Page 32 of The Jealous Girl

‘But—’

‘Nothing else matters,’ I cut in more firmly this time. I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. ‘Like you said… all I need is you.’

His phone rang and my gaze shifted to the bedside table.

‘It’s Mum,’ Ryan said, reaching for the phone.

My stomach lurched.

‘Don’t answer it,’ I said quickly. ‘You know what she’s going to say.’

Her calls had been the same ever since he’d skipped graduation. Full of questions, pressure and guilt.

We didn’t need that. Not now. Not so close to the wedding.

He hesitated. ‘Yeah, but I’d rather deal with it now than on our wedding day,’ he said with a groan.

‘Ryan—’

But he was already answering.

13

NOW

Late August

Monday

I checked my watch. Ryan would still be at the stables. I couldn’t talk to him there. Not with his parents and Charlotte around. I wouldn’t get answers. They probably wouldn’t even let me get close enough to ask any questions.

My fingers drummed against my phone in front of me.

A message. I could send him a message. Ask him to meet me after he finished work.

I’d keep it simple. The right balance of friendly and casual.

My fingers fell still.

Would he even reply?

It’s too much. It’s just too much.

My chest tightened as the memory of Ryan storming out replayed in my head. Nothing about his departure implied he’d stop to talk to me. He hadn’t then. Why would he now?

A message was too easy to ignore. A few taps on the screen and he could delete it as though it had never existed.

No. I needed to make sure he couldn’t ignore me.

Waiting for him to come to me wasn’t an option. It never had been.

I smiled slightly as an idea started to form. I might not know the reason he left. But I did know him. I knew his routines.

It was Tuesday tomorrow. He always went to gym first thing in the morning. 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., every week.

I could get up early. Wait for him as he arrived. He’d have no choice but to talk to me then⁠—

My smile dissipated. I was on the night shift tonight. I didn’t finish until 6 a.m. There was no way I could make it there in time to catch him going in.