It was the end of the day. I sent my last email and saved my files before locking my computer screen. I was impressed with myself for catching up on all my tasks and being able to leave work on time. Adam stepped out of his office and locked his door as I was grabbing my purse from my bottom desk drawer.

"You finished everything already?" Adam stood on the other side of my L-shaped desk, waiting for me to walk with him.

"I did," I stated proudly.

Adam shook his head with a smile. "God, you are amazing. If you can handle this and work as Ryan's assistant, you'll be getting a management position in the company before the year's end."

"That would be a dream come true."

Then, Ryan walked up on the other side of me and fell in stride with Adam and me.

Adam pointed over me to Ryan. "Hell, maybe we'll just fire this goon, and you can have his position instead."

I blushed.

"She can have it. It's not like I really wanted the job anyway," Ryan responded to Adam, almost like he was talking about me as if I wasn't right there.

Adam gave him a look I couldn't quite understand. "Don't tempt me, bro."

"You aren't the boss of me, Adam. We're equal partners in this shithole of a company."

Something was definitely going on between them, but I couldn't figure it out. Then again, I didn't know if I cared enough to try to.

"Wanna say that to Dad and see what he thinks of your opinion?" Adam countered.

"He already knows my opinion, douchebag."

We reached the elevator, and I moved out from between them as quickly as possible and pressed the button.

"If we weren't at work or in front of an employee, I'd pin you to the ground right about now," Adam threatened.

The tension between them was so thick that you could practically see it. I wondered if it had to do with Peggy or with me or with something else. I was grateful when the elevator arrived promptly. We rode it down to the next floor, where it stopped, and more workers piled in, filling the space. The brothers were separated at either end, while I stood in the way back, trying to blend in with everyone.

As we reached the lobby, I waited until I was the last to step out. Adam and Ryan were several bodies ahead of me, and I kept my pace slow, as I didn't want to catch up to them. They were talking to each other, and it didn't look friendly or apologetic in the slightest. I walked as quickly as I could pass them and out the front doors.

I was halfway towards the subway station entrance when I heard my name being called from behind me. I turned back to see Ryan lightly jogging to me. "Hey, I'm sorry you had to see that."

I looked at him with an emotionless glance. "It's not my business. Though seeing that definitely makes me grateful for being an only child."

Ryan lightly chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "Are you heading home?"

I looked at him with an expression that said, "Obviously."

"Do you think we could go somewhere and talk for a bit? I feel like things are unresolved between us."

"I don't think that's a good idea. Plus, things are more than resolved between us. I meant what I said when I said we needed to end things." I didn't want to have this conversation right now. Not ever. I just wanted to put what happened in a little box and lock it away for the rest of my life. But I could see that my answer didn't satisfy Ryan. He probably wouldn't give up until he felt like he had a chance to talk. "You can ride the subway with me."

The suggestion made Ryan turn his nose up slightly. I realized that he probably avoided taking the subway as much as he could. But he nodded and agreed.

We made our way down the steps into the heat of the underground. Instantly Ryan looked like he regretted his decision. Still, he didn't say anything and continued to follow me to the packed train platform. I smiled lightly as seeing his discomfort of being surrounds by so many people. Some who did not smell that good, and some who had too much perfume on.

"So, how was Naples?" He asked as we waited in a spot towards the end of the platform, where the crowd wasn't as dense.

"Warm."

"Did you have a good Valentine's?"

I looked at him sharply. "It was the best."

"I'm glad to hear that."

The train pulled into the station. It was packed. I suggested we wait for the next train, which Ryan didn't object to in the slightest. "But I'm pissed at you for calling me Saturday night."

Ryan turned to face me, but I still kept my body pointed towards the edge of the platform. "I'm sorry I did that. I got a little wasted that night, and when I got home, I just called you without thinking."

"I figured that after I heard your damn voicemail. I couldn't make out what you said, but I could clearly tell you weren't sober." I referenced back to a message he left.

I had listened to it that night when Eric and I got home. Hearing what he had to say actually pissed me off more, and I deleted it as soon as it was done.

"I don't even really remember what I said. Or was trying to say."

I couldn't tell if Ryan was lying. But didn't care to encourage him to remember.

The next train pulled up, and it was less crowded, but not by much. Ryan reluctantly boarded with me, and we squeezed our way into the middle of the car. I placed my hand on the only available space on the silver rod that was in the middle of our car. Ryan didn't really have anywhere to put his hand, and I looked at him sternly as he attempted to place his on top of mine. He quickly retracted it, bringing his hand down to his side.

