Chapter 30
Thirty
You Get What You Give
Ryan
I push through the double doors into the community center, Spence trailing behind me.
The murmur of conversation halts. Heads swivel in my direction.
Bright eyes widen, and I’m met by a chorus of excited gasps.
Someone claps. Then more—like the applause you get when you’re being carried off the field, beat-up but alive.
I spot the Bettys. All three get up from their table.
Betti, the spry one, is the first to reach me.
She wraps her arms around me in a surprise tackle-hug that nearly knocks me off balance.
She pulls back, pats my cheek, and says, “I know you told us you were okay on our video call, but it’s not the same as hugging you. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Bette is next, wrapping me up in a gentler, vanilla-scented hug. “How’s the healing going?” she asks.
I shrug. “As well as can be expected.” I kiss her on the forehead.
A crowd closes in. Hugs. Handshakes. High-fives. But my eyes are on Betty, still standing by the table, arms crossed, trying to look uninterested. I know better. I bump Spence with my shoulder. He looks a bit lost and, honestly, it’s adorable.
“I want you to meet someone,” I say, grabbing Spence’s arm and towing him over.
Betty is in a flowy red dress that matches her hair, a thick white belt cinched around her tiny waist. Her nails: same red as the dress. Red-and-white polka-dot flats. White beaded necklace. I place my hands gently on her upper arms.
“You look beautiful today, B.”
She gives me a hard look. “I know.”
I laugh, and a little chuckle comes from Spence. Betty’s eyes are shiny with tears.
“Hey.” I squeeze her arms. “It’s okay. I’m alright.”
She pinches my side. Hard. “Ouch! Why is everyone beating up the injured man today?”
Betty fishes a tissue from the pocket of her dress, dabs her eyes. “Because we love you, you big idiot.”
Spence barks a surprised laugh.
Betty zeroes in on him. “And who might you be?”
Betti and Bette come back to the table, flanking her.
“Yeah, who are you?” Bette chirps.
I turn to Spence. “Ladies, this is my friend Spence. He’s been helping me while I recover.” They all stare openly, approvingly, appraisingly.
“Spence, these are the Bettys. Betti with an I, Bette with an E, and the Queen B, Betty with a Y.” I hold a hand over each of their heads as I introduce them.
Spence gives a stiff wave. “Hello. Nice to meet you all.”
Betty points at his shoes. “Those the new Gucci loafers?”
Spence’s jaw drops. “How do you know that?”
Betty snorts. “I’m old, not dead. I’ve been into fashion since before you shit your first diaper. Besides, I have plenty of time to keep up with fashion trends in this prison.” She gestures to her own outfit, proud.
Spence eyes her look, then shrugs. “Eh. I would have made a different choice with the belt.”
Betty narrows her eyes, arms crossed.
Spence matches her stance, unblinking.
Tension thickens.
I shift, nervous.
After ten seconds, Betty uncrosses her arms and points at Spence. “I like you.”
Spence nods. “I like you too.”
I throw my hands up. “That’s it? That’s all it took? I spent months trying to woo you.”
Betty shrugs. “Guess you better work on your game.”
I laugh and point at their table. “Can we sit and catch up before I get to work?”
Betti waves us in. “Please, sit. But you’re not going to cook today, are you, Ryan? You don’t need to do that.”
“Yes, I do,” I say. “It’ll be good for me to do something useful.”
Bette frowns. “But how are you going to cook with one leg?”
I grin, “Spence here is going to be my helper today.” I look over and Spence is pulling out chairs for Betti and Bette, and my heart melts. Next, he walks around and pulls out Betty’s chair.
She looks up at him and he says, “Your throne, Diva.” She swats at his chest but I see her lips twitch as she takes her seat.
He catches me watching and winks at me before helping me lower into my own chair.
I look up at him, trying to say thank you with my eyes, but it’s his eyes that do all the talking.
A mix of tenderness, awe, confusion, and…
lust swirl through the blue of his irises.
I feel my cheeks begin to heat and when I turn my attention back to the table, Betty is studying me with a look that makes me squirm even more.
To distract, I glance around the table, grinning. “Sooo, what’s new with you ladies?”
Betti claps her hands together, eyes bright. “We’re going to be hookers!”
Spence chokes on air, and my jaw just about hits the table. Bette buries her face in her hands, elbows propped up like she can’t believe she’s living through this. Betty just shakes her head, fixing Betti with a stare. “I swear you picked our new activity just so you could say that.”
