“What?”
“Well, let's just say that the Take It Slow plan hit a speed bump.”
Justin laughed loudly.
“Dude, seriously, you might wanna abandon that plan.”
Ryan shook his head, frustrated, “I don't want to, though. It makes me feel like shit, I hate that I'm too weak to live up to my own ideals. But, dammit, every time I see her...”
Justin nodded, “Say no more. Hell, I'm newly engaged. I get it!”
Ryan nodded, “Yeah, so you understand the pull. I mean, the truth is, I'm young, I’m a guy. And then I'm alone with this amazing, sexy woman...”
Justin nodded again, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, as they say.”
Ryan pointed at him, “Exactly!”
Justin said, “So how about not being alone with her?”
Ryan cocked his head slightly, “I'm listening. What do you have in mind?”
“Well, how about a group date? Amanda and her friends used to love playing mini-golf at Putt N Stuff. I could text Amanda to get the girls together, we can see who out of this motley crew wants to hit the mini-links...it will be fun.”
Ryan nodded decisively, “Sounds Good. I'm in.”
At that moment, Kyle Austen Reed jogged up, glowing with happiness over his victory, and the chance to glad-hand with his fans.
“Did I hear mini-golf?” he enthused, throwing one arm around Justin's shoulder and the other over Ryan's, “I'm in! I played a pro golfer in Two Under Par, and I've been a true golf enthusiast since then. Of course, that golf wasn't of the miniature variety, but I feel that a nice windmill or two should only add to the experience, don't you agree?”
“Uh...sure...” Justin said, leaning his head back to again mouth the word 'sorry' to Ryan.
Ryan shrugged. He had made up his mind to enjoy this evening of group fun regardless of what happened or who was there. He was done trying to orchestrate things, and being disappointed when they didn't work out precisely as planned. He was going to go with the flow, come hell or high water or Kyle Austen Reed.
Chapter 17
Karina woke from a deep 12-hour sleep to the pealing of her front doorbell. She waited to see if it was going to repeat before taking action. Since Sam's early morning visits had commenced, there had been a couple of occasions where she had awoken in the middle of the night to the sound of her front doorbell ringing, only to realize after investigation that it had actually been a nightmare, and no one was at her front door.
As the bells trilled again, however, she resigned herself to the fact that this was, indeed, happening in reality – Dammit, someone was at her front door, and she was willing to bet that that person was five foot two with auburn hair and running shoes.
Karina padded down the stairs and opened the door, mumbling, “Well, I was a third right,” as Sam, Amanda, and Lauren stepped into the entryway.
“What?” Lauren asked.
“Nothing,” Karina sighed, “What are you guys doing here?”
Sam eyed Karina up and down, taking in the boxers and tank top she wore, and the disheveled hair, “You're not wearing that, right?”
Karina glanced down, “Well, it seems that I actually am wearing it.”
Amanda said, “She means not wearing it to Putt N Stuff, smart ass.”
Karina shook her head to clear it, “OK, am I still dreaming? What are you talking about?”
Lauren interjected, “We're going to Putt N Stuff, didn't Sam text you?”
Sam said, “I thought Amanda was texting her!”
“I don't know why you thought that, I never said I was going to text her,” Amanda shot back.
Lauren said reasonably, “Well, we're telling her now. Karina, jump in the shower. We're going to Putt N Stuff.”
Karina shuffled back up the stairs, heading for her master bathroom and grumbling, “Well, OK then, since you asked so nicely...”
“Hey, wash off your grumpy attitude while you're in there!” Sam called cheerfully after her.
Karina's only response was to hold up her hand, middle finger extended, as she continued up the stairs, her stride unbroken.
When they heard Karina's door close, the three of them huddled up.
“We should have told her Ryan was going to be there,” Amanda said worriedly.
“I was thinking we should have told her Kyle Austen Reed was going to be there,” Lauren responded dryly.
“Well, I was thinking we should have told her....shoot, I don't have one,” Sam finished, frustrated.
