Winning Back Ryan (27 page)

             
I had a good relationship with my mother despite her eccentric tendencies, but I was and always would be daddy’s girl. My father and I were close and he had this uncanny ability to just listen to my voice and know everything that I was not saying.

             
“So you’re mother told me what Ryan did,” my father said.

             
“Yeah,” I said my voice slightly above a whisper. It didn’t matter that I was an adult. I still wanted to run into his arms, crying, shouting, “Daddy, that boy hurt me!”

             
“There’ll be another, Minnie. He’s clearly not worthy of you,” he replied.

             
“Yeah,” I paused for a moment.

             
“What’s on your mind, Minnie?” It was my father’s nickname for me, because when I was a child, I wanted to be Minnie Mouse…for a decade straight.

             
“Dad, I think I’ve fallen for Brian,” I said, “And he’s apparently wanted a relationship since I met him.”

             
“Well, that’s a given, Minnie.”

             
“What do you mean?” I asked.

             
“A man can just tell when another man loves a woman. I knew how Brian felt for you that first night we went out to dinner with him.”

             
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.

             
“It wasn’t my place to. I would have told you if you had caught feelings for him. But, you wanted him as a friend.” I didn’t like hearing my father’s logic. “Well, this is certainly going to make Fourth of July weekend more interesting.” I chuckled as I glance at my watch and then sighed. “You have to go.”

             
“I love you, Daddy.”

             
“And I love you, Minnie. So does your mother. We’ll see you soon.”

I stood up from the park bench that I sat on, walking two blocks down to my office.

**

             
When I came home, I stood in the doorway floored. On the kitchen counter was the vase that I threw against the wall, glued back together. He must have spent hours fitting it right.  Next to the vase was a note.

Everything that’s been broken can be put together again.

On the table where this vase had been sitting that morning was now a large vase with a bouquet of exotic flowers, especially my favorite flower, birds of paradise.

I shook my head as I changed out of my clothes and into sweatpants and a tank top. If only he had put this much effort in when we were together. It was too little, too late, however.
The problem with repaired vases was that they weren’t trustworthy. They’d always be weaker than they were originally. You never knew if they could be counted on, or if they’d fall apart the second you filled them with water. Repaired vases weren’t worth holding on to.

              Since George canceled on me, I decided to stay in for the night. Despite it being a Friday night, I still ached from that workout Brian put me through. I hadn’t read the murder mystery book that I picked up from the library, so I relaxed on the couch after bringing the tub of rocky road in my freezer down to Chuck with a disposable spoon. I surely couldn’t eat it anymore, and I couldn’t look at it without thinking of the night Ryan cheated on me.  Plus, it was a hundred degrees out.

As I settled in with my book, a hundred pages later, Ryan came storming in the door.

              “Annie, were those my clothes on that bum downstairs?” he shouted.

I glanced up, blinking my lashes, feigning innocence.

              “Those were
your
clothes in my laundry basket? Sorry, I didn’t know.”

             
“Do you realize that he’s wearing like a three hundred dollar outfit right now?” he snapped.

I glanced up.

              “In that case, you should have taken better care of your clothes.”

             
“Is this what we’re reduced to?” he shouted.

I glanced back up from the book.

              “He’s had those clothes for days now. Curious that you notice
now
.”

             
“I bought you these flowers, I had a cleaning service come to take care of the apartment. I’m trying. You’re just being passive-aggressive.”  He placed his hand on his hip, frowning. I glanced down quickly after realizing his shirt clung to his body in ways that should be illegal.

             
“Ryan, I’m going to stay with Brian for a while. It’s clear we need some space apart to cool off and relax. It’ll be best this way.” I stood up, tossing the book onto the couch, grabbing my sneakers, keys, and cell phone.

             
“Fine. Walk out!” he shouted. “You’re welcome for the flowers!” I shut the door on his words. In the hallway, I slid my sneakers on and headed for the door. The funny thing was that I never wanted Ryan’s flowers. I wanted the flowers from Max, but my guess was that my ex threw them away.

**

              I aimlessly walked around until I saw a sign hanging in a window promoting self-defense classes. The picture was of a petite woman throwing a muscular man onto the ground.  The classes were at the community center. I searched for the date and time. Every Friday.  I knew where I was now headed towards.

             
I didn’t want to call Brian to spend time, especially if I would be staying there a while. I didn’t want to seem needy. When I walked into the room, I stood surprised by what I saw: a sixty year old woman flipping a man onto his back.

             
“Excellent Gertie,” he said from the mat below him.  “You bent your knees this time.”

The rest of the groups clapped for her, women ranging from their twenties to early sixties.

