“I don’t think it’s you,” Tori muttered and glanced at Chris.
Chris snorted and crossed his hands over his chest.
“Can’t we all just get along?” Ryan asked as he leaned back against the chair arm and closed his eyes.
The two of them seemed to bicker more than usual lately. Tori always brought out something in Chris that had him acting like the menacing man he looked like on the outside, instead of the good-natured man Ryan knew he was. Despite the two of them butting heads, they had always gotten along. Hell, it was half the reason he had let her hang around when they were younger. She could handle herself with his buddies, and they treated her like one of the guys, respecting the fact she was his little sister instead of some girl they could hit on.
When Ryan opened his eyes seconds, or maybe minutes later, Chris was gone, and Tori was sitting on the couch staring at him with concerned eyes.
“Wanna talk about it?” she asked.
“I saw Elle at the gym. She was hugging Chris, and I lost my shit,” Ryan said. He closed his eyes again, reliving the way Elle had looked so happy in his friend’s arms.
Elle raised an eyebrow. “You don’t honestly think there’s anything going on with Chris and Elle, do you? Chris is as loyal as they come. He would never cross that kind of line.”
“No, I know.” Ryan cursed under his breath.
“Why do men make things so complicated?” Tori sighed. “You’re obviously still in love with her. Why not just talk to her and tell her how you feel?”
Ryan wondered if it could be so simple. He couldn’t think about it anymore tonight. His head was still fuzzy from the alcohol. “You coming to the Carroll grand-opening this week?” he asked, changing the subject.
Tori ignored the question and walked to the kitchen. She came back with a glass of water. “Drink this,” she said as she shoved the tumbler in his face. “Yes, of course I’ll be there.” She sat on the couch across from him.
Ryan nodded and downed the water. “Thanks,” he said after he finished. “Hey, they’re looking for someone to manage the club in Carroll. I know we talked about you taking over management of it before I left, but I wanted to tell you I’ve recommended someone else. I thought you should hear it from me.” He twirled the glass in his hands.
Tori’s eyes flashed a look of hurt but quickly narrowed in anger. She glowered at him, her expression saying he was in a for an earful.
“What the hell? Who could possibly be more qualified to run the gym than me? I’ve been running your gym for the last month. Some thanks I get. The gym you haven’t even checked in on while you were gone. You left me to figure it all out while you went to hide out in Carroll. Meanwhile, I’ve been working my ass off.”
Tori stood and started pacing the floor during her rant. She abruptly stopped in front of Ryan and looked at him, obviously waiting for an explanation.
“Can you hand me that envelope on the counter?” Ryan asked.
Tori balked. “That’s it? You have nothing else to say? Get it yourself.”
Ryan stood and slowly staggered to the kitchen counter. The water had helped, but he still felt a little wobbly. He grabbed the large envelope and smiled down at it, his back still to Tori. He carefully steeled his face, turned to his sister, and handed it to her.
“What’s this?” she asked.
He sat back down on the couch and reached for the remote. “Open it,” he said, tuning the TV to SportsCenter. He peeked a glance at Tori as she opened the envelope and pulled out the papers.
She studied the documents carefully with a furrowed brow. “You’re making me a partner of Fit Club?” she asked in a shaky voice.
Ryan smiled at his confused sister. “You’ve earned it. I couldn’t have done any of it without you. I’ve always considered you a partner in the business, but now it’s official,” he said.
Tori stood, stunned, staring at the papers in her hands. “I don’t know what to say.”
Ryan stood. “No need to say anything. If you’d prefer to work out of the Carroll club, we can work that out, but I’m hoping you’ll move back to Sweetbriar and manage with me here. I still want this branch to be the best.”
Ryan knew that no matter how many Fit Clubs they opened, Sweetbriar would always be his baby and his home.
“You’re moving back?”
Ryan smiled at her and turned off the TV. It was time for him to get things together and stop wallowing in the past. First though, he needed a good night’s sleep.
