Winning Back Ryan

by S. L. Siwik

  “That goes without saying. So, I better start looking for my dream girl who has the body of a porn star, Einstein’s brain, and the heart of Mother Teresa.”

  “Who wants to have twenty kids,” I added.

  “Right. Who wants twenty kids.” He released an exhausted sigh. “I’ll start looking next week.”

  “Why next week? You don’t think your order is tall enough?” I murmured against his back.

  “Princess, let me give you some truth. The best thing in life; the one thing truly worth finding is a crazy bitch.”

  “Why is that?” I asked.

  “Because the pussy is always the best,” he replied matter-of-factly.

  “And that’s all you care about?” I asked.

  “No. But, if the two of you are busy burning holes through your sheets, the rest tends to just fall into place. If you’re sexually compatible, you usually find yourself compatible everywhere else in life. Plus, crazy bitches who put you through drama are always the hottest. I don’t need a perfect woman. I just need one who drives me crazy.”

  He opened his mouth about to continue speaking, but a knock on the door stopped him.

  “Food’s here.” He hopped off of the bed, jogging towards the door. I took a swig of my beer and followed him out.

  I grabbed the bag of food from him as he paid the delivery man. I carried the bag to his coffee table as I began to unpack the large bag. Ben locked the door, walking back into the room.

  “You don’t think you went a little overboard?” I asked, looking at the ten different trays of food spread out across the coffee table, finishing the last sip of my beer.

  “Me?” Ben asked innocently. “Go overboard? Never.”

  I snorted. Sitting down the empty beer, I started opening some of the lids. I squinted, and realized the sun was beginning to rise.

  “Can we eat watching the sun?”

  He answered by moving the entire couch, so that it was facing the windows. He drew the curtains and I picked up a container before plopping down on to the sofa.

  He grabbed his container before sitting down next to me. As I sucked a noodle into my mouth, I stared in amazement.

  “Absolutely beautiful,” I murmured.

  “Yeah, it is,” he replied softly, his hand patting my knee as we watched the sun begin to rise on the New York skyline.

  “Hand off my knee.” I flicked a noodle onto his shirt, and he looked amused. I could tell he was deciding how to retaliate.

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  **

  Some Sundays start off more interesting than others. When I woke up, I felt skin pressing against mine, and the weight of a solid body on top of me. I sniffed; my eyes still unopened, and smelled the faintest trace of Jack Daniels, sweat, and vanilla.

  I opened my eyes to confirm what I already knew. Brian’s head was using my breasts as a pillow, his arms wrapped around me. Looking at his body, I knew he was naked too. But, where were we? I glanced around the room and realize that we were in Ben’s bedroom. On the end table next to us was a condom wrapper, the condom peeking out of the ripped package. Oh, God. I searched my mind for any memories at all, but it was coming up blank. I jumped up out of bed, tossing Brian off of me in the process, as I grabbed the sheet, wrapping it around my body.

  “Ugghhmmmff,” Brian garbled as he hit the bed.

  “What’s going on?” I asked as Brian glanced up at me, blinking.

  “Good morning to you, too,” he said, wiping his eyes.

  I let out the air that I held as I told myself to calm down. It’s Brian. I was in Ben’s apartment, not a jail cell; this did not warrant hysterics.

  I slid back in bed, unwrapping the sheet from my body, draping the other half over him as well. The comforter now lay somewhere on the floor.

  “What happened? “ I asked. “How did we get here?”

  “You don’t remember?” he asked. I shook my head. “Seriously?” His voice took on a note of panic.

  I searched my mind. “The last thing I remember is eating Thai food and there was a knock on the door.”

  “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” he said. He ran his hand over his face. “Alright, alright,” he took a long breath. “Everything’s alright. We fought, we made up, you ripped my clothes off, and we tumbled into the bedroom. That’s the short of it.”

  I closed my eyes, feeling the intense blush on my cheeks.

  “Was it…good? At least okay?”

  He smiled, skimming his nose across my cheek.

  “It was much more than good. It was incredible.”

  “Yeah?” I asked unable to stop smiling.

  “Maybe we can jog your memory.” His hand moved to my breast, slowly moving down my belly to my sex. His index finger and middle finger slid down between my folds. I groaned, closing my eyes tightly, blushing. “Annie, do you want me to stop?” He asked, concern in his voice.

  “No, I’m just embarrassed. I’ll already need to go down the walk of shame once I leave this room.” I cringed, knowing the guys would likely never let me live this down.

