I fall off Ryland and roll to my back on the empty side of the bed in my apartment. My thick rose bedspread balls up in the center of my back making it uncomfortable, but I'm too exhausted to move. Ryland's found the guaranteed way to wake me up before ten on a Saturday.Ryland slides down the bed to rest his head on a pillow rather than the half seated way he had leaned against the headboard. His position matches mine as he settles and sprawls out. With what little energy I have left, I rub my hand down his naked chest feeling every muscle along the way."You get much lower and we're going to do it all over again." Ryland's words come in little puffs as he works to control his breathing.I snatch my hand away and groan with a large breath blowing a piece of hair off my face. "I need until at least..." I glance at the clock next to the bed and release another groan at the eight a.m. hour. "Noon."He laughs as if I'm kidding and rolls to his side pulling me up against him. We st
THE EGG in the center of my pan begins to sizzle more than it probably should, and I reach across the stove to decrease the heat. Of the three eggs I've cooked this morning, all three have broken yolks, but I'm hopeful this next one will make it. Ryland likes his whites cooked and his middles runny. It's an impossible combination to finagle when you possess no real cooking skills.It's been almost thirty minutes and he still isn't back like promised, but I refuse to freak out and walk over to his place to figure out why not. At least not until I cook one decent egg.Toast pops up from the toaster and I reach to a top cupboard to grab plates. The main door opens behind me and I turn almost dropping the short stack of china."What the hell, Ryland?"He stops at the entrance to the kitchen area with a grin taking up half his face. His expression isn't what freaked me out. It's the black tux he's wearing. The jacket is open revealing he's even gone as far as to put on the little bl
I didn't call Aspen.The short train of my bright white wedding dress catches on a door hinge and I freeze, scared if I move I might rip it. I should have called Aspen. How can I get married without my friends and family?"Hang on, sweetie. I've got it for you." A sandy blonde haired woman with the sweetest southern accent and big dark blue eyes reaches down and repositions the dress until I'm free to move through the door.I walk through to the main dressing room where brides get ready in A Garden of Eden Wedding Chapel. The trip here turned out more difficult than Ryland and I thought, but we're minutes away from our wedding. Well, I'm here. Ryland better be on his way here."Thank you." I turn to her sticking a hand out and grin when it only shakes a little. "I'm Marissa.""Rhea Lynn." She reaches out shaking my hand and fixes a strap on her light green dress with large purple roses in the pattern. "Where you all from?"The bell over the door dings and I look around her
I miscalculated when I thought Aspen would be upset about my good news. Irate is a better word to describe the ire from my best friend."How could you do this to me, Marissa?" Aspen whines from my couch while Simone sends me sympathy looks from the chair.I pour more wine in her glass hoping another top off will calm her down. Ryland and I arrived home early this morning and caught a few hours of sleep until Aspen and Simone starting banging so loudly on my door it woke us up at Ryland's place. I started with wine. She started with hand flailing.Aspen came dressed in her typical work outfit—a pair of black pants and a yellow blouse once she took off the thick winter jacket she still wears around even in April. Simone gets away with a more laid back look now that she works at Raven Digital Arts, but she still makes an effort, even if I suspect it's for Trey's benefit more than a need to dress up every day. She's paired a dark wash jean with a baby blue button up shirt tucked in w
"Anyway." She takes the last swig of her drink. "I am happy for you, Marissa. It was fast, but you and Ryland are adorable together. I knew he planned to ask, but I didn't expect a wedding this quickly.""Yeah, we're going to talk about you knowing and not telling me Ryland had a ring." I look to both girls with a side eye."Simone knew too." Aspen points a finger at poor Simone and I laugh. "Come on. You missed brunch yesterday and got married. Let's go to dinner to celebrate." Aspen stands and motions for Simone to as well.Simone resists. She's still learning how we work around here. "Don't you think we should give Ryland and Marissa their first night together?"Aspen's response is rapid. "No, he gets her the rest of her life. We get her tonight. Amanda should be almost ready to leave work. I'll call her. Let's go."She heads to the door and I shrug at Simone and stand. "Let me at least go tell Ryland I'll be back. We can take the elevator.""Fine." She opens the door an
Fresh pasta and cheese smells waft their way from the counter where Ryland piles food on our plates. The red and white striped banners in front of Tony's Pasta Palace are so close, less than a fifteen-minute walk from our building, but we do not eat there enough.He's in jeans today and has been since we went to Vegas. His ass looks nice in the fitted dark wash denim, better than the loose workout pants or basketball shorts he wears the most. A simple grey long sleeve t-shirt stretches at his shoulders. Ryland's back side is a great view to have."What's the Internet saying about us today?" Ryland slides a plate across the countertop to where I sit, waiting to be fed.I push the side button turning my phone screen black and tuck it back in my pocket. "Nothing." His fork stops midway to his mouth. Busted. With a sigh I answer, "I'm still a gold digger you married in a drunken night in Vegas. Your latest stunt in a career of mistakes fed by wild nights and alcohol."He flinches.
Eyebrows narrowed in question. One slightly raised in intrigue. Both eyes wide in surprise. His nose scrunched up with a line forming on his forehead when he finally speaks."Are you sure? Would it be a long-term agreement or until the season ends?" Ryland asks. "Yeah, I'd sit down and talk with him. Honestly, James, there's not another team I want to play for, but I'm worried about the players' feelings on the matter."He's quiet again until a small chuckle starts. "Yeah, that's because Obreski's an asshole. I didn't do anything every other player on the team wished they did." Now it's easy to figure out he's talking about the goalie he hit. The final straw before the general manager kicked him off the team.Other than the goalie issue, the rest of the conversation goes over my head. I have no idea what team Ryland wants to play for. He hasn't made any preference known to me over the last few weeks besides not staying in the US."What time is the flight out?" Ryland checks his
For a comic book store Cosmo's Comics and Café is a well-lit open space. It's a thin narrow building, longer than it is wide, but the large shop window and glass front door make one entire end open to the early Sunday morning sunlight. It smells like coffee and paper, and who doesn't love those smells?When Aspen first suggested our new location, I was hesitant. My appreciation for Cosmo's has grown since then to a point I enjoy our Sunday brunch dates here.Well every week except this one. Today dragging myself to Cosmo's feels like a walk into my own execution. Aspen will drill me on Ryland and what's going on in England. I haven't talked to Ryland since he boarded a plane for London yesterday morning. After the eight-hour flight and time change, I'm not even sure where he is. Late last night he sent me a text with a simple "I love you. Sleep well." and nothing more.It takes a deep breath, but I gather the courage to open the door. Cosmo's is gloomier today, not all the overhe