“Right after the club opening. Sweetbriar is my home.”
“ARE YOU SURE you won’t come?” Claire asked as she added another layer of mascara to her already heavily coated eyelashes.
Elle shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. You should have seen how mad he was when I ran into him at the gym.”
Elle shivered, thinking of his icy behavior. No way could she put herself back in that situation again. It was too painful to see him so angry with her.
“The whole gang is going. Even Jake got the night off for it,” Claire said, giving her best pouty face.
Elle looked forward to a night in with greasy takeout, wine, and chick-flicks. While happy for Ryan, she was having a hard time stomaching the fact he was living and working in Carroll now.
She stood and hugged her friend before heading for the door. “Call me later. I want to hear all about it.”
Elle drove down the quiet streets to the liquor store to stock up for the evening ahead. It felt like everyone had abandoned the small town. As well-liked as Ryan was here in Sweetbriar, Elle wouldn’t be surprised if the whole community had gone to Carroll for the grand opening. Elle smiled at how much she had grown to love the loyalty of the folks here in Sweetbriar.
Elle pulled into the shopping center parking lot and spotted Amanda walking out of the hardware store. Dressed more casually than Elle had ever seen her, her blond hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, and she was dressed in a long, black sweater and tight jeans.
Elle caught up to her as she was navigating two large mosaic and dark metal lamps with matching navy shades into the back seat of her car.
“Those are exquisite,” Elle said, looking at the lamps. They were modern and sophisticated. The late afternoon light was hitting the glass mosaic just right, making the navy shade sparkle with color. She loved them immediately.
“Elle. Hi. It’s good to see you,” Amanda said, closing the door of her car and turning around.
“I thought you’d be with Clive tonight at the Fit Club opening in Carroll,” Elle said.
Amanda sighed. “No, I had to stay back. I’m working through the night to finish up Ryan’s house.”
“You’re working on Ryan’s place? Is he selling it?” Elle asked. The thought made her stomach turn.
Amanda giggled happily. “No, I’m decorating it. He wanted me to get it all finished before he got back.”
Elle scrunched up her nose as she processed the implication. “Ryan’s coming back to Sweetbriar?”
“I figured you of all people would know,” Amanda said with a small laugh.
“Why would I know?”
Amanda leaned her head to one side and shrugged a single shoulder. “I guess I just assumed you two would be back together by now. You were such a great couple. Everyone in town thought so.”
Elle wasn’t sure how to respond, but she felt suddenly hopeful about Ryan coming back to Sweetbriar. Maybe over time, he could forgive her, and they could at least be friends. She missed him terribly.
“Listen, I better get going. Lots of details to finish up. You’re coming to the engagement party on Saturday, right?” Amanda asked as she opened the door of her car.
Elle nodded. “Of course.”
Amanda smiled. “Good. See you then.”
RYAN LOOKED AROUND at his family and friends as they chatted with Brenda and Karen in the new gym. Ryan had given the two women a lifetime membership to any Fit Club. He couldn’t thank them enough for hel
ping him through the past month.
“I’m really proud of you, son.” Coach Calloway patted Ryan on the shoulder. “The place looks great.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“So, is it true you’re moving back?” Jake asked.
“Tomorrow, actually.”
“Well, the women of Carroll will never be the same,” Karen said with a wink.
They toured the gym, and Ryan pointed out all the details that made this location unique. Sweetbriar would always be his home, but he was damn proud of this gym, too. More than anything, though, he was glad to be done. It didn’t feel right being in Carroll any longer. There was just one thing he needed to do first.
Ryan took Brenda by the elbow. “Hey, can I talk to you a minute?”
“Sure.”
They hadn’t spent much time together since Thanksgiving, but he wanted to make sure she knew how much her friendship had helped him.
Ryan led her to one of the offices and handed her a small wrapped box. “This is for you.”
