Leah had understood when Ryan stepped out of the Pub Dog to call her, and break the bad news. “No, please don’t worry about it. I understand the importance of office politics.” Leah had reassured Ryan.
“I appreciate your understanding, and we will definitely reschedule.” Ryan had insisted.
“Of course. Have fun.”
“I would have more fun with you.” Ryan had slammed her eyes shut, embarrassed she had been so candid with Leah.
Leah was good natured about the comment. “You flatter me.”
Ryan decided to cut her losses and wrap the call up, even though she had felt she could go on for hours about why Leah was a far better time than her co-workers. “Not at all, and I’ll call you about the reschedule.”
The two women had said their goodbyes, and Ryan had returned to the moderately rowdy group of county workers. In spite of the evening running longer than she had anticipated, Ryan enjoyed everyone’s company.
“I totally asked you out the other day.” An inebriated Linda had casually said to Ryan.
Nearly choking on her Natty Boh, Ryan wiped her mouth with the white paper napkin from across her lap. “I thought so, but didn’t want to assume.”
“Assume away. You’re gorgeous, and I haven’t been on a decent date for nearly two months.” Linda emptied her fourth dark and stormy cocktail.
Ryan had blushed, and squirmed a little on her bar stool. Linda was attractive, and Ryan wondered if it wasn’t for their working arrangement, and her infatuation with Leah, if she might take the woman up on her offer. After all, Jenny and she had nothing set in stone - except that they had nothing set in stone.
“I’m dating someone.” Ryan decided a half-truth could save Linda and her total awkwardness the following day when Linda was sober and sitting across the conference room table from Ryan.
“Naturally.” Linda sighed. “Why wouldn’t you be?”
Ryan tentatively put her arm around the despondent woman’s shoulder. “Pace yourself, things tend to work out.”
Linda chuckled. “Spoken like a twenty-something.” She gestured for their waiter to bring her another drink. “Trust me, somewhere over the rainbow, happily ever after, etcetera, etcetera - looks far less likely in your mid-thirties.”
Ryan hadn’t known what to say, as she had never considered being single a handicap or something to be overcome. She was grateful when Wally, their IT analyst, had interrupted the group to announce he was buying the next round. The outpouring of drunken gratitude had redirected Linda, and she moved on to other less depressing topics.
“Subject change, my friend.” Nicole interrupted Ryan’s recollections. “What are we going to do about the car situation?” Nicole was only half joking. Even with her working from home three days a week, Ryan’s commute to Columbia was putting a strain on the roommates’ transportation options.
“I can buy a car.” Ryan said casually as the two women perused a table full of small statues and candles.
“What? Since when?” Nicole stammered.
Ryan thought now was as good a time as any to tell someone about her inheritance, and she felt it was right that Nicole should be the first of her friends to know. “My mom left me some money.”
Nicole put a small Buddha statue back on the table, and turned her attention to Ryan. “I’ll be blunt and tactless - how much is some money?”
Ryan winced. “Um, I could buy everyone we know a new car.” Ryan watched as her friend’s eyes widened. “Times ten thousand plus.”
Nicole flinched, and her hip hit the edge of the table sending a stone statue of a raven crashing to the ground. “Shit!” The two women said in unison as they looked down at the shards of clay.
“You’re paying for that, Myers. Because clearly you can.” Nicole pinched Ryan’s upper arm in jest.
Ryan was relieved she had told someone, and that Nicole wasn’t behaving any differently toward her. “You’re not pissed I didn’t tell you sooner?”
Nicole bent down with Ryan, and the two began picking the mangled statue up. “It’s your business, Ryan, and with everything else that had happened with your family, I appreciate you needed some time to wrap your head around it.”
Ryan’s eyes filled with tears. She felt so fortunate to have Nicole in her life, and thankful for the honest friendship the two had. “Thanks, Nic.”
Nicole’s eyes welled with tears. “Shit, look at this.” She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “And you are seriously paying for this mess.”
