Me and you

ice the way Ryan smiled at her. It was a warm, genuine smile

ian place that Ryan had recommended. Over dinner,

o talk to Ryan. She felt like she had

rm casually slung over her shoulder. They stood out

ht," Ryan said, looking d

d, feeling a sense of

st Emily's. It was a soft, gentle kiss,

Emily smiled up at Ryan. "I think I

rinkling at the corners.

away, leaving Emily feeling happy an

their free time together. They went on long walk

anyone before. She was happy, truly

he didn't know much about Ryan's past. He was secretive about his

a movie, Emily turned to Ryan with a questi

eyes narrowing slightly.

amily," Emily said. "You never tal

eyes clouding over. "My famil

Ryan mean by "complicated"? And why w

re information. "What do you me

y has a lot of... baggage," he said. "I'd r

ld see the pain in his eyes, and she kn

hand in hers. "You don't have to t

eyes filled with gratitu

he was falling deeply in love with Ryan. She was wi

Ryan's secrets were only the tip of the iceberg. There was so

termined to find

eper in love with Ryan. They spent all their free time together, explorin

feeling that Ryan was hiding something from her. She would catch him stari

ddle of the night, and he would immediately get up and leave the room.

ut the phone calls. She waited until he had f

y asked, trying to k

eyes narrowing slightly.

riend who calls you in the mi

, I know you're curious, but I really can't ta

her wanted to push Ryan for more information, b

aid finally.

he said. "I promise you, Emily, I'm not hiding anything from you t

. She wasn't sure what Ryan was involve

ed in Ryan's life. She met his friends, who seemed nice but a little shady. She s

sive gifts, jewelry and designer clothes, and she would fe

gifts. "Ryan, I appreciate the thought, b

"You don't understand, Emily," he said. "I want

r. "Ryan, calm down," she said. "I just don't

ily into a hug. "I'm sorry," he said.

t shake the feeling that Ryan was hid

alking home from work when she saw Ryan's car parked outside a seedy

th a mysterious woman. They were laughing an

n? And what was R

e woman. She felt like she had stumbled upon a sec

se of unease. She didn't know what Ryan was

t to leave, Emily heard Ryan's

f the car, a look of concern on his fa

could ask you the same thing,"

les. "Her name is Sophia," he

friend?" she repeated. "Is that w

ng. "Emily, please understand," he sa

w what to believe. But as she looked into Ryan's

ybe he was involved in something that he couldn't

ense of determination. She was going