“For me?” Brenda smiled and unwrapped the gift quickly. She grinned as she took out a silver charm bracelet with three charms: a plane, a cupcake, and a beer.
Brenda placed the bracelet on her wrist and inspected it. “Is this your way of saying good-bye?”
“More like thank you. You helped me more than you know. You were just the kick-in-the-ass I needed to move on with my life.”
“Get your girl back yet?” Brenda asked with a smile.
Shoving both hands in his pants pockets, he nodded, feeling anxious and excited about seeing Elle again. “I’m working on it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
SO, RYAN WAS back in town. Elle had heard all about it, but she hadn’t run into him yet. He hadn’t been at the gym when she’d worked out Tuesday morning, and the rest of the week she had gotten her workouts in by running along the trail behind her condo. She had rehearsed what she wanted to say a million times, but she still didn’t feel quite ready to face him.
Elle woke up Saturday morning eager for Clive and Amanda’s engagement party at the country club. The whole town seemed to buzz in anticipation, or maybe that was just Claire’s excitement rubbing off on her. Claire was blogging the decadent event and had been giddy all week.
Elle pulled a long, gold-sequined gown from a bag. She couldn’t wait to wear it. The dress made her feel confident and beautiful, the perfect choice to wear when she finally confronted Ryan. She wasn’t certain he would be attending the party, but Claire assured her it was the social event of the season, and everyone would be there.
“Wait until you see the club. Amanda worked her wonders on the place. You won’t even recognize it,” Claire said as she dug through a large jewelry box on top of her dresser.
“I don’t know how she does it all,” Elle said. “I saw her last weekend, and she said that she was decorating Ryan’s entire house up on the lake before he got back to town.”
“Seriously? Well, it makes sense he would live there now. Tori has moved back for good, too, so I guess she’s taking over his apartment permanently. Think he’d let me blog about the place? I’ve heard it is really amazing,” Claire said.
“You’ve never been?”
Elle had assumed the whole gang had visited Ryan’s house, especially since Chris and Jake also had places overlooking the lake.
“No, the boys have always been very reluctant to invite any of us to their special spot.” Claire rolled her eyes. “I’m not even sure that Tori has seen it.”
She wondered why Ryan had taken her there. Maybe he was just trying to impress her. It had certainly worked. It was her dream house, Ken-doll included.
“I’m going to try and talk to him tonight and apologize for everything,” Elle said quietly. Saying it out loud made her nervous and excited.
Claire’s eyes lit up. “What are you going to say?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve rehearsed it a million times, but I think I’m going to have to wing this one,” she said.
Claire grinned. “Elle Hastings winging something? Shut the front door.”
CLAIRE WAS RIGHT. Elle hardly recognized the country-club dining hall. The room had been decked out in grand Christmas decorations. Elle counted three trees at first glance. One glistened with silver and gold garland along with antique-looking glass ornaments set off by tiny white lights. A second one was decorated more traditionally with colored lights and large red and gold ornaments, and a third tree was adorned with photos of the couple. From afar, it looked like it contained pictures of them individually when they were younger and some recent shots as a couple. Elle itched to see some old photos of Clive. She bet he had been a handsome man in his twenties and thirties.
The tables were bare except for a single crystal vase with a tea light that flickered in the dim room.
Maggie had created a magnificent tiered cake for the event. Elle felt a glimmer of pride that the business was going well, and she suspected things would only get busier once everyone at the party got a taste of her masterpiece.
Elle and Claire had arrived early so Claire could take pictures of all the decorations. Her usual photographers had both been unavailable, so Claire was doing her best with her own small professional camera. Elle followed behind, helping with lighting or placement of items. She didn’t know the first thing about photography, but it gave her a chance to check out all the decorations up close. Amanda had put the same intricate attention to detail into her design tonight as she did with everything she touched.
As people trickled in, the band began playing a mix of Christmas tunes and love ballads. Elle sipped her second champagne and mingled around the room. Clive was well-liked and respected in Sweetbriar, and the town had shown up to shower the happy couple with their support.
