Chapter 16
Chris
What the hell am I doing outside this house, all dressed up, with a cake in my hands? I must’ve gone completely mad.
I asked Riley for the address, trying to be discreet about it, but discreet isn’t really my forte.
So I just told her that, after yesterday’s episode, I’d like to go and visit the O’Connors to check that everything’s okay.
My mother always taught me never to go to someone’s house empty-handed, so I stole a cake from the café and brought it with me.
Riley reassured me that I wouldn’t be intruding on anything, and they’d be pleased to see me – so here I am. I can do this.
I knock on the door, and quickly smooth down my windswept hair, balancing the cake in my other hand.
The door opens and Mrs O’Connor’s warm smile immediately makes me feel better.
“Hi, Mrs O’Connor. I hope I’m not interrupting anything…”
“Of course not! It’s lovely to see you.”
I smile nervously.
“I just wanted to see how Mr O’Connor’s doing.”
“He’s doing well. Come in, come in.”
“I don’t want to be rude.”
“Of course you’re not, dear. It’s always nice to have visitors. Come in, my husband’s in the back garden, sorting out some of the plants. That green thumb of his – I’d be happy to just leave it all to grow over,” she chats, inviting me in.
“I… I brought you this,” I say, handing her the cake. “It’s a strawberry cheesecake, we make them in the café.”
“Thank you, love, you shouldn’t have.”
I feel my face flush bright red, and follow her through to the kitchen. She puts the cake down on the countertop and asks me if I’d like anything to drink.
“I couldn’t say no!” I say cheekily.
“I’ll bring you a glass of wine. Feel free to go and say hi,” she says, nodding towards the back door. “He’s doing much better today, I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.”
I do as she suggests and open the back door. Mr O’Connor notices me right away, looking up from his rose bush.
“Good evening, love,” he smiles kindly at me.
“Hi, Mr. O’Connor. I was just in the neighbourhood and thought I’d pop in.”
“I’m glad you did,” he says, taking off his gloves. He approaches me with his hand outstretched. “We don’t get many visitors, apart from the three usual troublemakers…”
“Hey,” a voice says from inside. “Who are you talking about, there?”
Oh, shit.
He takes off his hat and wipes his forehead with an arm, my jaw dropping to the floor. I can count all the veins in his neck, his arms, and the ones snaking down beneath his belt.
“Oh…hi,” he says, realising who I am.
“Er… hi.”
His father watches us both, narrowing his eyes.
“Mmm,” he says.
“No, no mmm Dad,” Ryan cuts in.
“Uh-huh.”
“No uh-huhs either.”
His father raises his hands and pretends to hear his wife calling from inside. “Excuse me, my better half needs me in there,” he laughs.
“Oh, come on!” Ryan says, gesturing exasperatedly, but his father takes no notice and disappears indoors.
We stand there in the garden, in silence, staring at our shoes. Or rather, he stares at his, as I stare at least five feet higher than that, counting his abs.
Jesus Christ.
He’s a work of art.
“So… how come you’re here?” he asks, interrupting my X-ray observation of his torso.
“I just thought I’d come and see how your father is doing.”
“Sure.”
“I brought a cake.”
God, I am such an idiot. Why did I need to say that?
“I’m sure my parents appreciate it,” he says, flatly.
“So… do you live here?” I ask.
What the fuck am I thinking?
“I just came to help out in the garden. I’m a bit too old to be living with my parents,” he replies, almost bitter.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I say, wanting to justify myself.
He shrugs.
I clear my throat. “Last night… well, I…”
“You don’t have to say anything. I shouldn’t have come to your house unannounced like that. You had company,” he says, emphasising the last word.
“You could’ve come in.”
“I didn’t want to disturb.”
“You wouldn’t have,” I say, clearing things up.
“Well, that isn’t what it looked like,” he shoots back, seemingly angrier now.
This guy has some serious attitude problems.
“Anyway, you don’t need to explain anything to me,” he continues.
“Exactly.”
Okay, now I’m angry too.
Could we be any more stupid?
“There you are!” His mother steps outside, saving us from jumping at each other’s throats; and we were pretty close. “Take this, dear,” she hands me a glass. “Let’s go and sit on the patio, the weather’s beautiful today.”
I follow her, and sit down next to her on the garden furniture. Ryan keeps his distance, standing a few paces away.
“No drink for me, then?” he asks, irritated.
“You know where the kitchen is.”
He scoffs impatiently, and disappears inside.
“Are you off work today?”
“I wish! I work every day, I just took a few hours off today to run some errands.”
“Wow, you must be so tired in the evenings.”
“I am,” I reply, taking a few sips of my wine. “But it’s all part of the game, isn’t it? Running your own business isn’t easy.”
“Of course not.”
“We close at seven,” I say, checking my watch. “Supposedly in an hour. I should probably head back.”
“Already?”
I stand up. “I’m sorry, but I have to close up.”
“You’re welcome to come back later, for dinner.”
“D-dinner?” I repeat, nearly choking on my last sip of wine.
“Why not?”
“I don’t think…”
“It would be our pleasure.”
“Just…someone’s waiting for me at home.”
“Bring them along, too.”
“I don’t know…” I say uncertainly. “I’ll be late, and…”
“We usually eat before eight.”
I think about it for a few moments.
“O-okay,” I say, feeling as if I’ve just landed my self in a huge amount of trouble.
“We’ll wait for you,” she says, smiling kindly.
I’m already thinking of how I can make it up to Evan for forcing him to come along.