As the train began to move, Ryan planted his feet to prevent himself from falling into me, or the other people crowded around us. We didn't really talk much, as I could see how uncomfortable he really was. He looked even worse at the sight of the men and women on the other side of the train as we pulled into the next station.

I caved. "Okay, let's get off."

Ryan looked at me as if I was giving him the perfect Christmas gift. He nodded enthusiastically, and we piled out as the others piled in.

We ascended back up to the main street. I didn't recognize where we were, but Ryan did and pointed in the direction he wanted us to go. "There's a corner bar just over there. Want to get a drink?"

I agreed and made sure to text Eric that I was going to be home later than expected.

************

We sat at a small table in the corner of the bar, away from the after-work crowd. It amused me to see how many women kept eyeing Ryan. I laughed lightly to myself, feeling stupid that I had been one of those women until recently.

"What's so funny?" He asked, responding to my laugh.

I gestured with a nod of my head to the group of women by the bar top. "I was just admiring your fan club growing over there."

He turned slightly to look in the direction I indicated. Instantly several of the women smiled stupidly at him. I watched him give a slight twitch of a grin back before returning his attention to me. "What can I say? I'm a catch."

Was that supposed to make me feel jealous? Was that meant to try to change my mind? Or want to jump back into bed with him at a blink of his piercing eyes?

"Well, don't let me stop you." I gestured towards the women, encouraging him to go talk to them.

He looked at them again briefly, then shook his head. "I'm with who I want to be with right now."

Normally I would have swooned at a statement like that from him. But I just looked unamused by it. "I was lying to you when I said I couldn't understand what you were saying on your voicemail."

Ryan drank his beer, leaving a bit of foam on his upper lip. If it had happened a week ago, I would have taken the opportunity to kiss it off for him. But now I just tapped my upper lip to signal to him it was there. He smiled and ignored my gesture and drank some more beer, leaving more foam on his lip. Seeing his reaction made me chuckle slightly. I didn't like that he was trying to make me laugh. "So, what did I say? Because I honestly can't recall anything except dialing your number."

I didn't know if I should tell him. But then I figured, it didn't matter if he knew or not. It wouldn't change my feelings. "You said that you missed me."

"I can't deny that. It was Valentine's, and I was alone and horny as fuck."

I sipped my martini. "You also said that you missed being around me, my smile, and my charm."

His piercing eyes held my gaze, knowing that I had more to say about what he said. "It's coming back to me now. But go on."

"You ended it by saying that you wished you were Eric and that you were the one I was marrying instead." Hearing myself say the last part made me almost pity him. Saying it out loud and to him, I realized Ryan was really a sensitive guy. Maybe not as much as Eric was, but not far behind.

"I did say that, didn't I?" Ryan huffed with annoyance at his own confession.

He chugged the rest of his beer without stopping for a breath. He excused himself for a moment and went to the bar to get another beer. I watched as the women tried to say hi to him and appear to say something flirty. But I also saw how he didn't even really give them any attention. He grabbed his newly filled tall glass of beer and walked back to retake his seat.

I don't know why I wanted to know. But I still asked, "Did you mean it?"

"Would it change anything?"

I quietly looked at him for a moment as the battle in my brain seemed to stir slightly again. I shook my head. "It's too late."

Ryan already drank half of his beer, while I still had only just sipped my one martini a few times. "Did you two elope while you were in Naples?"

"What? No. Why?" His question threw me off guard slightly.

"Well, then it's not too late."

I looked at him, annoyed. I didn't even want to finish my drink. I didn't want to play his game anymore. I just wanted to get out of there. I started putting on my coat. "I'm getting married in less than three months, Ryan. It is too late." I added my scarf and gloves and stood up. "I have to get home to Eric now. I'll see you tomorrow at the office."

I went to move, to walk out of the bar, but as my hand neared Ryan, he grabbed it by the wrist. He instantly shot up to be eye level with me. Well, a little higher than eye level, but now he was looking down at me. He went to say something but ended up moving to kiss me instead.

Part of me wanted to stay in his embrace, but thankfully, the sensible side of me was in control now. I turned my face, so our lips no longer connected and backed away from him. I didn't know if I should shout at him or slap him. Then I remembered that my barely touched martini still sat on the table beside us. I grabbed it by the base and flung the pink-colored vodka in his face. I slammed the glass back onto the table and left him standing there alone. Dripping.

The nerve of that prick.