Ryan pulled Nicole to her feet, and hugged her. Reaching into her back pocket, Ryan took her wallet out and handed the irritated merchant a twenty dollar bill. “Sorry, and keep the change.”
Nicole lay what was left of the raven statue back on the table, and the two women hurried off. “So – ah – what does this mean for you?”
Ryan could tell that for one of the few times in their friendship, she had managed to genuinely shock Nicole. The woman was rarely awkward and hardly ever at a loss for words. Ryan resolved not to give her too much grief, and would try to keep the conversation straightforward. “I’ve decided it really doesn’t have to change much of anything for me.”
Nicole’s brow arched. “Is that realistic?”
Ryan shrugged. “I know at some point I’ll need to decide where the money should go. I mean, there is only so much one person needs.” Her deadline for contacting Mr. Perkis regarding the transfer of the estate from his firm had come and gone. Even the process of vetting a new attorney was proving more work than Ryan had anticipated.
Nicole nodded. “You should start some type of cleverly named philanthropic organization.”
Ryan pursed her lips. “Well, you lost me at cleverly named.”
The two women strolled through the market, Ryan imagining Nicole had a thousand questions, but thought it best to let her come to them on her own. After all, Ryan wasn’t exactly riddled with answers these days.
“Let’s get a corn dog.” Nicole pointed to a nearby food truck.
“It’s ten o’clock in the morning.” Ryan’s stomach did a quick somersault at the idea of the greasy, meat by-product laden concoction.
“Suit yourself. Do you want a lemonade then?” Nicole asked.
“Sure.” Ryan reached into her back pocket for her wallet.
“Oh, no – let me get this.” Nicole winked, and disappeared into the crowd.
Ryan didn’t want to wander too far and end up separated from Nicole, so when she spotted a table full of books nearby, she worked her way over to the booth. The books were lined up in rows, with their spines facing upward. Turning her head to the side, Ryan scanned the titles and couldn’t help but think of Leah, and wonder what she was doing.
Her eyes came to rest on a colorful book with a series of brightly colored circles on its cover. Liberating it from its counterparts, Ryan grinned at the title, Super Sad True Love Story, and thought it apt. She flipped through the title page and introduction, scanning text as she went.
Ryan hadn’t heard of the book or the author, but it was clearly satirical and not altogether unfunny. Ryan’s eyes paused on a sentence: By reading this message you are denying its existence and implying consent. Continuing to scan, she thought of her mother, and her family as she read another passage: Do not throw away your heart. Keep your heart. Your heart is all that matters ... Throw away your ancestors! ... Throw away your shyness and the anger that lies just a few inches beneath ... Accept the truth!
“That seems a little heavy for a beautiful Saturday morning.” Leah’s voice startled Ryan, and she nearly dropped the book.
Ryan’s eyes narrowed. She managed to gain her composure quickly after initially being surprised to see Leah. “Are you stalking me?”
Leah’s expression turned serious. “Clearly not well if it’s that obvious.”
The two women laughed, and Leah leaned in to give Ryan a quick hug. It occurred to Ryan how tragic she was that even when Leah was clearly offering a brief show o
f friendly affection, Ryan’s heart still pounded, and her skin warmed.
“Are you here alone?” Ryan looked behind Leah.
“No, my friend Marty is around here somewhere. I think he’s given into his base instincts and is trying to find a funnel cake vendor.”
Ryan was acutely aware that Leah had not released her hand after their initial hug, and was fighting the urge to squeeze the woman’s hand tighter. “Nicole is on a similar quest – corn dogs.”
Leah wrinkled her nose. “Not a fan.” She reached for the book that was still in Ryan’s hand. “Are you going to buy this?”
Ryan shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t usually go in for this sort of thing, but I’ve just skimmed a few pages and managed to smile; so maybe it’s a sign.”
Leah thumbed through the book. “I’ve never thought it was too difficult to make you smile.” Leah looked up at Ryan, a glimmer in her green eyes.
Before Ryan could stumble and fall over her own nonsensical words, Nicole appeared. She had two corn dogs clutched in one hand, and a large lemonade in a clear plastic cup in the other. “Leah. Hey, how are you?”