Lauren smiled a small, wry smile, “Well, she's a big girl. I think she can handle unexpectedly seeing two gorgeous, talented men who both happen to be tripping over themselves for her attention without forewarning.”
Amanda still looked worried, “Either that, or the three of us are dead.”
Lauren chuckled a bit, “Either way, I think it's going to be fun to see how this plays out.”
At that, Amanda and Sam punched lightly in her respective shoulders, and she said, “Ow! What was that for?”
Sam smiled, “No handy couch cushions to hit you with!”
--- ~ ---
As they pulled up in the parking lot of Putt N Stuff and climbed out of the car, Karina asked, “So, ladies, what is up with this sudden nostalgic need for a girl's night at Putt N Stuff, anyway?”
The other three looked at each other uncomfortably, which made the hair on the back of Karina's neck stand up.
“Alright, what aren't you telling me?” she asked, stopping to stand stock still in the middle of the parking lot, “We're not going any further until you come clean.”
Amanda, pulling her along by the arm, said, “No, it's nothing. Nothing worth getting hit by a car over, to be sure. It's just that it's not a girl's night. Justin's meeting us here with the guys.”
Karina narrowed her eyes suspiciously, “The guys?”
Amanda nodded, “Yup.”
“What do you mean by 'the guys' exactly?” Karina pressed.
“The people with penises,” Amanda sassily shot back.
“Precisely which penised people?”
“Oh, you know...” Amanda said vaguely, “Just the guys that happened to be around and playing basketball. Except Jake, he had a shift. But Justin, and Eric. And, ya know...Ryan.”
Karina sighed, “There it is.”
Amanda mumbled, “AndmaybeKyleAustenReed...”
Karina stopped again and stared at her, “Amanda Jacobs, you say that again right now, and this time in a normal voice!” she demanded.
Amanda sighed, “And maybe Kyle Austen Reed,” she admitted.
Karina shook her head, and then slapped her palm to her forehead, “Do you mean to tell me that I'm about to hit tiny balls into whimsical wooden structures for the next two hours with both Ryan Perkins and Kyle Austen Reed?”
“And you thought Kafka had mined all the bizarre scenarios there were to be had,” Lauren joked.
“Franz Kafka never met Kyle Austen Reed,” Karina groaned.
“Come on, guys,” said Amanda, “I see Justin waving at us from the window. No more discussion, it's time to go in.”
Karina closed her eyes, clenched her teeth, and forced her feet to step one in front of the other via sheer force of will. Also, through sheer force of will, she plastered on her bright, happy smile when she walked into the lobby and saw Kyle Austen Reed and Ryan Perkins both turn to her and smile, pretty much simultaneously.
Karina, who prided herself on being confident and self-possessed with the press, with fans, with collaborators, with executives – in all types of situations, and under tremendous amounts of pressure – was at a complete loss as to what to say or do next.
Luckily, Amanda jumped and saved Karina from a truly awkward situation.
“So, since we have an even number, let's pair up, shall we?” she asked, and then, barreling ahead before anyone had a chance to respond, she continued, “I figure we should pair the pro with the pro, here – since Kyle Austen
Reed played a golf pro in Two Under Par, and Sam has the undisputed Putt N Stuff all-star score, never been beat – the two of you should be together. Eric and Lauren, Ryan and Karina, and Justin and me. Any questions? No? Good.”
“Wow, Amanda, I think that was one breath,” said Sam, impressed.
“Off we go!” was Amanda's only response.
The group approached the counter, bought their tickets, selected their putters, and got in line to begin the course.
Kyle Austen Reed and Sam were the first of the four pairs to begin the course, by mutual agreement.
“No one wants to get in Sam's way when it comes to something competitive,” Karina had observed, and everyone agreed.
Amanda continued, with a wink to Karina, “So, then Lauren and Eric can go, and then Justin and me, and last but not least, Karina and Ryan.”
Karina felt a little embarrassed about the seemingly obvious (to her, at least) machinations of her friends, but overall she was just relieved to put as much space as possible between herself and Kyle Austen Reed while spending time with Ryan.
