15. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
Simeon
W hile Rainbow charmed Ryan, and after I’d thanked Felix for his quick thinking, I shot off a text to my grandmother warning her that I was bringing home a friend. I said we’d go around back so as to not bother her. Well, I specified Ryan needed to be alone right now. I said we might come up for dinner if he was feeling better.
She shot back three thumbs-up. Almost as if she understood brevity was important.
I’d pocketed my phone, thanked Rainbow as she headed to her SUV, and then gotten into Ryan’s car.
Ryan’s super-compact car.
My head touched the roof.
My knees were nearly in my armpits.
After adjusting the seat back as far as it would go, things were marginally better.
Marginally.
Fortunately, my grandfather had taught me how to drive stick as soon as I turned sixteen. My father tried to insist the lessons were a waste of time.
My mother had stood up for me.
Bops won that round.
I’d learned a new skill. One I’d always be pleased to have. Especially today.
Quickly, I figured out the clutch on this car was extremely sensitive. Pleased I only stalled out once, I soon had us heading up into the hills north of Mission City. While Rainbow would head northwest, I’d take us northeast.
Ryan remained silent as we went—just taking occasional sips from his tea.
I have tea in my living space, right? I have a kettle, so I must have tea.
Panic started to set in. I’d never had anyone down there before. The cleaner had come yesterday, so that wasn’t a huge worry. But did I put my underwear in the laundry hamper? Oh, better yet, is the door to my bedroom closed? What will he think of my tiny living space? I had a television as well as a laptop and printer I used for business. All in plain sight. If I didn’t use them, would he be okay? Maybe better to go into the bedroom. I didn’t have any electronics in there. At Nanny’s insistence. Something about proper sleep hygiene and no screen before bedtime.
I scrolled on my phone instead of watching television.
And would never admit that to another living soul—lest they tell my grandmother.
Ryan pointed as we passed a street.
“Y-yes. That’s M-Maddox’s street. We’ll s-see him on Saturday.” Whether or not that was true might be an open question. Ryan might not be up to company. Although the cocktail party was two days away. Tomorrow was the decorating party. Another event with lots of people. I just couldn’t tell how he’d be. This was the worst I’d seen him since that first day. He was trying, but his knuckles were white and he continued to tremble.
Again, I was so grateful Felix figured out to call me. That being said, I didn’t understand how he’d figured out that Ryan and I knew each other. Had Ryan said something? That meant I was important, right? Or had he spouted a bunch of names and I was the first person Felix reached?
You’re overthinking this.
I flicked my indicator. “F-Ferrars Street.”
“Okay.” Ryan continued to gaze out the passenger window.
I geared up as I gained speed. I would never go over the limit on my street—but I’d drive pretty close. I knew all the deer-crossing spots as well as which families had young kids.
Now, the time I’d nearly hit a bear…? Yeah, hadn’t seen him coming. Or it might’ve been a female. Huge beast. No cubs following, though. I’d waited for more than five minutes and no other creatures had appeared. Maybe that’s why you thought it was a male bear?
Oh, right. I wasn’t being sexist—I was being logical. Early April. Four years ago. Occasionally I spotted a bear from my back patio. I gave them a wide berth, and they had little interest in me. The deer, though, were more inquisitive. They’d come right up to the house and try to steal my blackberries. I did my best to shoo them away…all the while being super pleased I grew something they liked. Co-existing with nature this far from the city was important.
I flicked the indicator and geared down as we came to my house. I turned, then glided us into the spot I thought as my spare. I parked my truck in the garage most nights. My grandfather’s Buick was also in there. Keeping it running was important, and the thing was still insured. I hoped, though, if an emergency arose, that my grandparents would call for help. Neither had a license anymore.
“This is…” Ryan gazed out the windshield. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a prettier house.”
Pretty? Huh. He’d told me he came from Vancouver. Since that city had every kind of house available, I wouldn’t figure my grandparents’ would be anything special. I cleared my throat. “F-four bedrooms. I have a s-space in the basement. P-private.”
Ryan met my gaze and blinked. “Yeah, okay.” After a long moment, he undid his seatbelt, opened the car door, and slid out.
I did the same, ensuring I didn’t whack my head on the frame.
When we met at the hood of the car, I offered him his keys. Reluctantly, he took them. “You still need to get your truck.”
“It’ll k-keep. I promise.” With that, I gestured for him to follow me around to the side of the house. A set of concrete stairs led us down to the backyard. I walked toward the back door and pulled out my key. Locking it seemed silly, but being prudent made sense.
Bears could open unlocked doors.
I entered and shuffled over so Ryan could come in as well. After closing the door, I bent to remove my boots.
