“I’m in charge,” Josh countered loudly.
I smiled at him, kissed his cute cheek, and set him down, but made sure to take a hold of his hand. I may not have been his mother, but I cared about him and worried over him.
Ryan took my other hand almost immediately. “Charlee,” he said quietly.
I faced him. “What?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to come out so harshly back there.”
I shrugged my shoulders as Josh tugged on me anxiously, so I began to move and let go of Ryan’s hand. Ryan followed us out into the bright sunny day and back to Calypso Cove. He didn’t say anything more to me until we were all back in the water. Ryan and I sat in the water and watched Josh splash and play in front of us.
“Victoria is having a really hard time with this situation. She’s really sensitive right now, and it’s making me overly so.”
“I’m sorry she’s having an issue with me. I’m not trying to step on her toes … or take her place.”
Ryan scooted closer and kissed my bare shoulder. “I know that.”
We sat quietly for a moment and watched Josh interact with some of the other children there. He was kind of shy, which surprised me.
“Can we please hit the reset button?” Ryan said close to my ear, which drove me crazy. “As sexy as you are angry at me, I want you happy with me.”
I turned and stared straight at him. Did I fail to mention how attractive, wet and shirtless Ryan was? I couldn’t help but grin. “I’m not angry. I’m contemplative.”
“Either way, you’re still sexy.” He looked me over from head to toe.
“So what am I when I’m happy?” I smiled.
He kissed me quickly on my lips. “Irresistible.”
“I think you just like my swimsuit.”
He laughed. “No, I love your swimsuit.”
I nudged him with my shoulder. “You’re such a guy.”
“Guilty.”
So we hit the reset button and spent a lovely, but exhausting, day in the sun and water. Josh was so tuckered out that he fell asleep almost as soon as we hit the highway on the way home.
“Hey.” Ryan reached over and held my hand as we zoomed along I-25. “I had a great time today.”
“Me, too. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Are we are ok?”
“Yes.”
“You know this is unchartered territory for me, right?”
“I know. Me, too.”
He rubbed his thumb gently across my hand. “Do you want to cross some new territory tomorrow?”
I looked over at him inquisitively. “What does that mean?”
“Some friends of mine asked me to meet them at a sports bar in Longmont to watch the Bronco’s play one of their preseason games. I would love it if you would come with me.”
“You want to introduce me to your friends?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am.”
“What’s the use in dating someone young and beautiful if I don’t show her off?” He winked.
“I hope that’s one of your gems.”
He laughed at me. “So, will you come?”
“What about Josh?”
“I was going to see if your dad could watch him for a few hours.”
“I’m sure he would love to.”
“Then it’s a date?”
“Absolutely.”
Chapter Seventeen
What I should have said was absolutely not, but how could I have known the outcome? All I could think of was how thrilled I was that Ryan wanted to introduce me to his friends. It was a great sign that he wanted me to be part of his life. Every romantic advice column in Cosmo would tell you that’s the case. I rue the day I ever clicked on “Ten Ways to Know if a Guy is Really Into You.” It’s all lies!!!
“So what happened?” you’re asking yourself.
It all started off so terrific. I was looking super cute in my Bronco’s jersey and my nice fitting white shorts that showed off my long tan legs. Ryan was pleased, let me tell you. I even curled my hair a little glam. I had to say, I was rocking it. I wanted to make a good impression in front of Ryan’s friends.
Ryan pulled me to him before he opened my car door. “You look amazing.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m glad you approve.”
“I’m glad my friends are married,” he said before brushing my lips.
“Darn it. And here I thought I would get to expand my horizons.”
“Sorry, you’re stuck with me.”
I kissed him and lingered for just a bit. Gosh, I loved his lips. “It’s not a bad consolation prize.”
He chuckled and let me go. “We better get going before the neighbors really start to talk.”
