryan was cooking, he didn't hear me when I came in. I took advantage of that little fact and snuck up behind him, sliding my arms around his waist before placing a soft kiss to his neck.

"Hey you."

I could hear the smile in his voice. "Hey baby. How are you feeling?"

"I feel good," I answered. It was true. I did have that little dizzy spell earlier, but I didn't feel that way anymore. "I'm surprised you're here."

He turned around in my arms, a wry smile tugging his lips. "I figured after the day you had that you didn't want to be here alone."

I grimaced. There was only one way he knew about what happened. "Jamie?"

"Yep. She sent me a text and gave me a brief summary of what happened. I didn't believe it when I first read it." His smiled was replaced with an odd mixture of shock and concern. "Did my mom really try to mend things with you?"

I was surprised he didn't lead with that whole Godzilla Vs. Mothra thing. "Yeah, she did. I mean, I think she did. She seemed to mean it. We had a good talk."

"I wish I could have seen that. Maybe my dad was right about her wanting to repair things with me and Jackson." Ryan frowned. "Well, I don't know, actually. She hadn't tried to contact him yet. Or me. Now that I think about it, she's only taken that step with you."

I thought about that for a second. "Maybe you should invite her to have lunch with you and Jackson. Just three of you. But, you know. . . in a public place."

"I don't know about that, Dani. Maybe I should see her alone first." With a sigh he continued, "It's this whole Everly thing. Jackson looks just like her. Even if she's serious about making amends, I'm worried that she'll take one took at him and remember why she was pissed off in the first place. She and Jackson were never close."