He toed off his sneakers. Then he slowly wandered into the space.
The entire wall facing the backyard was glass—with floor-to-ceiling windows. My patio was under my grandparents’ back deck, so I never got direct sunlight. What I could see was a modest lawn leading to a slope and then solid wilderness. Our property wasn’t fenced in—was really too big for that. Instead, animals could wander around freely. And I could go as far back as I wanted. Eventually, through the forest, I’d come out to the same tree farm Maddox’s property backed onto. We’d never done it, but theoretically we could’ve walked to each other’s houses.
I pointed. “P-Princess Sofia got lost in those woods.”
Ryan burst out laughing. “Oh God, I can totally see that. Did you see the gleam in her eye? She’s a little shit.”
“T-twit.” I offered the correction with a smile.
Ryan cocked his head. “You don’t swear. Does it bother you that I do?”
I shook my head. “I was t-thinking about not swearing around the kids.”
He glanced around. “You have rugrats I don’t know about?”
That brought a smile to my face. “No. I’m j-just thinking about Saturday. W-well or Friday. Lots of k-kids.”
Still, he shifted from foot to foot.
“W-when I swear, my s-stuttering gets worse. S-some brain to mouth c-connection goes haywire. So I d-don’t very often.” I offered the smile my grandmother always said warmed her insides. “W-when I’m alone? If I h-hit my thumb with a hammer? G-guaranteed f-bomb.”
That did make him smile. “Yeah, okay.”
“Would you like something to d-drink?”
“I don’t drink alcohol.”
“G-good. I don’t either. None here.” I smiled as best I could. “D-different types of soda. Bad for m-me, but whatever.”
That made him smile. “We all have our vices.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “Do you have root beer?”
“Yep.” I gestured to the couch.
“Thanks.”
“Oh, c-coat.”
I moved to help him out of it. At first, he appeared annoyed, with his brow furrowed. Then, as if sensing I meant no harm, he let me slide his gorgeous coat off him. “L-love this. So soft.” I hadn’t expected wool to be soft. Had been expecting coarse.
“Thanks. This was…my dad bought it for me. I don’t know why…”
“He l-loves you?” I hung the coat on my coat rack as Ryan slowly sat.
The laugh coming from him wasn’t happy. “My father sees me as a tool to accomplish goals. If I ever need to present myself in any society, then I must look good. That coat speaks of quiet elegance.”
I moved to the fridge. “Oh? Uh…ice?”
“Sure…? I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”
“No t-trouble.”
“Well, thanks, ice would be great.”
I nabbed two glass mugs and set about preparing two root beers—also a favorite of mine. “Elegance?” Wow, made it through the word without getting tripped up.
“Right. I must never leave the house without looking a certain way. Without dressing a certain way. He’s always on display—investors, employees, the media. I never wanted that life. Fortunately he figured that out pretty quickly and has set up a succession plan that doesn’t include me.”
“Oh?” I moved to the couch where he sat. Instead of reclining back, he sat slightly bent over. Is he in pain? Should I offer something? No, surely he has his own stuff. “I h-hope it’s okay.”
He offered a brilliant smile. “Simeon, everything is okay.”
No missing the meaning in those words.
I put my drink on the coffee table, the moved to the front door where I removed my coat. I’d barely started working, so I wasn’t a mess. I wasn’t going to think about the fact I was going to be another day behind.
Ryan is all that matters.
I grabbed my drink and debated where to sit. “Oh, would you prefer the chair? Sometimes I just sit and w-watch outside.” I’d angled it so the television didn’t obstruct the view.
“Thank you. I’m settled now.”
Does that mean he’s in pain? That moving would cause more?
I didn’t know how to talk to him about what was going on. So I wouldn’t. I sat on the couch next to him. Not touching or anything…but close. I fervently wished he might feel my calm.
Calm? Who are you kidding? Your agitation is about a ten.
Because, yeah, cute guy sitting on my couch. Had never happened before. I’d never brought someone home—of any gender. That just…wasn’t my thing.
My phone buzzed.
I ignored it.
It buzzed again.
Ryan’s jaw tightened. “It’s okay. It might be important.”
“Y-you’re important.”
My phone buzzed again.
“Answer it.” Ryan’s tone waffled between panic and anger.
I put my glass on the coffee table, then hustled into my room.
Four texts. All from Nanny. All letting me know how much she would love to meet my friend and how she was baking lasagna because hadn’t I said my friends loved her lasagna?
I called her.
“I wasn’t interrupting, was I dear?”
“N-no, Nanny.”
“Do you want to bring your friend up?”
“I’ll ask.”
