Winning Back Ryan by S.L. Siwik Read Free Book Online Page A

scruffy face against my cheek. I shrieked from the feeling-like harsh sandpaper grating across my skin.
“Let me go, you maniac!” The words came out garbled from my lips squished together.
                  He released my face, stepping back, holding his arm up to signal he wanted more drinks. The bartender walked over while I tried to figure out what just happened. “Another beer. And six shots of vodka.”
                  I rubbed my cheek from the sting. As he pulled money out of his wallet, he glanced back at me and asked, “Was it as good for you as it was for me?”
                  Ignoring him, I turned towards Max, whose arms were crossed, frowning in disapproval. “You’re right. He’s looking for trouble tonight.”
                  “You have no idea,” Max muttered darkly.
    I glanced at George who was chuckling, thoroughly amused by the scene. A quick glance at Brian confused me as he looked furious.
                  I sighed returning to Ben’s still expectant gaze. “Take it easy on me, Ben. I’ve been semi-single for about four hours now.”
    “Semi-single?” All four men said in unison.
                  I bit my lower lip, rubbing my forehead, trying not to meet their gazes. “We’re going through a rough patch now, but we’ll get it fixed.”
                  “Fixed?” Brian asked, his voice harsh.
                  “I…think the relationship is worth salvaging,” I replied meekly.
                  “Have you lost your fucking mind?” George shouted, “He cheated on you! What’s there to fix?”
                  “I know what he did!” I shouted back, “I’m going to have the image of that bitch’s perfect body riding him while I read her tramp stamp burned into my brain for the rest of my life!” I sighed realizing there was no reason to yell. “But, I’m not blameless either. Afterwards, he…” I bit back the tears. “told me all of these things that I wasn’t doing in the relationship. I had no idea he was miserable.”
                  Ben walked over handing me a shot glass. I swallowed the contents immediately. “Do you know what you sound like? Like the woman who got raped and then blamed herself because she was wearing a sexy outfit. Or the woman whose boyfriend hit her and she said that it was her fault because she was being bitchy to him.”
    Oh, God. I wasn’t that bad. Was I? No, not at all. Yes, Ryan cheated, but he was a good person. Ben was blowing this way out of proportion.
                  Ben handed me another shot. I let the contents slide down my throat, burning its way down as he commented, “So what if he was unhappy. He never talked to you about all of these problems before he fucked the chick. If he told you what he wanted fixed, and you didn’t do it, we’d be having a different conversation right now. But, I know that’s not the case. You fucking lived for that douchebag.”
                  I frowned, not liking the way that sounded. I bit my lip, glancing around at the faces of my friends. “I don’t know how to let him go. I was supposed to marry him. He’s the one. I picked him as the one.”
                  “This I gotta hear,” George muttered as he crossed his arms.
                  “Ryan and I were dating for seven months before we… He was my first. I didn’t sleep with him until I realized I wanted to marry him.” My friends stood there speechless. I shook my head. “It’s just different where I come from. You guys wouldn’t understand.” The thought of facing my parents if they ever knew that I slept with Ryan let alone lived with him terrified me- the look of disappointment on my father’s face could crush me with one blow.
                  “Well, I think there’s nothing wrong with where you come from, Annie,” Brian said,