Winning Back Ryan
Page 38
Brian gazed at me tenderly. “Annie, every day that I’ve lived since the night you saved me has been a gift that you’ve given me. The least I can do is try to make you smile.”
I smoothed back the wet hair from his forehead. “Brian, you owe me nothing. I need you like you need me. I had to save you, because there’s no world that I want to live in where you don’t exist.”
He hugged me tightly. “We were meant to be, Annie. I can feel it. I sleep better at night now with you in my arms.”
I sighed contentedly, the peace that always came when I was near Brian taking over me.
“You’re right. I belong with you.”
**
One week later….
“Hey, Annie, this came for you in the mail,” Brian said, walking into the apartment in a three piece gray suit, carrying a large box. I glanced up from my laptop laying on the couch. Because of my physical condition, my boss allowed me to work from home. I didn’t mind; I saved on commuter fare. Brian and I worked out in the apartment building’s gym at odd hours so that people were less likely to see me and stare.
I placed my computer down, standing up, walking over to the table. I took out a pair of scissors from the kitchen trying to maneuver around the half dozen vases of flowers. Brian went a little overboard when I came home and the apartment was now filled with floral arrangements. It smelled like a botanical garden. Opening the box, I smiled brightly. Inside were packed cheap ceramic figurines. All of clowns.
I picked up the piece of paper lying on top: These should hold you over for a while.
Brian peered into the box. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s a gag gift. Ben knows that I hate clowns.”
“So, he got you a dozen figurines.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “What an ass.” He wrapped his arm around me, hugging me, as he dipped his head, kissing me in greeting.
“Yeah, that’s Ben for you. Don’t worry, honey, I’ll have these gone soon,” I said. Surely there was a wall somewhere…
He kissed my forehead before tossing down the rest of the mail on the table.
“I’ll be right back. Just wanna get out of these clothes,” Brian said before walking into the bedroom. I made sure that he was out of view before picking up a few of the figurines…searching. My heart pattered faster when I saw it, laying on the bottom of the box, hidden from plain view. I pulled the book out, reading its title:
50 Foods In Your Fridge That Can Serve You In Other Ways
I pulled out the slip of paper from inside: Your turn, Princess.
I smiled widely at the book and realized that this perverted manual was probably the best present I had ever been given, because of what it represented- my desire to not be treated as a victim. The feeling that my friends, especially Ben after all that he heard and saw, would see me in the same light as they did before was a gift beyond measure. I was still his princess, and he was still my foul-mouthed, perverted friend. As he so accurately put it, he and I had a complicated friendship. But, I knew where I belonged.
“Hey, Annie, do you want to order take out tonight and watch a movie after you finish your work?” Brian called out from the bathroom.
I slid the book back underneath all of the figurines and replied, “Sure, honey. You pick the movie tonight.”
The End
The Beginning…
About the Author
S.L. Siwik lives in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.
She loves going to NJ diners on the weekend for inspiration, drinks a pot of coffee a day, and loves finding new music to add to her playlist. Author to Just Good Friends and Winning Back Ryan.
Getting Back Annie, Winning Back Ryan’s sequel will be out shortly. So, will my erotic romance, Office Perks.
Thank you for purchasing this novel.
I love to hear from you either on Facebook, Goodreads, or email.
Email me anytime at: slsiwik@gmail.com
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
About the Author