  He chuckled as his finger flicked my clit gently, causing me to groan louder.

  “No one should give you too hard of a time.”

  I smiled, though still embarrassed. I woke up hung over after having drunk sex with my best friend. This felt very college-y. Yet, at the same time it felt wonderful as Brian played with and teased my body.

  “Annie,” he said, “Open your eyes.” I did, looking at him.

  “Why are you always so afraid to look at me? Why do you always blush intensely right before you orgasm as if what you feel is wrong?” he asked me, his eyes troubled.

  I was taken by surprise at his words. What exactly did I do last night?

  “I’ve got issues,” I admitted. “I guess it’s something that I have to work on.”

  “Well, we can work on it together,” he said, his voice deliciously low.

  I kissed his cheek, letting my lips linger. “We’ll see,” I whispered into his skin. I was not going to allow Brian to believe that I was just going to sweep this situation under the rug and pretend everything was perfect. “I’m still angry with you. I know we apparently made up, but I don’t remember it, and what you did still hurts like hell.”

  He turned his head, angling it, so that our lips were nearly touching.

  “If you never forgive me, and I lose you to someone else, I won’t regret what I did. It doesn’t matter that it ripped me apart to see you crying that night knowing that I was somewhat responsible. You deserve more.”

  “You manipulated me, because you assumed that I wouldn’t believe you. You should have had more faith in us, in our friendship.” I ran my fingers through his hair. “I always have picked you over Ryan, haven’t I?”

  Brian yanked his head back staring at me.

  “When have you chosen me over him?” he asked.

  “When have I not?” I wiped the sleep from my eyes.

  “Oh, I don’t know. Every night that you were in bed with him. Just for starters.”

  “You’re ridiculous,” I said, getting out of bed, searching for my clothes.

  “Is that so? Five years we’ve been friends, Annie! Why have we never gotten together before now?” he asked.

  I didn’t want to answer this question. The pain came back viciously and I was so hung over that I couldn’t defend myself against it. The pain of nearly losing him that night. Sometimes I had nightmares of opening Brian’s door and finding his body lying lifeless like that again. I knew that they were stupid fears- Brian went to counseling, he took anti-depressants, and he did everything that they asked him to do. He was better than he had ever been. Still, if I was being honest with only myself, I knew that it was Brian’s suicide attempt that pushed me straight into Ryan’s arms. There was no drama or baggage there- just a smokin’ hot guy who was very charismatic. Later on, I realized he was a man burdened by the pain of a poverty-filled, fatherless childhood. It was a perfect match for me see
ing how I need to be needed. I didn’t want to talk about this with Brian though, especially not while I was hung over. I buried it a long time ago. I was not in the mood to unearth old pain today. I found Ben’s t-shirt, yanking it over my head, then his shorts, sliding them up my legs. The location of my underwear was still a mystery.

  Brian glared at me. “Are you going to answer me?”

  “Is anyone else here?” I shouted.

  The door opened and Ben entered in his birthday suit.

  “Morning, party girl.”

  I screamed loudly and George entered shirtless, but with pants on- Thank God- glancing around. He looked at Ben and shook his head.

  “Get some clothes on, man.”

  “I don’t want to. I like to air the boys out in the morning,” Ben replied.

  As I stood there wondering what happened last night, Max entered the room with a frying pan in hand, bacon sizzling.

  “Who wants breakfast?” he asked cheerfully.

  “What happened last night?” I screeched, looking at Max knowing that he’d tell me.

  “What do you remember?” Ben asked.

  “I flung a noodle on your shirt. There was a knock on the door,” I answered. They all glanced at each other chuckling.

  “Guys, what…what happened? Who did I sleep with last night?” I asked, preparing for the worst. Oh, God, you are such a whore, Annie.

  They all glanced at each other with curious expressions.

  “You and I spent the night together,” Brian said, and when I glanced at him he was now wearing boxers standing beside me.

  “I didn’t sleep with anyone else, right?” I asked.

  They all shook their heads.

  “Oh, thank God,” I sighed in relief, covering my face momentarily. It could be so much worse. Granted I was still furious at Brian and couldn’t remember a thing from last night, but at least I was only with Brian and it seemed like we used protection. I glanced at Ben still naked. “Go get some clothes on.”

  “Nope,” he said as he stretches his arms out. “You’re in my apartment, and you fucked in my bed. I’ve never even done that. So, I’m walking around naked, and you’ll just have to put your big girl panties on.”