Elle waved across the room to her parents, who were smiling and chatting in a large group of their friends. Some of the women Elle recognized from tennis.
Jake and Chris had also arrived. They were seated at the bar with Tori and Luke and two men that Elle didn’t recognize.
“Who are the two guys with Jake and Chris?” Elle asked, bringing the champagne flute to her lips and discretely pointing with her pinky finger in the direction of the bar.
Claire’s face brightened with a mischievous smile. “Those are Chris’s brothers. Travis is the redheaded one standing at the end, and Charlie is the blond sitting between Jake and Chris. They both moved away after high school. I think Charlie lives in Chicago. I don’t know where Travis ended up.”
Elle stared harder at the two men. They were both tall and large like Chris and, as best as she could tell from a distance, they were just as handsome.
“Any sign of Ryan?” Claire asked as she handed her a fresh glass of champagne.
“No, I’m starting to think he’s not coming,” Elle said.
Claire linked her arm with her friend’s. “Come on. Let’s go crash the boy-party over there. I’ll see what I can find out about Ryan.”
Standing next to the guys in an emerald dress that showed off her long legs, Tori looked up as Elle and Claire walked to the bar.
“Wow, you look hot,” Tori said as she wrapped both arms around Elle’s neck in an overly friendly greeting.
Elle retreated a bit, surprised by the show of affection.
“Sorry. I’m just so glad to see you. I haven’t seen you outside of the gym in weeks,” Tori said as she gave Elle a sad smile.
Chris and Jake apparently had noticed the commotion behind them and were now turned.
Jake hopped down off the barstool and approached them, his eyes barely leaving Claire except to smile quickly at Elle in greeting. “Hello, ladies. You look beautiful,” he said, staring longingly at Claire.
Chris stayed seated at the bar, quietly talking to his brothers. He smiled and lifted his beer to them. Elle noticed Charlie and Travis watching them in quiet contemplation. A flush crept up her face being under such tight scrutiny from so many handsome men.
Claire leaned into Jake, obviously loving the attention. “You boys clean up pretty well, too. Where’s Ryan? I figured he’d be holed up with you boys at the bar.”
Elle looked down and bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling. Claire was smooth, she’d give her that.
“He’s running late, but he should be here soon,” Jake said, glancing at his phone.
A tap sounded on the microphone, and Elle and the rest of the room turned toward a handsome and smiling Clive as he made an appearance in front of the crowd.
“Excuse me, can I have your attention for a moment?” Clive said, his voice coming over the speakers in front of the band. “Thank you all for coming tonight. I can’t tell you how much it means to me and my beautiful fiancée, Amanda, to have so many people here to celebrate our engagement.”
Elle followed Clive’s gaze and spotted a smiling and glowing Amanda in the back of the room. Amanda stepped forward in the crowd and took her place next to Clive.
“I’ve lived in this town my entire life. Many of you here tonight I’ve known since before I can remember. I always thought that this community and my work were enough. No one person deserves so many big loves, but here I stand before you a bumbling idiot in love with a magnificent woman who has completely taken this old man by surprise.”
Elle felt a prick of awareness between her shoulder blades, and closed her eyes and inhaled, breathing in the familiar smell of detergent and citrus. She peered over her shoulder and locked eyes with Ryan. Wobbling a bit in her stilettos, she forced her attention back to Clive.
“I feel beyond fortunate to have found someone who makes me want to be the best version of myself. To love and care more deeply for everyone I know. To take care of myself — mind, body, and soul — so that I might be lucky enough to spend the next forty years trying to be good enough to deserve her love.”
Elle felt a single tear run down her face and wiped it quickly and discreetly. She felt silly for being so touched by words written about someone else’s love story, but so much of what Clive said was exactly how she had felt about Ryan.
Sweat (Sweetbriar Lake #1) Page 18
