“He really wasn’t my ex.” She studied the postmark. “It’s from Washington.”
“Nice of them to send it all this way then.” The distance relieved him some.
“It says on the front, ‘To Ryan Lawrence from Talon.’”
“Small town, so they knew it would reach me.”
“Mac would probably have tried to deliver this to the house, so maybe one of his workers did it.” Faith kept her eyes on the box as Ryan closed it with the card inside and put it in the backseat.
“Maybe we were busy, so they backed down the drive and put it in the letter box?” He leered at her, which had her eyes rolling.
Better, he thought. She didn’t seem so distant now.
“Do you get this kind of stuff often?”
“Occasionally, but usually more nude pictures with ‘I love you’ on them.”
“You’re not serious?” She looked horrified.
“I’m a sexy rock god, woman. Of course people want a piece of me. Remember Cruella and Druella? Then there’s Shelly.”
“I don’t think I’d want that life.”
“I’ve been thinking that maybe it’s time to leave Lake Howling, once Hope has the baby. People know I’m here, and I don’t want any more press or fans coming to town and annoying anyone.” The thought made his chest hurt.Friends, family, and Faith.He’d be leaving them.
“You don’t need to protect us, Ryan. It’s not us the press and fans are after.”
“I know that. But this place doesn’t need that kind of aggravation. I’m leaving soon anyway, so it may as well be sooner.”
She didn’t answer that, so they drove into town in silence, both thinking about what his departure would bring. Well, he hoped she was thinking about that. Maybe Ryan could convince her to come and visit him in LA. Would she? Somehow, he doubted it, but he’d ask anyway.
Ryan was soon pulling up outside The Howler. It was getting late, and the streets had emptied out. Stopping the car, he got out and came round her side, but she’d already exited the car.
“See you around, Ryan.” She went to walk by him.
He grabbed her wrist, stopping her progress. “What we just shared was special.”
She shot him a look, then glanced away. Faith didn’t speak, just kissed his cheek. He watched her long legs walk away from him and disappear inside the Howler.
“Well, shit,” he muttered getting back in his car. Driving up the street slowly, he noted Buster’s cafe still had lights on. Even though the hour was late, he guessed someone wasn’t sleeping.
After parking, he wandered to the door and looked in. Seated there were Branna, Buster and Willow, Ethan, and Brad.
He tapped on the window.
“It’s our third baseman!” Buster said, opening the door and waving him in. “Just about to make another round of coffee. You want in?”
“Hell yes.”
He sat, because for some reason he didn’t want to be alone, and if he couldn’t be with Faith then these people would be his second option. Weird how he’d come to think of them as friends.
“She’s still in labor?” Branna said. “But that’s natural, Ryan. It can take a while with your firstborn.”
“Yeah, Mom said that. You left your kids home alone?”
“Dad has them for the night. He’s a trooper like that,” Branna said.
“Good that Mom has decided to drop the protesting,” he said when they fell silent.