Before Leah could respond, Ryan took her lemonade and looked suspiciously at the two corn dogs. “I really didn’t want one.”
Nicole took a bite of one of the dogs, the yellow mustard she had coated it in clinging to the corners of her mouth. “Yeah. I heard you.” Chewing quickly, Nicole turned back to Leah. “So, fancy meeting you here.”
Leah smiled. “I appreciate you giving me the benefit of the doubt. Your friend jumped straight to accusing me of being a stalker.”
Nicole laughed, and nearly sent pieces of half chewed corndog flying. “Well, if it’s that obvious, you must really suck at it.”
Leah’s eyes widened and a huge smile spread across her lips. “That’s exactly the point I made.” She gave Ryan’s hand a quick squeeze, and then let it go. “My friend Marty is around here somewhere. If I can find the funnel cake truck, I will have my man.”
“We can help.” Nicole offered, shooting Ryan a quick wink. “I could use something to wash these corndogs down with.”
Leah put the book back on the table, and she and Nicole began walking toward the row of food trucks that lined the parameter of the market. Looking back, Nicole grinned. “Are you coming?”
Ryan took a deep breath, unsure what her friend had planned, and hoping it didn’t end with Ryan being humiliated.
“Marty!” Leah waved as Marty, a short, stout man in his late forties with a full gray beard, wound his way through the crowd. The man held a grease soaked paper plate in his hand, powdered sugar coating the tips of his fingers as he ineloquently bit into the funnel cake.
“You’ve made friends.” Marty grinned at Ryan and Nicole, wiping at his mouth with a balled-up napkin he had in his free hand. “I’m Marty Parry, Leah’s friend and business partner. Nice to meet you.”
Nicole, who was now down to half a corndog, reached out her hand. “Nicole Wright. It’s always nice to meet a fellow connoisseur of fine food.” She held up her half-eaten corn dog.
Marty lifted the greasy plate in a mock toast. “Cheers to that.”
“I’m Ryan Myers.” Holding out her hand, Ryan took note of the stocky man’s eyes narrowing as a look of recognition shot across his face. She wondered if Leah had talked about her to her friend.
“Nice to meet you.” Marty shifted the paper plate from his left to right hand, powdered sugar cascading into the morning air. “At the risk of sounding cliché, do you come here often?”
Ryan chuckled. “Not too much, but it was so nice out today we thought we should take advantage. You two?” She glanced at Leah who was standing next to her, an amused expression on her face as she watched Marty try to eat the funnel cake without completely defiling himself with grease and sugar.
With a mouth full of pastry, Marty nodded. “Most Saturdays.”
“Well, there goes your stalker theory.” Leah teased as she nudged Ryan with her shoulder.
“I don’t know what you put him up to. He might say anything to keep you from being served with a restraining order.” Ryan playfully teased Leah.
“Should we continue our perusing?” Marty asked the group.
“Actually Marty, I was hoping you would take me to the funnel cake truck. These corn dogs need some dessert.” Nicole smiled warmly.
“I would be happy to assist a fellow connoisseur.” The man blushed at Nicole’s quasi-flirting.
“We’ll go with you.” Ryan offered.
“No, no. You and Leah hang back. I don’t want your caloric judginess ruining my food buzz.” Without another word, Nicole and Marty walked away, leaving Ryan and Leah standing in a crowd of people.
“Are you judgy?” Leah was standing right behind Ryan, her tone dire. When Ryan turned around to face the blonde, their faces were only inches apart.
Ryan didn’t risk answering the woman, for fear the tremor she felt tickling the back of her throat would give away how nervous being left alone with Leah made her.
Leah’s eyes brightened and she smiled. “I’m only kidding with you. You seem like the most laidback person I’ve ever met.”
Ryan exhaled, the tightness in her chest lessening. “I never judge – out loud.”