“Well, the lasagna will be ready in just over an hour. I used the no-boil noodles. You know I prefer the traditional way, but I wanted it done as soon as possible.”
“It’s still m-morning.” Like pretty early.
“Has the young man eaten?”
I thought back to the food he’d given Rainbow.
“I d-don’t think so.”
“Well, that’s perfect. And if you just want to come up and smell tomato sauce, that works as well. Very soothing scent.”
I wasn’t certain about that, but I smiled. “I l-love you.”
“Text me if he wants to come up. We promise to be very circumspect.”
I rolled my eyes. “No t-television, okay? And maybe p-put your phones in the drawer or something?”
“Well….” She paused. “Your friend sounds peculiar, but you know I’m accommodating. I’ll leave the phone by me until you text to let me know.”
“O-okay. L-love you.”
“You already said that.” She sniffed. “We love you too. Take care.” With that, she cut the line.
Debate raged within me. I just didn’t know what to do.
Leave it up to him.
I headed back into the main living area.
To find Ryan at my desk—trailing his fingers along my closed laptop.
“My grandmother—”
“This laptop must be ten years old.”
“C-closer to twelve. I use it for emailing. My g-grandfather keeps my books and p-prepares my taxes. Thank God.” But he won’t be around forever.
He pointed to the box leaning against the side of the desk. “That’s a much better computer.”
“I know. M-Maddox recommended it. He s-said he’d help me set it up, but he’s so b-busy—”
“Did you tell him you had the computer and ask for his help?” Ryan turned that blue-eyed stare on me.
“Well…n-no.”
“And you think, with everything he’s got going on, that’s he’s going to remember?”
“W-when you put it like that? No.” I’d bought the new laptop more than six months ago—and still hadn’t opened it.
Ryan bit his lower lip. His hand trembled as he held his glass. “I haven’t…” He hesitated.
I held myself still.
After a long time, he let out a breath. “When I heard about the war in Ukraine, and how the Russians had invaded a peaceful and sovereign country, something just…didn’t sit right with me. I’m not Ukrainian. I mean, I’m Canadian way back, and like multiple generations ago, my family came from Ireland.” He huffed out a laugh. “So why the battle for an eastern European country drew me in, I can’t explain.” Slowly he moved to the massive window facing out over the lush green backyard with the orange leaves covering patches of the ground.
Need to rake soon . Still, I waited.
“And…I just got on an airplane and went to Poland. From there, it didn’t take much to get into Ukraine. I won’t bore you with the details, but I found some people who were able to make use of my programming skills. Then my video-game prowess came up, and it turned out I had a knack for flying drones.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “More than two years, and I’d begun to think I was invincible. Other men died, but I wasn’t going to be one of them. Then…” His fist, which had been by his side, sort of exploded with his fingers going wide.
Like a bomb.
He kept pressing his hand to his chest. “All my friends died. I should have died. I still can’t explain why I survived. I mean, I understand how the shrapnel only nicked my heart. How medical care arrived quickly. How…” He swallowed. “They all died, Simeon. And yeah, I made my dad send money anonymously to all their families. That doesn’t change the fact that I lived and they died.”
I didn’t know how to respond. If he’d died as well, then their families wouldn’t have gotten any money. I might be conjecturing, but he hadn’t said he’d done anything to cause their deaths. Just that there’d been an explosion or a bomb or something and his friends were dead and he was alive.
After what felt like the longest time, I found the courage to approach him. I tried to make as much noise as possible. Tried to telegraph my movements. Hoped he might see my reflection in the glass. Finally, I placed my hand on his shoulder.
He tensed.
I was about to pull away when he placed his hand over mine.
He didn’t remove mine. Instead, he slowly turned and, very gently, leaned against me.
I might not give and receive many hugs, but I knew what to do. I let him lean on me and then, gently, I gathered him into my arms. Being aware of his injuries meant not hauling him against me like I wanted to. I could only apply the lightest of pressure. But I could show him in a way words never could that he had my unconditional support. That I’d always be here for him. That I wasn’t judging him.
He trembled in my arms. Whether he was crying or not, I couldn’t be certain. What I did know for sure was that I didn’t ever want to let him go.
After a long moment, he pulled back. He didn’t meet my gaze.
I considered for a very long time before I spoke. “Nanny and Bops h-have invited us for lunch. Lasagna.” Please make the decision for me…I don’t know how to help you .
“They want to meet me?” He met my gaze with his luminescent blue eyes shining. Not with tears, but with something else. Gratitude?
I was humbled. That he trusted me. That he felt safe with me. “Well, you’re the first f-friend I’ve brought home.”
“First friend…” His brow knit. He looked like he was about to say something, but then he smiled. “Lead the way.”