I look at Betty, completely lost. She sighs—long-suffering—and says, “We’re going to start doing hook and needle crocheting. It’s a whole thing. There’s clubs and they call it ‘hooking.’”
Betti snickers. “Hooking.”
“You’re such a child,” Betty mutters.
Betti sticks her tongue out at her.
Bette lifts her face from her hands and looks at me, eyes pleading. “Do you see what I have to deal with?”
I can’t help but laugh, shaking my head.
Betti waves off the topic. “Enough about us. How is recovery?”
I sigh, feeling the weight of the question.
“It’s slow and boring. But Spence here has been my savior.
He stayed with me the whole time I was in the hospital.
” I give Spence a soft smile. “He’s even put me up at his place and has been helping me get to PT appointments.
Plus, all the little things I need help with until I can put weight on my foot again. ”
Bette turns to Spence, her expression warm. “Wow. That’s awfully kind of you, young man. How do you know each other?”
Spence, cool as ever, says, “We met through mutual friends and started working out together. I’m also an attorney at the sports talent agency that represents Ryan.”
Betti pats his hand on the table, beaming. “Well, it’s very kind of you. Thank you for looking after our boy here.”
Spence nods, “Yes, ma’am.”
Betti smiles, giving him an obvious once-over. “Oh, he’s quite the gentleman.” Then she grins wider. “You sure are nice to look at, too.”
Spence barks out a laugh, cheeks coloring just a little. Then he gives me the softest smile, and for a second, the world shrinks to just the two of us.
Betty taps a polished fingernail on the table, breaking the spell. “Betti, stop being a slut. Why don’t you two take Ryan’s friend on a tour of the village. I need to talk to Ryan.”
My head snaps to Betty, but her expression gives nothing away. Spence stands, ever the gentleman, and helps Betti and Bette to their feet. “Sure. I’d love that.”
As they head out, Betti elbows Bette and whistles. “You see that? That’s what my grandson would call caked-up. He taught me all the lingo.”
Spence throws his head back laughing, and Bette says, “You’ll have to excuse my friend. She’s a little off in the head.”
I watch them go, their banter echoing into the hall, and then turn back to Betty. She’s staring me down, and I can’t read her face at all.
I frown. “Why are you looking at me like—”
“You’re in love with him,” she says, cutting me off.
My mouth hangs open, my brain scrambling. “No. What? It’s not—”
She cuts me off again, voice steady. “That wasn’t a question, Ryan. You’re in love with him.” I slump, staring at my lap. Betty reaches over and tips my chin up with two fingers. “I think he’s in love with you too,” she says softly.
I sigh, shoulders heavy. “Yeah, okay. I’m basically head over feet for him. But I think you’re wrong about him, B. This is just casual for Spence.”
Betty hums, her thumb rubbing over my hand. “Listen to me. That man is gone for you. He’s fighting it, that much is clear, but it’s a battle he won’t win. His heart has already made up its mind.”
“How—how do you know?” I choke out.
She gives a knowing little smile. “I’ve been around a while, Ryan. Also, if you’re trying to be discreet about it, you two need to stop looking at each other like that.”
I close my eyes, trying to steady myself, before looking back at her. “Only one other person knows, though I think a few others suspect. But I’m not out. Obviously.”
Betty covers my hands with hers, firm and reassuring. “I can’t say I knew exactly that it was your sexuality, but I always knew you were holding something back. I don’t like to see you hiding, Ryan. No one has the right to ask you to hide who you are, understand?”
A small, grateful smile breaks through. “Yeah.”
She nods, satisfied. I squeeze her hand, holding it between both of mine. “I’m so glad I chose this place to volunteer. I love the work, but I think I get more out of it than I could ever give. I’m especially happy I got to know you, B. Don’t tell the others, but you’re my favorite.”
Her eyes are glassy, but she doesn’t miss a beat. “Of course I am.”
I laugh, and she squeezes my hand. “Push him. Not too hard, but push him. He’ll stay stuck if you don’t. Push him, then give him space to think. Then push him some more. You need to be patient, but I have a feeling he’s worth it.”
I lower my voice, teasing. “Is that how you snagged your husband, Betty?”
She leans back, smug. “You bet your sweet ass it is. Had him floundering on the dock before he even knew there was a hook in his mouth.”
I crack up and hold my hand out for a high five, which she slaps with gusto. Then I lean in to hug her, whispering in her ear, “I love you, you know that. You’ve been more of a mother figure to me than my own mother.”
She pats my back, voice thick. “I love you too, you big brat.”