13. Ryan
CHAPTER 13
Ryan
O n Wednesday the following week, I’m lying in bed binge-watching my newest TV obsession and crumbing up my comforter with salt and vinegar kettle chips. Ever since I moved here and committed to slowing down, I’ve actually had time to watch TV. Now I see what the hype is all about for Game of Thrones. My phone buzzes with a text from Summer and pulls me out of Westeros.
Summer:
Lol ghost sex is WILD
Oh yeah?
Ya know how ghosts can move stuff?
It went into detail?
Oh yeah. I’ll let you borrow it. I just finished the book.
I told you I don’t read. Describe it to me?
I sit up in bed, setting my bag of chips aside, and watch the three little dots appear and disappear letting me know she’s typing. I pause the show. I wonder if she’ll take the bait. She does.
Summer:
Well, let’s just say that Rae was very satisfied.
I need more details… Who did what?
Five minutes go by and she doesn’t respond. Shit, I think, she probably thinks I’m some pervert. I knew I shouldn’t push her. After ten minutes go by without a response I start to panic. As much as I’m attracted to Summer, I don’t want to lose her friendship either. I could use good people in my life and she’s one of them.
Sorry, didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. You obviously don’t have to go into any more detail.
Mercifully, after another five minutes, she responds. I let out a breath and read her text.
Summer:
You didn’t make me uncomfortable. I’m the one who started the conversation. Jared just brought Emma back from their day together. On Wednesdays, whoever doesn’t have her for the week picks her up after school and has her until bedtime. I just got her down.
I admire how well you guys seem to work together for her. I bet it means a lot to her.
I don’t think she gets it yet, but she will one day. Thanks. Really trying to not be my parents.
You’re doing a good job. So… back to the ghost sex
LOL glad you’re really locked in to the important things
I am but a man, Summer
Maybe I’ll tell you about it next time we hang out. It seems like the perfect conversation to have over lasagna
I’ll hold you to that.
I can’t get the stupid smile off my face no matter how hard I try. It feels like it’s permanently tattooed in place. After reclining back in bed and rewinding a few minutes on my TV show, I press play, trying hard not to think about Summer or her smutty book for the rest of the night. I fail miserably.
Summer and I text back and forth every day for the rest of the week. We talk on the phone more days than not. Sometimes we talk about silly things like the best ice cream to eat after finding out your husband cheated on you (brought on by her current book). Other times, we dive into more serious topics, like her fears of what the separation is doing to Emma or how lonely I was when I was moving around, and the betrayal I carried around for years. The more we talk back and forth, the more I realize I like her. Not just an infatuation, but genuinely like her as a person. And I’m quickly realizing that she’s someone I want in my life one way or another.
On the following Monday, I’m greeted with a text from Summer after turning my alarm off in the morning. I rub the crust out of my eyes and check it.
Summer:
I’m sad
What’s wrong?
Shit, I didn’t wake you did I? Sorry, you were the first person I thought of. I should have texted Steph.
You didn’t wake me. I get up at 6:00 on work days. Now what’s up?
Okay good. Emma’s at her dad’s again this week and it just makes me sad. Never thought I’d have to split half of my daughter’s life with someone else.
I’m sorry. That has to be hard. I’m here for you if you want to talk or I can come over after work to keep you company for a bit. We can play Scrabble. I bet you’d ruin me with how much you read.
Decimate. I would decimate you.
See? It’d be fun.
Rain check? I’m going out to dinner with Steph tonight.
Yeah sure. We can add Scrabble to our list of things to do this Saturday.
Perfect. Thanks for being here Ryan. It means a lot.
Anytime.
‘You’re the first person I thought of.’
It’s been forever since I was in this position. Something inside me preens at being the first person she went to when she was in need. I’ve always had an innate need to be useful and reliable. It’s a part of myself that I’ve been neglecting ever since Lydia. She took that part of me and twisted it, making it so that I felt ashamed about something I’ve always liked about myself.
‘I just got so bored, Ryan,’ I can practically hear Lydia say. I wasn’t exciting enough for her, so she cheated. Went and found that excitement with someone else. I just hope Summer doesn’t get bored of me too.