Free Maybe This Time by Chantal Fernando Page A

in the kitchen. I stand up, and wobble
slightly, before walking out to the kitchen to ask for a
refill.
    “Ryan, I…” I
trail off when I see Reid standing there. What the hell is he doing
here? Yes, I know this is his apartment, but come on.
    “What are you
doing here?” he demands, eyeing my bare feet and my empty glass. I
took my shoes off and left them in Ryan’s room. When Ryan walks out
a few seconds later, shirtless, I’ll admit it doesn’t look good.
But when a girl walks up and stands next to Reid, I could care less
how it looks.
    I give Ryan
the dirtiest look I can muster, but he just shrugs. “Reid, I
thought you were at the bar.”
    Well, at least
Ryan didn’t lie to me.
    “I’m sorry, I
didn’t know I was gonna be interrupting something,” he says in a
cold tone. He looks gorgeous as always, wearing faded jeans and a
black shirt. His hair is dishevelled, like someone was running
their hands through it…
    “Ryan, get
dressed, and let’s get out of here,” I say, putting my hands on his
back to push him towards his room door. I grab the bottle of vodka
from the table, realising there's no way I’m standing here with
Reid and his piece of ass, so I follow Ryan into his room.
    “You gonna
watch?” he teases, pulling a fresh shirt out of his cupboard and
shoving it on.
    “Turnabout is
fair play,” I joke, not wanting to think about Reid.
    Reid and
another woman.
    How stupid am
I?
    “Hey, you
alright?” Ryan asks softly, doing up the buttons on his shirt.
    I swallow hard
before answering. “I’m fine.” I take a sip of vodka straight from
the bottle.
    “Does this
shirt look okay?” Ryan asks me. I can’t help it, I start
laughing.
    The door
suddenly bursts open, the sound making me jump.
    “What are you
doing here, Summer?” Reid asks, his teeth clenching with the
effort.
    I look at him
but don’t reply, taking another swig of vodka instead.
    Who knew I was
so classy? Apparently Reid brings out the best in me.
    “I’m taking
her out, Reid, she deserves a night out,” Ryan says as he puts on
his shoes.
    Reid paces up
and down, looking agitated. “Let it go, Reid. You need to let it
go,” Ryan says softly, a flash of sadness and regret crossing his
expression.
    “I can’t,”
Reid states flatly.
    “Reid?” I look
up at the door to see her walk in. The blonde from the bar.
I didn’t even glance her way when I saw her in the kitchen, so I
didn’t recognize her, but it’s definitely her. Shortish blonde
hair, big brown eyes, a lot of makeup.
    I hate
her.
    “Ryan,” I say,
my tone impatient.
    “I’m done,” he
says, pushing his wallet into his snug fitting jeans.
    “I’m surprised
you can even fit that in there,” I tell him, pursing my lips. I
look anywhere but at Reid, because if I look at him, I’m gonna lose
it.
    Ryan grins,
turning around and doing a little ass shake. I force a giggle and
then head towards the door, side stepping both Reid and his
mysterious blonde. When I walk past, Reid gently takes hold of my
arm. “Beauty,” he says softly, his voice pleading.
    Pleading for
what?
    “Let’s go,
Ryan,” I say, walking to the front door, not looking behind me.

Chapter
Eight
    Could today
get any more awkward? I’m sitting at my dad’s dinner table, eating
with him and his girlfriend. I feel like I’m a kid again, pissed at
not having his attention.
    “How’s
everything, Summer?” dad asks, seemingly interested.
    “Fine.” I take
a sip of my soda.
    “Do you need
any money?” he asks kindly.
    “No, thank
you.” I pull out my phone and see a text message from an unknown
number.
    “Okay, I know
you’re stubborn, but you know anything I have is yours,” he says,
his gaze never leaving me.
    “Except your
time, of course,” I say without thinking. Jack looks surprised, and
it annoys me further.
    “I didn’t
think you wanted to spend any time with me. I had to pretty much
beg you just to get you here for dinner,” he says, the sadness in
his tone