Chapter 4 #3
“All the more reason not to push, if you ask me.” I reach out and pat his forearm. “There are plenty of other interesting folks in town that you can inundate with your questions.”
He snorts. “Yeah, yeah. Now back to the main subject.” He narrows his eyes. “I see how you tried to divert me, but I’m a bloodhound on the trail of a scent. Please tell me you’ve made a move on Skylar.”
I squirm in my seat and look away. “Not yet.”
His brow furrows. “Was I wrong in thinking you were interested in him?”
I protectively cross my arms over my chest. “Of course I’m interested in him. Who wouldn’t be? He’s kind, handsome, and very talented. Pursuing something romantic with him would be amazing.” My heart twinges with pain. “But I haven’t really gotten the same vibe in return.”
Ryder blinks at me from behind his glasses.
“Have you tried asking? Some people need you to be direct.” He gestures a hand in front of himself.
“Take me, for instance. I’m usually pretty oblivious unless you straight up proposition me.
Thank fuck I made that clear to Vash early on and he was more than happy to oblige me. ” He flashes me a smug grin.
“I take it things are still going well between you guys?”
Ryder nods enthusiastically. “It’s all rather unbelievable and almost magical if you ask me.
I’ve never been particularly good when it comes to relationships or romance, but somehow Vash and I work.
He doesn’t try to make me someone I’m not, and he’s more than willing to accommodate all my needs, even the most eccentric ones.
I try to do the same for him in return.” He shrugs.
“We’ve figured out how to communicate with each other and that’s kept us going strong. ”
I consider what he says. “The thing is,” I admit haltingly, “I don’t want to scare Skylar off.
He mentioned that he got out of a bad relationship not long ago, and I can tell he’s still hurting from it.
Plus, he’s so busy getting ready to open his salon that I don’t get the impression he’s thinking about much else.
Nor do I blame him.” I bite my bottom lip. “Maybe he’s just not ready?”
Ryder arches an eyebrow. “Or maybe you’re making excuses because you’re scared?”
That sucker punch of painful friend-truth hits me in the gut. And damn if I can’t fully deny it.
“If you sit around worrying and not doing anything, someone else could swoop in and scoop him up before you even get a chance.”
My whole body stills at that suggestion. “Do you really think that could happen?”
He shrugs. “Well, I’m no expert, but the guy’s attractive—at least from what I saw the night he moved into the B&B when I was leaving.
Once he opens the salon, he’s going to be inundated with clientele.
If I were you, I’d make my move while the getting is good.
I’d hate for you to have regrets if you miss out on something special with him. ”
The pain in my gut turns into a nervous ball of worry.
Flo, the enormous ogre server, appears at our table to take our order, and I give her a weak smile.
She beams back. “Good to see you, Hal. It’s been a while. What can I get you?”
Flo’s one of the few residents in town who’s close to my height.
It kind of makes us kindred spirits in a way.
Thankfully, the diner was built to accommodate larger species like ours as well as smaller folks.
She and I chat for a bit once Ryder and I have placed our orders, then she eventually lumbers off.
“With Skylar, I don’t know where to start,” I admit to Ryder.
“I’m not suave like Vash, and I’m a lot shyer than you.
I don’t know that I can be quite so… straightforward, at least not right away.
I need to establish and build an emotional connection before I can go any farther, if you know what I mean. ”
Ryder hums to himself, then opens his notebook and scribbles a quick note before closing it again. “Interesting. I can see how that might be the case for some people. So why not start by trying to build that emotional connection?”
It’s my turn to cock my head. “What would you recommend?”
“Simply spending more time together is one way to go about it. It certainly helped me and Vash get closer.”
I run a hand through the hair on my head and sigh. “Why does this always have to be so hard?”
And so darn awkward?
While I want to be brave and go for it, I’d hate to have my fragile hopes obliterated yet again. But the thought of someone else winning Skylar’s heart fills me with dread.
And maybe a little bit of nausea.
I swallow hard. “I’m making dinner for just us tonight. Astraea told me she was going to be out late and not to wait up.”
Although now that I think about it, maybe she did that precisely to offer me this opportunity. She had winked at me when she’d told me.
Ryder claps his hands together and rubs them with glee. “That’s perfect!”
My heart starts racing and I swallow thickly. “But I don’t know how I’m supposed to get closer to him just by sharing a meal. We do that every day.”
“Conversation is a good start,” Ryder offers dryly, his mouth twitching with amusement.
I roll my eyes again. “Fine. I know you’re right. It’s just that I get nervous and awkward around anyone I’m interested in. Then I end up making things weird and uncomfortable.”
“News flash—I’m the king of making things weird and uncomfortable, as you well know.
Vash’s the only guy I’ve been with who isn’t put off by it at all.
You aren’t an off-putting guy, Hal. I can’t even think of someone who isn’t relaxed and comfortable around you.
Try going with the flow and see where the conversation takes you.
Pay attention to what he says and try to figure out what’s important to him.
Build on that.” He grins. “Max taught me that, by the way.”
Indeed. Max is the most confident person I’ve ever met. He’s entirely true to himself and doesn’t try to be anything he’s not. He’s also bold and courageous in everything he does. I wish I could be more like that.
I turn my thoughts back to Ryder’s suggestion.
“Skylar loves his job as a hairstylist,” I muse.
Ryder snaps his fingers. “Yes! Roll with that. Ask him questions about it and the salon. His job is probably a safe topic for him to talk about.”
I nod slowly. He’s right. My stomach settles at the thought as I imagine talking to him about what he loves.
“Then, after dinner, see if he wants to hang out,” Ryder adds.
My eyes widen. “Please tell me you’re not suggesting I invite him to Netflix and chill.”
That’s not how I operate.
He scoffs and waves a dismissive hand. “Hardly. You’re too charmingly old-fashioned for that. But don’t worry. There are plenty of other wholesome, G-rated things you can do together.”
“What would you recommend?” I ask, grasping at straws because my mind has gone blank from my nerves.
Ryder taps his chin in thought, then his eyes brighten. “Aha! I have the perfect idea.”
I lean closer. “Please bestow your romance guru wisdom upon me.”
“They’re airing the first episode of the new season of The Young and the Monstrous tonight. Why don’t you see if Skylar would like to watch it with you?”
My mouth slowly drops open. “Since when did you start watching it?”
Ryder lifts his chin and sniffs. “After you and Max recommended it to me so many times, I had to check it out. Even though I’ve never been a huge fan of soap operas, I must admit this one’s quite entertaining—and they really know how to execute a good cliffhanger.
The show’s even given me a lot of inspiration for some of my own writing, plus I get to learn about a lot of different species of Otherkind while watching.
Win, win.” He pauses and leans closer, lowering his voice.
“It’s also a great way to test the waters and see what Skylar thinks of interspecies relationships. There are quite a few on the show.”
My mind conjures up a rose-colored image of me and Skylar, seated close together on the couch, watching the show later tonight. Maybe he would even lean into me at some point? The very thought of his warm body pressing into mine fills me with an almost desperate longing.
“Thanks, Ryder,” I say, my voice coming out a bit hoarse. “That’s a great idea. I’ll see what I can make happen.”
He reaches out to fist-bump me right when Flo returns with our lunches. We dig in, but as we eat, my mind wanders. All I can think about is how to create a special evening that will help me and Skylar get closer without freaking him out and sending him running in the opposite direction.