Ex, Why, and Me Read Free

bowling ball down your throat,” Ryan threatened and made a show of focusing his attention on his lane.
    But what Larry had said was true. He hadn’t been asked. Which meant Danny had been given express instructions not to approach him.
    He couldn’t blame Michelle on that score, Ryan thought as he stared at the pins. But the pins were a white blur as he saw disjointed images of rhinestones and Michelle’s amazing breasts spilling out of that pink dress.
    The ancient pinsetters might have been replaced with modern technology a while back, but it couldn’t erase the memory of that one night.
    Ryan had been aware of Michelle Nelson long before that. She’d been one of those classy girls in school. She hadn’t been the most popular student, or even the smartest, but there was something about her. Everyone knew she was going to go places.
    Unlike him.
    When the spotlight had finally been directed on Michelle during her reign as Miss Horseradish, the quiet beauty turned into a stunning knockout. She turned heads and tested her allure. She grew brazen and became irresistible.
    He liked the bold way she had pursued him. Liked it? It had made him hot. Made him sweat. She had made his head spin and put his body on edge. It had been a mind-blowing turn-on knowing that someone like Michelle wanted him, and wanted him immediately.
    So, of course he had to mess it up. And just to make it worse, his first reaction was to put the blame on Michelle. As if that was going to hide the fact that he was a total loser.
    Ryan grimaced, warding off that particular memory. He had been a jerk, and right in front of the one person he had wanted to impress most of all.
    “Any day now, Slater.”
    “Huh?” Ryan looked over his shoulder.
    Larry gestured at the pins. “Bowl.”
    Ryan walked to the red line and tossed the ball down the lane. It spun into the gutter before he could turn around and walk back to his seat.
    Larry stared at the untouched pins. “What was that all about?”
    “Nothing.” Ryan sat down and sprawled his legs in front of him.
    “Were you meditating up there or something?”
    “More or less.”
    “Doesn’t work for you,” Larry decided as he rose to take his turn.
    “Hey, Ryan.” Danny tapped him on the arm. “You got a minute?”
    “Uh”—Ryan and Larry exchanged a look—“sure.”
    Larry shook his head, obviously wondering why Ryan didn’t make an excuse to avoid Danny. Ryan was tempted to let his friend know that it wasn’t what he was thinking. Michelle Nelson wouldn’t go anywhere near him.
    “What’s up?” Ryan asked Danny when they stood by the racks of bowling balls. Danny had the same dark hair as his sister, but other than that, they didn’t look alike. Which made Ryan’s life easier.
    Danny looked him straight in the eye. There were no signs of awkwardness. Maybe some desperation, but that was about it. “I need a favor. A big one.”
    Ryan frowned. “What kind of favor?” It couldn’t be what Danny was asking from every other guy. Maybe he needed help in recruiting a partner for his sister.
    “Vanessa needs Michelle to participate in the scavenger hunt, but Michelle needs a partner. Will you do it?”
    “Me?”
    “Yeah, you.”
    Ryan slid his jaw to the side as he tried to figure out what the hell was going on. “Me?”
    Danny looked from the corner of his eye and back at Ryan’s face. “Yeah.”
    “Why me?”
    Danny sighed. “Okay, I’ll be honest. No one else will do it. Andrews says it’s against his religion.”
    Ryan cast an amused glance at Larry, who guiltily looked away. Ryan was going to torture him about that lame excuse.
    “And Bryant doesn’t want to piss off his ex-girlfriend now that there’s a chance they’ll get back together.”
    He had actually tried Bryant? How desperate was this guy? Well, that was obvious. Danny was talking to him . “And I’m your last resort?”
    “No, no. Nothing like that.” Danny paused and started nodding. “Okay, you’re