Leah laughed and looped her arm through Ryan’s. The two women began a leisurely stroll through the market. Ryan wondered when it was that Leah had become so comfortable touching her. Though the contact was clearly casual for the older woman, it was distracting and remarkable for Ryan. She felt certain her conversation skills reduced dramatically when Leah looked at her a certain way. When she actually touched Ryan, it was difficult for her to stay upright.
“You and Marty work together?” Ryan’s mouth felt hot and dry as she spoke.
“Hmm. Yes. Business partners and best friends for nearly ten years. We opened the bookshop together shortly after Marty’s wife, Sylvia, was killed in a car accident.”
Ryan gasped. “That’s terrible.”
Leak sighed. “I know. He’s never remarried, and has become like a brother to me. I’d be lost without him.”
Ryan watched Leah closely. Ryan’s heart ached as tears pooled in the woman’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Leah smiled and wiped at an errant tear. “I’m just feeling sentimental. Ignore me.” She took a cleansing breath. “You know, if you like that book from earlier, and you’re willing to take a chance on an outdated technology – I could get you a signed edition.”
“Ah, no. I mean I thought it was clever, but I know myself – I wouldn’t read it.” Ryan wanted to lean into Leah as they walk.
“Have you read much for pleasure since school?” Leah asked, a gust of wind blowing a strand of her blonde hair over her right eye. Her reaching up casually to brush it aside was the sexiest thing Ryan had ever seen.
Jesus Christ! Would you get over it Myers! Ryan shouted to herself. She’s a nice woman and attractive, but she’s not the second coming. Stop being such a fool.
“Ryan?” Leah had stopped walking, a confused expression on her face as she stepped back from Ryan.
“What?” Ryan’s eyes narrowed, and she realized, much to her humiliation, she had completely lost track of the conversation.
“I was asking if you had gotten caught up on your reading since you’re not being forced to do it for school.” Leah frowned and cocked her head to the side. “Are you feeling okay?”
Ryan nodded quickly. “Yes. Sorry, I – no. I haven’t really done much reading.”
Leah placed her hand on Ryan’s forehead. “You feel hot. Are you coming down with something?”
The woman’s hand on her forehead sent a wave of vertigo through Ryan, her stomach tightening as she struggled not to pass out. In spite of her efforts, Ryan’s knees buckled and she fell forward into Leah.
Luckily Leah was able to absorb Ryan’s weight, and quickly helped the dazed woman to a nearby bench. Ryan leaned forward, putting her head bet
ween her knees, wanting the space around her to stop spinning so quickly.
As the fog in Ryan’s head began to lift, she became aware of Leah’s hand gently rubbing her back. “Should I get Nicole, or get you some water?” Leah glanced around to see if Nicole and Marty were anywhere to be found. “I hate to leave you.”
Ryan willed herself upright, and lifting her head, took a deep breath. “I’m okay.”
Leah scooted closer to Ryan, their thighs touching. “You’re not okay. You’re pale and burning up.”
Then as quickly as it had come, the crack in space that had threatened to swallow Ryan closed. Her head cleared, and she felt as if she could breathe again. Now where Leah’s touch from moments ago had left her dizzy, the pressure of her leg against Ryan’s was spreading outward, wrapping her entire body in a warm blanket.
“I’m actually better. I mean I wasn’t a second ago – you were right, but now –” Ryan slowly stood. “Whatever it was has passed.”
Leah continued to sit on the bench, looking up at Ryan, her brow furrowed. “What happened?”
Ryan shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I haven’t eaten much today. Maybe that’s it.”
The truth was she didn’t know why the spell had come upon her. She did, however, have a fairly clear understanding of who caused it.
“Do you want me to go find Nicole?” Leah stood, and took Ryan’s hand in hers.
Shaking her head, Ryan mustered the courage and wherewithal to gently squeeze Leah’s hand as she looked intently at the woman. “It’s really okay. I promise if it weren’t I would tell you.”
Leah studied Ryan’s face closely before responding. “Alright, but just so you know, you scared the shit out of me.”
Ryan, feeling emboldened by her clearer head, stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Leah. “It scared the shit out of me too.”
***
Fallen Elements Page 11