Oh yes, we had been the talk of Mulberry Lane. Ann Lawton was the instigator I’m sure, but I loved her too much to be upset with her. Let’s just say, the old timers found it interesting that the girl next door was dating the older and divorced Ryan Carter. Some of the new families just found it intriguing, but I know a couple of people had questioned our integrity, meaning I was the reason for his divorce, and perhaps Ryan had always had a thing for me. It was nonsense, but everyone loves a good story, even if they have to make it up. Ours would be completely boring without the embellishments.
We were meeting Alec, Rob, and Hayes, all guys that he had known as a married guy. It gave me a little pause, but I reminded myself that I loved this man and I wanted to be part of his life. All of his life.
“Do your friends mind that you’re bringing a woman to this thing?” I asked on our drive over.
He looked over and flashed his perfect white teeth at me. “Are you kidding me? They wish their wives liked football.”
“So, what you’re saying is, you’re lucky this chick digs sports?”
“And, let’s not forget, understands the game.”
“You really are lucky.” Though I didn’t think I was that rare of a breed.
“I know,” he said somewhat quietly, taking all the playfulness out of it.
Sometimes I just couldn’t figure him out.
We arrived in twenty minutes, and I took a deep breath and reminded myself I had nothing to be nervous about. I was wrong, but it was a nice try. You see, it wasn’t just the guys we were meeting. Alec was an idiot and brought his wife, Trixie. Does that ring a bell? Well, it should. Trixie was the maid of honor at Ryan and Victoria’s wedding. Oh yeah, and she was still Victoria’s best friend. From the moment she greeted me, I knew she had been sent there on purpose.
She barely took my hand, and she still had the peed-on-Cheerios look going for her. I think it was like a club. She eyed me carefully, but with contempt.
I looked to Ryan to help ease the uncomfortableness of it, but all he did was drop my hand as if he was suddenly uncomfortable. It was not what I was looking for. It was as if suddenly he wasn’t feeling so lucky he was there with me. Rob and Hayes were nice to me, and Alec pretty much ignored me.
I settled myself between Ryan and Hayes at the tall table with high back chairs. Hayes was nice enough to pull out my chair for me. Suddenly Ryan seemed lost in his thoughts, and I could tell Trixie took note. Again, who names their kid Trixie?! I wish I could say she had gained a bunch a weight and looked like crap, but I couldn’t. She didn’t look like she belonged on a runway anymore, but she was still attractive with her tresses of long brown hair and high cheekbones. Ok, so maybe she was beginning to get a little bit of a double chin, but that was just petty on my part.
Our server came by and took Ryan’s and my order since we were the last to arrive. I was wishing we never came.
“I’ll just take a Diet Coke. Thank you.”
“It must suck to still be underage,” Trixie said.
I looked over to her and thought, Are you for real?
Everyone uncomfortably laughed when she responded, “Just kidding.”
Ryan ordered a beer, which surprised me. He had said on the way o
ver he wasn’t going to drink since he was driving. I looked at him questioningly, but he turned to the T.V. to watch the kick-off. Suddenly, I felt very alone.
“Ryan said you’re an accountant, too,” Hayes said to my left after several minutes.
I turned my attention his way. “Yes, I am.” I even said it without cringing.
“Must be nice to have daddy as your boss,” Trixie threw in.
Who invited her into this conversation?
I somewhat ignored her and turned back to Hayes, who seemed to take the same approach with her. “My dad and Ryan are both great to work for.”
Hayes smiled at me.
“So, what do you do for a living?” I asked in return.
“I’m a physical therapist.”
“That’s a great field. Do you specialize in a particular practice?
He raised his eyebrows at me. “Most people don’t even know to ask about specialty fields. They think all physical therapists are the same. I specialize in pediatrics.”
“Smart choice. I think dealing with children some days is much better than adults.”
“Agreed,” Hayes said.
“And what do you know about dealing with children?” Trixie asked.