  “What are you talking about? You’ve never had sex in your bed? Where on Earth do you bring all of those girls?” I asked.

  “We have an apartment down Twenty-Eighth Street for tax purposes. My dad and I share it. Aside from my cleaning lady, my sisters, and my mother, you are the only woman who has ever been in this apartment. Very few people even know I live here, and nearly all of those people are standing in this room right now.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “Just makes it easier with the press and crazy chicks.”

  “Did it hurt getting that pierced?” Max asked, peering down while cringing. “It looks like it hurt.”

  “Not really,” Ben replied, “But, I was high as a kite. So, it probably would have. Heroin is crazy shit, though.”

  I blinked, shocked by his words, refusing to lower my gaze to Ben’s penis piercing.

  “So you refuse to get dressed?”

  Ben smirked. “I refuse.”

  I walked over to him, flicking his balls hard. He screamed out in pain as everyone else laughed.

  “Still don’t want to get dressed?” I asked, spreading my fingers apart wide before slapping him hard on the ass causing the sting to be more painful. They all laughed louder.

  I was angry at Brian for their manipulation, frustrated about his need to press our past, annoyed that the first time I slept with him I couldn’t even remember and Ben looked like an excellent scapegoat to diffuse the current situation. What I hadn’t planned on was his reaction.

  As they all laugh loudly, Ben growled.

  “That’s it! You’re getting it!” He crouched down, running towards me, grabbing my body, slamming me onto the bed. I giggled loudly as he grabbed my leg, tickling my foot.

  “No!” I screamed, kicking my feet back and forth while laughing hysterically.

  “Hey,hey,hey!” Brian shouted, running over, grabbing Ben’s shoulder. “Go get dressed. You’re being inappropriate around a lady.” Even in my severely hung over state, I knew what this was. It was jealousy wrapped up to look like concern. This, I realized, would be a situation that we’d have to deal with in the future. Brian would need to deal with our friends just acting like themselves.

  “Dude,” Ben said, rolling his eyes. “She’s our friend; she knows I would never harm her.” He turned towards me, “Are you upset with me, Annie?” I could see in Brian’s eyes; he was upset. Uh oh. I clearly didn’t think that one out.

  “What’s the problem, stud?” I asked Brian. I then turned towards Ben. “I think he’s just jealous that he’s been left out. I think he really wants you to tickle him.”

  Brian looked alarmed as Ben turned around starting to tickle him under his arms.

  “Go get clothes on!” Brian shouted trying to step sideways, away from Ben now tickling his sides. “I thought you liked chicks!”

  “I’m not gay,” Ben said, “I’m very comfortable with my sexuality and have no problem letting you gaze upon my sexiness.” I couldn’t help but giggle. “The only faerie in this room is the one holding the frying pan.”

  I glanced at Max quickly.

  “They all know,” he explained to me.

  “Crap, I missed a lot last night.” He nodded in agreement. “And they’re all…okay with it?” Max nodded again. I turned back to Ben. “You’re doing a terrible job of tickling Brian.”

  “You’re just asking for it now!” Brian exclaimed, jumping on the bed and tickling my underarms. I shrieked, flailing my arms and legs as Ben now tickled my feet again.

  “This is so messed up for so many reasons,” George commented, shaking his head, his arms crossed.

  “What’s wrong? Are you upset that Ryan has a bigger cock than you?” I asked. We all know that I’ve never seen George naked. I hadn’t a clue what size it was. They all froze for a moment; George staring with his mouth agape.

  “You’re just trouble this morning, aren’t ya!” he shouted, running over to tickle under my other arm.

  “Just this morning?” Ben asked. “She was trouble last night, too!” He was laughing hysterically now.

  I was able to get my arms free, tickling George, while trying to get my other arm free to tickle Brian.

  “Get Brian!” I shouted.

  Max stood there with frying pan in hand, sighing. “I’ll be making breakfast.”

  “Alright, mom!” Ben shouted at him, and I laughed all over again, screaming while I tried to get my legs free.

  “You owe me twenty bucks,” Ben said to George. Our friend glanced over curiously, so Ben clarified, “Junior year at Buddy’s Tavern. You said you thought Annie would be super quiet in the sack. I said that she was a screamer. You owe me twenty now, douchebag.”

  I sat up immediately, none of them now able to hold me down.

  “I was loud?” I asked, mortified.