4. Ryan
CHAPTER 4
Ryan
S carlett’s standing in the doorway of the staff lunchroom, hands on hips, that stupid Santa hat still perched on her head. She’s changed into a different pair of short shorts—making her already long legs look longer—and a white tee with a Christmas tree-shaped quote that reads: I’m too hot for ugly Christmas jumpers.
‘Bloody hell,’ I mutter under my breath.
‘Why didn’t you just tell me who you were … Ryan Black?’ she demands. ‘And why are you moving the Christmas tree behind the door where no one will see it?’
There’s a stirring in my gut, and it’s not because I missed lunch. I’m so close to her that I can see the sprinkle of freckles kissing her nose and cheeks. They don’t seem to have faded over the years. Her nose squishes like it used to, and a frown wrinkles her forehead when I don’t answer. It’s her ‘impatient’ look.
‘Well?’ Her head tips to the side, and her eyes widen, perhaps to emphasise the question.
Yes, it’s been over a decade, but our brief time together seemed to have left little impression on her, considering she didn’t recognise me immediately. Sure, we had a fun couple of weeks of summer together and did all the things frisky teenagers do. Well, except for one thing. We were sensible, and I admired her for knowing what she wanted and didn’t want. She’s the first girl I had ever crushed on, and I’ve never forgotten her or how she made me feel. She gave me hope—gave me a glimpse of something better. But then?—
‘Like I told you earlier, I hate Christmas, and this tree is just plain annoying and in your face. I don’t want to spend the few breaks I get looking at the hideous thing when I have to endure all the other “stuff” everywhere else.’ I leave the question about my identity unanswered as I’m loving the way she’s biting her bottom lip and then clenching her jaw. It’s at total odds with her festive outfit that screams over the top . And it’s sexy as hell. I could be in deep trouble here. There was no way of knowing Scarlett would be coming home when I accepted the placement in Point Perry a couple of months ago. I’m considering whether I should request a few more days of annual leave and escape town during this silly season. I make a mental note to check the roster.
‘And the Ryan Black thing?’ Her eyebrows shoot up with expectation.
I release a sigh. ‘I was curious to see if you remembered me. But obviously, that summer was forgettable, and I was just another guy to add to your holiday flings. You probably had heaps of them growing up here.’ Shit, that’s a bit of a low blow, and I probably shouldn’t have said it, but it seems there’s some unresolved resentment happening.
‘I can’t believe you just said that. But I’m glad you brought it up. Yes, I’ll admit I didn’t recognise you straight away , but you were familiar, just older and … different. You didn’t have a three-day growth when you were seventeen. And I don’t remember what most of the kids in my class looked like and I saw them all day, every day since kindy, so how am I supposed to remember you?’ It’s her turn to let out a frustrated sigh. ‘And while we’re talking about remembering, you obviously forgot me quick smart too. I bet you went right on home to the big city and got another chick.’
That, I was not expecting. Why would she think that? I wrote to her for about six months before I gave up. My turn to frown. She frowns back. It’s like a frowning competition. I clench my jaw; she does the same. Neither of us speaks.
‘You’re unbelievable.’ Scarlett breaks the stand-off. Hands fly from her hips to the white fluffy ball dangling from the end of the hat. She squeezes it. A rendition of ‘Jingle Bells’ plays, but the music is muted, a little slurred, as if perhaps her hat is running out of batteries. With determined eyes, she says, ‘I’ll see you around. Or not … Ryan Black. And tell Lilac I’ll be back in the morning.’ And she turns and power walks towards the hospital entrance, all sass and determination. Stopping to look at her phone, she shakes her head and jams it into the pocket on the back of those short shorts.
What just happened in the space of three minutes? My grumpy arse sent her walking. I scrub a hand over my face, calling, ‘Scarlett, wait.’
As I step through the door to go after her, the call button buzzer sounds above the nurses’ station. It’s Lilac. When I turn back to the front doors, they are closing behind Scarlett.
She doesn’t give me a backward glance.