Exodus (The Ravenhood)

I opted to meet Ryan at his hotel in the lobby and spot him typing a mile a minute on his laptop. I called him in because he’s one of the best corporate lawyers in the country and the biggest asset in my company. He’s also highly protective of both me and my best interests. He glances up at me over his screen in greeting and gives me his signature panty-dropping grin. He’s ridiculously good looking in an all-American way: an athletic build, thick wavy, sandy-blond hair, and ocean-blue eyes.

Despite being my most trusted business partner, he’s also an ex-boyfriend from college. We dated for a few months during my junior year before he grew tired of the space I purposely put between us, refusing to let him get close. He eyes my dress, and I don’t miss the way they linger. Despite my rough morning, I managed to pull myself together today, choosing my favorite ‘I’ve got this’ spiked black boots. I paired them with a sleek black pencil skirt and form-fitting, popped collar blazer that reveals a respectable amount of cleavage. I left my hair down and curled it in waves before applying a full face of makeup, lining my eyes black and shading my lips deep red. The same red of the trench coat draped over my arm.

Ryan stands from the small two-seater he was lounging in and towers over me before pulling me into a hug. As always, he’s impeccably dressed. His hair combed back neatly. I can feel the stares of the two women standing at the front desk. He’s got a natural knack for drawing attention, but at the moment, his is on me. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks, but I feel like hell.”

His thick, dark blond brows V. “Not sleeping well?”

“Not really, no,” I confess as I glance around the boutique hotel.

Traffic bustles in and out of the lobby as I take in the posh furnishings and artwork. He’s staying at one of the few inns on the square that’s been newly purchased and renovated.

“This is nice.”

“It will do,” he says, looking me over curiously. “You want to tell me why the sudden change of heart? You’ve refused to entertain any offers or even talk about this place.”

“I have my reasons.”

He closes his laptop and pushes it in his dark brown leather satchel, the same one he used in school. “Always so damn secretive.”

I shrug. “Every woman needs some element of mystery, right?”

“It’s not annoying at all.” He deadpans. “And not at all the reason why I dumped you. I am curious as to how Collin got in. It’s because he’s British, it’s the accent, am I right?”

His smile fades when he reads my expression at the mention of Collin. “Really, Cecelia? Even I had a hard-on for him.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I turn and make my way out of the double doors, and he stops me out on the sidewalk, gently tugging my coat from my grip before helping me into it. “I’m sorry,” he whispers softly. “That was an asshole thing to say.”

“It’s fine. It needed to happen.” He stares at me expectantly. “I’m okay, Ryan. Come on. I’ll drive.”

He follows me to where I parked my Audi and climbs in the passenger seat before glancing out the window at the bustling square.

“This town is…charming. You grew up here?”

“Yes and no.”

“Jesus,” he grumbles, “It’s like you’re trained to be evasive.”

If he only knew. I turn to him. “I came here for a year when I was nineteen. I never really lived here.”

“A full answer. I’m impressed.”

“I wasn’t that bad.” I turn the engine over and glance his way to see a face filled with skepticism. “I wasn?

?t.”

“You vetoed Valentine’s day and told me to start sleeping with other women the night I told you I was in love with you.”

I pull away from Main Street and take the few turns leading us away from the square toward the plant. “I wasn’t ready for all that. And I didn’t want to lose you as a friend.”

“You were already the one that got away by the end of our first date.”

Though he’s being playful, maybe I wounded him more deeply than I originally thought. But he was supposed to be the party guy, capable of showing a girl a good time, and I was in desperate need of that.

“I never expected us to get serious,” I say honestly.

“Then you should have dumbed yourself down and worn frumpy sweaters.”