When it was finally Karina and Ryan's turn to to play, Ryan gestured grandly ahead of him, “Ladies first!”
She smiled and stepped ahead of him, bending down to position the bright red golf ball she had chosen before taking her swing. She tapped the ball and it went flying toward the green, bouncing around the wooden bumpers several times before coming to rest just inches from the round hole in the center.
Justin threw his head back and laughed heartily, “Well, as I can attest from several other situations, your approach is far from traditional, but it is highly enthusiastic and ultimately successful.”
Karina laughed, “My motto is always go big or go home!”
As Karina and Ryan played through the various holes, putting their way through wooden castles and windmills, through tunnels and bridges, they chatted and laughed. From time to time, they would look up and wave to Amanda and Justin through the trees, or occasionally to Lauren and Eric. Karina thanked her lucky stars that Kyle Austen Reed and Sam seemed to be far enough ahead that she never caught a glimpse of them, or vice versa. She felt comfortable forgetting about the fact that Kyle was even here and just relaxing with Ryan.
As they talked and laughed, Karina glowed with the normalcy of it all. This was a real date. Only her second ever real date. It wasn't something she had ever thought she would get to experience; she just figured it wasn't in the cards for her. But now, look...here it was, happening. She looked up at Ryan and a feeling began welling up inside of her that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Ryan was making it happen. Although it scared her half to death to even allow herself to start entertaining the possibility of relying on another human being, she began to imagine, in spite of herself, a future with Ryan, one that was as blissfully normal as this mini golf date was.
Could it be possible? She knew that other people were able to have it, but could she really be that lucky? Was there a possible future scenario where she lived here in Hope Falls, with Ryan, like a normal couple? She knew there was a reason why she ordinarily wouldn't allow herself to indulge in such fantasies, but, she was having a hard time holding herself back.
When Ryan placed his hand on her lower back to guide her to the next hole, it felt right. When Ryan took her hand in his and escorted her up or down a step, or over a little bridge, it felt right. When Ryan smiled at her and called her 'sweetheart' with an affectionate gleam in his eye, it felt right.
She sighed to herself happily. Everything about her and Ryan felt right.
The best part about the evening, though? She realized that she was truly relaxed around him for the first time. Oh, sure, the spark was there. The sexual tension. But she didn't feel like this idiotic Karina-bot person that she had felt like around him in the past.
She was completely being herself. She was cracking jokes, and making wry observations, and he was laughing at them! Best of all, he was returning her volleys at an equally quick-witted pace.
As they walked out of the end of the course, Ryan impetuously threw down his club, whisked Karina into his arms, and spun her around. When he sat her back down on her feet, he planted a passionate kiss on her lips, drawing his face back when he was done and brushing her hair back gently from her face.
“Wow,” she commented breathlessly, “That was pretty inspired. What got into you?”
He smiled, “I don't know. I'm just having a really good time with you. I feel like we're really getting to know each other, you know? I'm loving talking with you, and joking, and laughing. I mean, I already knew I could spend the rest of my life looking at you and never get tired of the view. Now I'm realizing that I could spend the rest of my life talking to you, as well, and never get tired of the conversation. It's a good feeling. It's like...”
“Intellectual intercourse,” she popped in, “Forebrain foreplay.”
“Ha! Exactly!” he laughed, kissing her again.
She took his hand in hers, “Come on, we should probably go in. They're probably waiting for us.”
He looked at the building in the direction that she was gesturing.
“Cool, OK. What's in there?”
“Oh, you know. Food court. Arcade. The 'stuff' part of Putt N Stuff. We'll probably all get pizza or something.”
“Sounds good, let's go!” Ryan said enthusiastically, heading toward the door without letting go of her hand.
The thought of Kyle Austen Reed didn't occur to her until they were almost to the front door, and she had a sinking, twisting sensation in her gut.
