Chapter 145 Not Another Surprise

Chapter 145 Not Another Surprise
Why, why, why?
Why exactly was Rose here?
Of all the universities in New York. Of all the cafés on campus. Of all the days. Please don't see me.
She lowered her head and took a deliberate sip of her Americano, suddenly finding the ice cubes fascinating.
Across from her, Ryan frowned.
"You okay?"
"Mm-hmm."
She wasn't.
She could feel her pulse in her throat.
Eloise shifted uncomfortably in her seat, hoping against hope that her cousin hadn’t seen her. 
Too late.
Rose’s eyes widened first with surprise, then narrowed with unmistakable animosity. She sauntered over, her smile sweet as poisoned honey.
“Hello, cousin,” Rose said, her voice dripping with false warmth. “What a surprise.”
“Woah, woah,” Brian said, looking between them. “This is your cousin?”
Rose smiled brightly, flipping her hair and clearly basking in the sudden attention. 
Eloise nearly rolled her eyes. The last time she had seen Rose, there had been nothing sweet about her. She remembered the hatred in her eyes.
The venom in her voice.
'I swear, you will regret it.'
"Yeah," Eloise answered shortly.
“I transferred this semester." Rose said pleasantly. "They have one of the best marketing programs in the state.”
Her gaze slid over Eloise’s new friends, lingering flirtatiously on Ryan for a beat too long. “I’ll let you have fun with your new friends.”
“Hey, hold up,” Brian called out. Eloise mentally cursed him. Rose paused and turned back.
“You’re coming to the party, right?” Brian asked with his signature playful grin. “Eloise here is already booed up. Her fiancé won’t be pleased if she shows up alone.”
“Brian,” Ryan warned quietly.
“Honestly,” Daisy rolled her eyes, irritated. “Put a sock in it.”
Brian raised his hands in surrender, then looked at Eloise guiltily. “Sorry—”
But Rose cut him off with a sharp, delighted laugh. “Fiancé?” She tilted her head, enjoying herself far too much. “Does your fiancé know you’re playing college girl so well?”
Eloise’s fists tightened under the table until her nails bit into her palms.
Rose flipped her hair one last time. “Oh, I really do wonder what he would say if he finds out. She gave a little wave and sauntered off with her friends. "Bye, cousin.”
The table fell into an awkward silence. Eloise’s fist was clenched so tightly she didn’t notice until Ryan gently covered her hand with his. She looked up, and he gave her a soft, comforting smile.
“Weird energy,” Daisy declared. “I don’t like that girl.”
Brian shrugged. “I don’t know, man. She’s a looker for sure.”
“You are so annoying,” Daisy said, standing up. “I’ve got to get to my next class.” She leaned in and gave Eloise a warm hug. “See you tomorrow, my love. Text me if you need anything.” She waved at Ryan. “Bye, Ryan!”
Brian followed, giving Eloise a slightly guilty but still playful salute. “Don’t let the mean cousin get you down. You’re way cooler than her anyway.”
When they were gone, Ryan looked at Eloise gently. “Should we get out of here?”
“Yeah,” she said, nodding with relief.
They left the café and strolled together at a leisurely pace across the quad. Ryan spoke first.
“I take it you’re not close with your cousin.”
Eloise sighed softly. “Not at all. We… we don’t get along well.”
Ryan nodded understandingly. “I can also tell you don’t want to talk about it. So I’ll drop it now.”
Eloise smiled softly. “Thank you, Ryan.”
He shook his head. “Please, don’t take Brian too seriously. He has a large mouth with no cork in it.”
Eloise looked at him, the smile still lingering. 
“I’ll tell him to be more… selective with his commentary.” Ryan promised.
“You don’t have to,” Eloise said, "I can fight my own battles."
The playful smile returned to Ryan's face. “I don't know man... something about you makes me want to protect you.”
Eloise felt a guilty pang shoot through her chest. She didn’t want to lead him on. She couldn’t.
“I have to tell you something,” she said quietly.
“Your secret is safe with me,” Ryan replied immediately, drawing a cross over his heart with mock solemnity. “Promise. Cross my heart, hope to die.”
Eloise burst into laughter.
"There is something seriously wrong with you."
"I've heard that before."
She laughed again. Then she looked at him. "I'm married."
Ryan’s eyes widened in dramatic, over-the-top shock. It was so exaggerated and funny that Eloise burst out laughing again.
“I’m being serious here!” she said, still giggling.
“Ahhh… there goes my hope, dashed to pieces,” he sighed theatrically, clutching his chest.
Eloise rolled her eyes. “Please don’t tell the others. I’d just rather keep it private.”
At least until Rose kept her mouth shut. Which wasn't exactly a comforting thought.
“Say no more." Ryan nodded immediately. "I got you.”
"Thank you."
He smiled. "Since we're sharing secrets..." He shoved his hands back into his pockets.
"I guess it's my turn."
She looked at him expectantly.
“I’m here on a scholarship,” Ryan admitted after a pause. She blinked, then smiled. "Wow. That's impressive."
“I worked really hard for it." A small smile touched his face then faded. "You know... I didn’t have much growing up."
He kicked a loose stone on the sidewalk. "I had a mother who..." He paused. "Did what she had to do."
He shoved one hand deeper into his pocket. "She was protective." He smiled faintly. "Overprotective, actually." They kept walking. 
"I didn't have many friends." His voice was easy. Almost casual. "So I spent a lot of time at home."
He looked ahead. "And Sometimes it felt like I didn't really exist." Something in his tone made her look at him. Then he smiled.
"So college is kind of new for me."
 “Oh, Ryan…”
He shrugged. “It’s okay. Everybody’s got a story.”
On her way back home, Eloise pondered how similar Ryan’s story felt to her own—both of them children who had spent years on the outside looking in.
As the SUV pulled up to the mansion and she stepped inside, her stomach dropped for the second time that day.
Regina was just leaving Massimo’s study, looking every bit the sultry mistress.