Hayes grimaced at me as I turned my attention back to the vile woman. “I’ve taken my fair share of child development classes, and I have several step nieces and nephews. And, of course, Josh.” I had to say it.
She whipped out her phone so fast. Her fingers moved at lightning speed. I didn’t have to guess who she was texting.
I looked at Ryan to see if he had any reaction at all. He looked at me, but I couldn’t read him. He just took a very long drink of his beer.
The screen caught my attention. They just flashed the cheerleaders. “I think Krissy is still pretty upset about not making the squad,” I said to Ryan.
“I’m sure she’ll get over it,” he said.
“I’m sure she will. I told her I’m sure it was for a reason, that something better would come her way.”
Ryan shrugged his shoulders.
This wasn’t how I wanted this to go at all, and if it didn’t change soon, I would be exiting the party.
I had a nice surprise in the form of an old teammate who, unbeknownst to me, was a waitress at the restaurant. She recognized me and came my way. I jumped off my seat and hugged her. “Ivy, it’s so good to see you.”
She hugged me tight. “Same here. I didn’t know you were back in Colorado.”
I released her. “Since May.”
“Well, you look terrific. What have you been up to?”
I almost hated to say it with my audience, but I wasn’t ashamed. “I graduated with my MBA in the spring, and I’m working for my dad right now.”
“Look at you,” she said somewhat impressed. “We sure missed you our senior year. The team was never the same after you left.”
I looked at her sadly. “I missed you guys, too.”
“We should get together sometime.”
“Absolutely! Let me put your contact info in my phone.”
She gave me her number, and I promised to call. I sat back down, and everyone was looking at me. I guess I should have thought to introduce her, but I wasn’t really feeling the love, if you get my drift. I nervously tucked my hair behind my ear. “We went to high school together and played on the basketball team.”
Rob and Hayes nodded like that was cool. Alec ignored me and turned back to the game, but his wife. Oh, his wife. I think hate was a good word.
“I don’t understand why women play basketball. Their outfits are atrocious and unfeminine,” Trixie said.
“I don’t know why chicks want to play sports meant for guys, period,” her idiot husband chimed in while watching the screen.
I looked at Ryan like this would be a good time to jump in, but he didn’t. Fine. “Basketball ‘outfits’ are designed for comfort and to keep you cool, not for fashion shows. And as far as women playing the sport, I averaged thirty points a game, led my team to the state championship as a junior, and I would take on anyone at this table that wanted to go.”
Ryan looked stunned, but stuttered out, “She’s really good on the court.”
It was something, but not enough.
I looked at Trixie who sneered at me.
“Thirty points a game. That’s amazing,” Hayes said.
I was so grateful the game got exciting and everyone turned their attention toward the screen, except Trixie, who obviously didn’t like the sport. She kept looking at me and then texting. I could only imagine what she was telling Victoria. Unfortunately, I got to find out after halftime. I had a feeling I should have called Krissy to pick me up earlier, but I stayed because I wanted to give Ryan the benefit of the doubt. I wanted to see if he could and would get comfortable with me by his side, but the only thing that happened was he talked to his friends about things that didn’t involve me. You know, all the stuff they used to do as couples together, like a couples’ trip to New Orleans.
The other thing that kept happening was Trixie drank like a fish, and it emboldened her. Just as the third quarter was about to start, I noticed Trixie smiling evilly at her phone; you know, like the Grinch. She looked up at me, and I knew she was going in for the kill.
“Ryan, remember a few years ago when you said you hoped your kids never grew up to be like Charlee?”
I whipped my head toward Ryan, and he looked at me with eyes agape. “I don’t think that’s exactly what I said,” Ryan said nervously as he reached for my hand under the table.
I didn’t bother asking for clarification, besides I didn’t need to speak. Trixie was on a roll. Even her husband was embarrassed and telling her to lay off of it. Oh, but she wasn’t going to. “I remember, Ryan. You said you hoped you never raised such a spoiled brat that couldn’t stand on her own two feet.” She laughed at how funny she thought she was.