She realized that she and Ryan had not actually had a conversation about what exactly her relationship with Kyle was. Hell, she and Kyle had never actually had that conversation. Not that he'd hear anything she had to say. But she didn't want things inside to be any more awkward than they had to be.
Right before they entered the door, she pulled Ryan to the side, and around the corner of the building.
Ryan looked down at her pinched and worried face and said, “What's wrong? Did something just happen?”
Karina shook her head, “No, no, nothing like that. It's just something that just occurred to me. It's about Kyle Austen Reed.”
Ryan smirked repeating, “Kyle Austen Reed.”
Karina nodded, “Yeah, I just realized that I never really made clear to you who he is to me, or who he WAS, rather...”
Ryan nodded, “Karina, as long as whatever's between you two is firmly in the WAS and not the IS category, you don't need to explain yourself to me.”
Karina nodded gratefully, “I appreciate that, Ryan. But I did just want to address it head on before we go hang out with him, because he seems to be having trouble differentiating between the was and the is, if you see what I mean.”
Ryan nodded, “Yeah, that guy...it's the weirdest thing. It's like he just imagines the world he wants to live in, and acts as if it's real. Oh, I'm a pool shark. Oh, I'm a basketball legend. Oh, I'm a golf pro. POOF! It's true to him.”
Karina exclaimed, “I know, right?!”
Ryan shook his head, “The weirdest part is, it's like the laws of physics just cooperate with him. He's like, honestly, the best pool player or basketball player I've ever seen with my own two eyes. I wouldn't be surprised if Sam got a shock about how good he was at mini-golf. It's like, he decides on a reality and goes with it, and reality just falls in line!”
Karina laughed delightedly, “I know right! You have no idea how amazing it is that someone else besides me sees the absolute ridiculousness of that!”
Ryan smiled, “I guess that's what makes him good at his job. And that's great. As long as...”
Karina touched his face encouragingly, “What?”
“As long as he can't decide on a reality where he and Karina Blackstone are in love, and have reality conform to that idea...”
Karina drew back in surprise, “Oh, no! No, Ryan, trust me, that will never, NEVER happen.”
Ryan smiled, drawing her back
to him, “That's all I needed to hear, sweetheart!”
With that, they walked through the double glass doors hand in hand, happily and confidently.
However, the whole thing turned out to be a moot point, because when Karina spotted the group at a long table in the middle of the food court area, only Amanda, Justin, Lauren, and Eric were in evidence.
As she and Ryan took their seats at the table, she inquired, “So where are the, I'm certain, mini golf champs of NorCal/Nevada hiding themselves?”
Lauren shook her head wryly and let out a short bark of laughter, “Oh, yeah, you got that right. They finished the course in record time, and in a record low amount of strokes. They've been off challenging each other to arcade games for the past hour.”
“HOUR!?” Karina exclaimed, “How could they possibly finish that fast?”
Amanda laughed and teased, “Well, to be fair, the course does move along at a slightly speedier clip when you're not stopping between every hole to make out.”
Lauren smiled, “Amanda, if you're going to try to burn someone, you may want to use a slam that couldn't equally be applied to you and Mr. Fiance over here.”
Justin smiled and kissed Amanda long and hard, “Yep, and proud of it!” he said when he finished, waggling his eyebrows comically. The table chuckled appreciatively, and Karina felt Ryan squeeze her hand under the table.
When the pizza arrived, Eric wondered, “Should I go find Sam and Kyle? They'll miss the pizza...”
Karina shook her head, “Nah, don't bother. I'm sure they're having fun, and neither one of them will eat pizza, anyway.”
Lauren carefully cut her slice of pizza into bite-size pieces with her knife and fork and then brought one of the small bits up with the fork and delicately popped it into her mouth. She shuddered, “I can't imagine not just being able to eat like a normal person!”
The other five people at the table stared at her for a beat, and then burst out laughing.
She looked puzzled and a little offended, “What? Why is that funny?”
“Gee, I don't know, Miss Manners. Do normal people eat pizza with a fork and knife?” Karina managed amidst the laughter.
Sweet Harmonies Page 19