Is she for real? She’s fucking my ex-boyfriend and she wants to go to a movie?
Attempting to smile, I nodded. “Yeah. Sure, maybe we could.”
Sierra looked into my eyes and I was instantly taken by the tenderness in her blue eyes. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation, Ryn.”
Smiling weakly, I nodded my head and watched as Sierra turned to walk away. “Sierra?”
Stopping, she turned and looked at me. “I . . . um . . . I know I have no right asking this and it is not any of my business, but are you and Tristan . . . um . . . dating?”
Something flashed across her face quickly before she smiled and shook her head. “No, Ryn. He’s just a friend, that’s all.”
Chewing on my bottom lip, I decided to just ask about what I saw instead of letting it eat me alive. “I saw the two of you earlier, kissing, and Tristan carried you into the house.”
Sierra walked up to me and took my hands in hers. “I think we were just trying to see if there was anything at all there.”
I fought to hold my tears back. My voice cracked as I went to ask her what they found out. I hated how weak my voice sounded. “Was there?”
Lifting the corner of her mouth, she said, “No, honey. Tristan and I are just meant to be friends.”
I instantly felt my body relax. I knew this was so unfair of me, especially knowing that Sierra had heard Dodge and I having sex. “I can’t imagine what you think of me, Sierra. Here I’m asking about Tristan’s love life and I’ve been . . . I’ve been with Dodge and . . .”
Squeezing my hand, Sierra looked into my eyes. “Talk to him, Ryn. I know he hates how things ended with the two of you. Talk. To. Him.”
Nodding my head slowly, I said, “I’ll think about it.”
Sierra’s smile faded some as she nodded her head. Giving me a wink, she turned and headed to her car.
Shutting the door, I leaned against it. My heart ached knowing that Tristan and Sierra slept together. It wasn’t fair of me to feel angry but I did. Closing my eyes, I knew the real reason I was upset. I was jealous of Sierra and the relationship she had with Tristan. I needed to get out for a while. Walking to the kitchen to grab my keys and phone, I decided I would not think about Dodge or Tristan. I needed to clear my head. As much as I adored Dodge, I knew I didn’t want the same thing he wanted.
Checking my phone, I saw I had two text messages. Opening them up, one was from a client who couldn’t seem to understand I was on vacation, and the other was from Dodge.
Dodge: Missing you, baby. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to get back down there. Sorry. Things are crazy here at the club.
Hitting reply, I typed out my response.
Me: No worries, Dodge. I think I need some time alone to think things through. Take care of the club. I’ll call you when I get back.
Dodge responded immediately.
Dodge: I hope that means you’re thinking about us and our relationship.
Ugh. There he goes using the words us and relationship. I backed out of my text messages and dropped my phone into my purse. I’d deal with Dodge when I got back to Austin. Right now, I needed some shopping therapy.
South Padre had some pretty awesome shops that were tucked away on the side streets. Sierra had told me to check them out. Stepping into Sisters Interior, I smiled. Oh, yea. This was my kind of store. Sierra just moved up a little bit more onto my good side with this place.
Walking around the store, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I loved buying things for my house back in Austin. It was my place and I could do whatever I wanted with it. No overbearing mother to try and control how I decorated it. I cringed thinking back to the day I set up my dorm room. She did it exactly how she wanted. The moment she walked out the door, I spent the rest of the day re-arranging it to how I wanted it.
I let out a small gasp when I saw a mirror hanging on the wall. It was beautiful. The mirror was framed in a brushed-silver finish, but the inside frame had the most unusual pastel pattern design. I walked up and admired it. Turning, I looked for an employee. A young girl with dark-red hair began walking up to me.
“May I help you?”
Grinning like a fool, I pointed to the mirror. “How much is this mirror?”
“It’s eleven hundred dollars.”
I was pretty sure my eyes about popped out of my head. “Come again?”
The sales lady giggled. “I know, it’s a bit of sticker shock. But it’s one of kind and the artist lives here in South Padre.”
Turning back to the mirror, I debated if I wanted to spend that kind of money.