              “Hello,” the man greeted, standing up. He brushed off his pants, pulling back his long chocolate hair, and walked over bright green eyes shining. “I’m Jack.” My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it.

             
“Anne,” I said, shaking his hand. “Pleasure to meet you.” I bit my lower lip. I was so horrible at introductions. “This…” I pointed towards the women. “Looks awesome.”

             
“Welcome, Annie,” he said, smiling warmly. I returned the smile. “I’m just working with these ladies on self-defense moves. Why don’t you get in line here?”  I nodded, stepping into line. “Ladies, this is Annie. Let’s say hi.”

             
“Hi, Annie,” the group said to me. Smiling, I waved back at the line.

             
“So, I’d like to work on a new move now. This is what you do when an attacker comes from behind throwing his arms around you. Any one of you ladies could come across this- an attacker at night, a man at a club who is not respecting your no, a man attacking you at a gym. Okay, so this is what you’d do. Annie, why don’t you come up here since you’re our newest member.”

I walked up towards him, standing there. My phone buzzed again.

              “Now, Annie, step in front of me.” Jack stood behind me wrapping his arms around my body, as I felt the rest of him flush against my back. Oh, holy God. I blushed furiously. “Now this is how you get out of this move,” he said in a loud voice to the group. “First Annie, scream, ‘No!’ loudly as you pretend to stomp on my foot.” I did the move, shouting and pretending to stomp, as he said, “Good, now pretend to head butt me.” I threw my head back as though slamming into him. “Good. Now elbow to rib like this.” He gently pulled my arm back showing the women the place they should attack. “Now the second rib. You should now wiggle away like this. Annie, slide down my body and out of my hold.” I blushed brightly as I slid down his body wondering how I wound up in these positions in the first place. “Now you would run like heck, screaming, but you don’t have to for this demonstration.” he said. I stood there nodding, while Jack continued, “Alright, let’s do it again, but with all the steps together quickly. Can you remember them all, Annie?” I nodded, and rejoiced inside when Jack’s body pushed against me again. I did the whole routine again- shout, stomp, head butt, poke, poke, slide down his body. I learned this time around that Jack had
very
solid abs.

             
“Excellent,” Jack said, “Let’s give a round of applause for Annie!” The rest of the women clapped, two giving me dirty looks.  They apparently wanted to practice with Jack.

             
“Now I’m going to go down the row and practice individually with all of you. While I’m doing that I want you to look over these pamphlets about all the hotline and emergency numbers in the area in case you find yourself in a compromising situation. These numbers I recommend saving in your cell phone just in case. Also, I made up a list of places in this area that are most commonly targeted by attackers- places you want to stay away from. Also, here is a diagram of the most effective places to hit on a man’s body to incapacitate him. Remember, what’s our rule?”

The women chanted back in chorus.

              “Always try to defuse the situation first before a physical confrontation.”

             
“Excellent,” Jack said before handing out the paperwork. I looked it over, until I realized my cell phone buzzed again.

             
“Oh, for the love of God,” I muttered, taking it out. One missed call from my mother, one from Ryan, and one from Brian. There were voicemail messages, so I stuffed it back in my pocket. They could all wait a little longer.

We learned two other moves before the class called to an end. My phone buzzed again, as a woman came over to welcome me to the class.

Taking my phone out of my pocket, I listened to my voicemails.

             
“Honey, just got back from my origami class. Thought I’d call.  Daddy said you talked to him today. Sorry I missed you. Call back. And why did I need to find out that Ryan cheated on you from Linda Aschcroft?”

My mother was always trying new things. Every month she tried a new class. She said she was reinventing herself like a pop star. My father always rolled his eyes at this. For the most part, he endured her eccentrics and paid for them. He put a stop to a few of them like when she took stunt double classes and broke her leg ten minutes in. My klutziness came from somewhere.

I listened to the next message.

             
“Hey, Annie, it’s Ryan. The guys from Ricochet wanted to come over tonight. Brian’s commercial is airing tonight. Thought I’d call to see if you didn’t mind.”

I sighed, listening to the next voice mail.

              “Annie, your mom just called looking for you. She was worried when I said I didn’t know where you were. I recorded your brother’s show tonight. George told me he had to cancel your date. Want to come over?”

I texted Ryan back:
I don’t mind. Tell them congrats.

             
I called Brian back, “Hey, not going to the bar tonight?” I asked. Brian sitting home on a Friday night was a rare event like a shooting comet.

             
“Nah, I’m going to the bar with you and Ben tomorrow, so I’ll be there then. I had a headache all day at work, so I just wanted to relax tonight.”

             
“What about your commercial premier? Why didn’t you tell me? