A timer beeps from the side of the refrigerator and Ryland leans over to shut it off. "Okay, noodles are finished. Another ten minutes or so and we'll eat." He moves the pan to the other side of the stove and turns down the burner."You'll like Clare and she'll let you meet as much as you want with the kids. She said the whole program is yours." I try to sweeten the idea of volunteering with the scary teenagers.Back at his place on the counter, he grins. "Yes, I suppose. As long as you weren't planning to try and set me up with her.""No. Trust me I'd never set you up on a blind date." And not only because the idea of Ryland dating someone is my worst nightmare. "Blind dates are horrible. I'd never inflict that pain on anyone else.""Speaking from experience, huh?""Unfortunately, yes and I can't tell my friends because they think I'm too picky.""Well are you?" he questions."Of course not. The last one had nothing to do with me. He was terrible." I reposition my seat o
I am a genius. Pure genius.When I offered up Ryland's extensive soccer skills to Clare for the youth center, I wanted to help find him a hobby, a little motivation to get out of the house. Not once did I take in to account what this agreement could offer me. I didn't set out for payback, but pay back it did. In the form of a shirtless and sweaty Ryland. It's the best form of compensation possible.Twenty minutes into his hour-long session with the kids, he unzipped his fleece jacket and threw it on the ground beside the same folding chair I used last week. Being able to stare at him in the tight fitting shirt was enough to make me happy, but then ten minutes later he called a time out. On the side of the gym, he whipped his white t-shirt over his head exposing his chest and a set of wonderful ab muscles. Shiny grey basketball shorts and a pair of sneakers are the only clothing obstructing my view of his fine body. It makes me sit up straight and suck in my own small gut. I need to
I will not turn into a major dork with Ryland. I will keep my cool regardless of my feelings for the tall blue-eyed soccer forward. With a deep breath I walk to the front of Ryland's condo door. My chant on repeat with each step.It's been a few hours since we returned after his first session at the youth center, but I've spent most of my afternoon locked away in my apartment. With dinner looming I've decided to make the first move and invite myself over for what's become our Saturday evening ritual of video games and food. It's part of my act natural game plan.His door's unlocked as it's been since the first day I used his elevator, but I should still knock. A friend would knock, right? Of course I've never knocked before. If I start now, he might figure out something is off with my behavior. Shut up, Marissa. Don't overthink shit again. I'm going in... no knocking.I crack his door and slide in through the opening. When I lift my head ready to do my obligatory call out of h
"Is that so?" he questions with sarcasm. "She needs to exercise caution. I've heard her landlord's a real asshole.""Eh, turns out she thinks he's not as bad as people make him out to be." I roll with it excited Ryland's playing along with my banter."Probably because she's so cute and cuddly..." I squint at him, but he continues on down his dangerous path. "Like a... kitten."I smack my lips together to accept his challenge, the sound bouncing off the kitchen appliances, but it only causes his grin to widen. "Actually Simone's the cute and cuddly one. I'm more known for my claws."He snorts in answer and then speaks under his breath. "Yeah like a kitten's claws, maybe." If I could be one of those sharks with laser eyes, he'd be in trouble. As it is, my death glare only makes him smile, his white teeth on full display. "You don't frighten me, Marissa."I place a hand on my hip and pop it out the best I can while sitting on a stool. "Maybe you don't know me well enough.""Do
A woman laughs down the hall and the high horse-like sound rips my attention from the sales spreadsheets laid out on my desk. Sheila, a second-floor secretary neighs again, the sound distinguishable as only her. Its carnival day. The office's reward for the work in the community last week. I should be out laughing with my coworkers but instead I'm feigning work for a few quiet moments alone with my thoughts. Quiet being relative when Sheila's in the vicinity.The problem isn't Sheila or her horse laugh. The problem is me.I had sex with Ryland.Soccer super star Ryland Bates.It didn't start out as sex, but after an hour of heavy petting, we couldn't stop the progression. I didn't want to. The sex isn't the problem. I enjoyed that... immensely, but what do I do now? Do we do it again? Start a relationship? Act like it never happened? Why is this being an adult shit so hard?I snicker at my own innuendo and then hit my head on my desktop without enough force to do any damage.
Drake, an obnoxious account executive from the fourth floor, stands behind me leaning over my shoulder and giving Goldie eyes. "Well if he makes it through the day, I'd suggest you flush him or take him home.""Flush him!" It's a ludicrous idea. I've named him. I can't let Goldie die. I'll sneak him home and hide him in my bedroom. That sounds like a reasonable plan.... The elevator doors are half open before I realize Ryland's home. Past the hallway he sings along to a song playing over the speakers. So much for spending the day in Palo Alto with Finn checking out new software.I step into the hallway and carefully place Goldie in my purse. He's been in the bag for over three hours. I'm worried his time is running out. How much oxygen does a fish need?Maybe if I sneak out, I'll make it past and to my apartment before Ryland realizes I'm home."Is that you, Marissa?" he yells from the main living area.I cringe — who else would it be — and keep walking with the quiete
In the end Ryland paid for the fish tank and supplies, but it's worth it. Little Goldie swims circles in his new five-gallon tank dodging the fake seaweed in his path. He stops to make his little fishy face at me through the glass."The no fishing sign's a nice touch." Aspen taps the glass tank and Goldie swims toward her finger."Yeah, Ryland picked it out.""Do you plan to keep it on the coffee table?" Simone asks taking another sip of wine.Both women silently stare at Goldie and his tank like they've never seen one before. Aspen and Simone stopped by for a drink and to chat. Or in Aspen best friend terms — to get the scoop on Ryland and me. She's occupied with the fish tank now, but soon we'll move on to why she's really here. The details of our week post sex."Ryland said he'll look for a stand this weekend. Then we'll put him closer to the window.""Ryland, huh?" Aspen pushes.Here we go."I can't imagine what would have happened if you'd had a fish when you were
"Just tell me, Aspen." I suck in a breath when she doesn't start right away. That means it's bad.Her head faces my direction, but her eyes are still cast to the corner. "Well... Finn may have admitted Ryland's had teams calling him. So far he hasn't agreed to any tryouts though, so that's good." She rushes the last sentence to try and smooth over her news.A part of me, a deep part I refused to address, knew Ryland had to have teams calling. Even with his past trouble, he's a top player in the sport. Teams want him regardless. It's not news, but having it confirmed hurts. Why didn't he tell me himself? Is he planning to up and leave one night? Lock the door behind him and leave me and Goldie here alone?Never one to be good at over dramatics, except for those few months after my breakup with Cody, I stick an unaffected expression on and continue as if hearing Ryland's on his way out the door doesn't feel like a knife splitting open my chest cavity to dig around at the important