I willed myself not to cry. Is this what Ryan really thought about me? I couldn’t even look at Ryan. I yanked my hand away from him, stood up, grabbed my purse, and left.
I heard Ryan say to Trixie as I walked away, “That was completely uncalled for.” Hayes and Rob agreed, but it was too little, too late.
I desperately wanted out of there. I pulled out my phone to call Krissy as soon as I made it outside. I was starting to dial her number when I heard Ryan call my name. I walked away. He was the last person I wanted to see at the moment.
“Charlee, where are you going?” he asked as he easily caught up to me.
“Why do you care?”
“Let’s go home,” he said in response.
I didn’t answer him, I waited for Krissy to answer her phone, but she never did. I threw my phone in my bag and huffily walked toward his car, and he followed. He opened my door for me, but I refused to look at him or thank him for the gesture. I got in and faced the window and took deep breaths and reminded myself that I didn’t let men make me cry.
“Don’t you think we should talk?” Ryan said after five minutes of dead silence.
“Sure. We can talk about why you let your friends humiliate me or why it is that you think I’m a spoiled brat who can’t stand on her own. Or if you choose, you can talk about why you seemed to ignore me. Take your pick.” I glared at him.
“Well, what about you?”
“What about me?”
“It’s not like you were being very friendly to Trixie either.”
“Are you kidding me? She was terrible to me from the get go. I’m sorry if I didn’t sit there and take what she was handing out, but you know, maybe if you showed some deference toward me, she wouldn’t have felt like she had the right to talk to me that way.”
“So this is my fault?”
“Yes.”
He stewed for a minute. I could see his grip on the steering wheel get tighter and tighter. “You know, maybe Victoria was right. Dating you was a mistake. You don’t know the first thing about life. It’s been handed to you. Everything is just for fun fo
r you, and maybe she was right about you just dating me for an out. You don’t even know how worried your dad was about you during college. And now you won’t batten down and take your CPA exam and …”
I didn’t hear anything else he was rambling on about as the blood was rushing through my head. I couldn’t believe he was saying these things to me. I couldn’t believe my dad had talked to him about me, and I couldn’t believe Victoria’s accusations. The tears started to form, and as much as I wanted to stop them, I couldn’t. No wonder he had been so cautious with me, I kept thinking.
He pulled into my drive, forcefully threw his car in park, and shut it off. He was opening his door, but I wasn’t having it. He was going to hear the truth.
“Ryan.”
He stopped, turned, and looked at my tear-stained cheeks with some emotion. He almost reached out to comfort me, but stopped short.
“You say I don’t know the first thing about life and maybe you’re right, and maybe my dad had reason to worry about me, but he was worrying for all the wrong reasons. He should have been worried that I was living with a mother that sometimes didn’t come home or worse yet, sometimes she did come home and she brought with her the most unsavory men you would ever meet. Or how about a mother that accidentally, or on purpose, it was hard to tell, overdosed on sleeping pills and alcohol? So maybe I didn’t know what I was doing, and yes, I took advantage of my dad’s money and guilt, but I was just trying to get by and be the adult. You know, the one that paid all the bills and did the grocery shopping and cleaning. The one that made the dean’s list every year.”
His mouth fell open and he uttered, “Charlee.”
“Looking back, yes, I wish I would have done things better, but I’m sorry I’m not perfect like you and Victoria. I was doing the best I could at the time. I was trying to get by and not lose myself or even stop to think, because if I thought too much, I would have lost it.”
He reached out to touch my arm, but I batted it away. I didn’t want him touching me.
“So I got a degree I hate because I didn’t have to think about it. I took a job I hate because it was my only option, and by the way, I passed my CPA exam. I was waiting to get it in the mail so I could surprise you and my dad with it.”
Trouble in Loveland Page 22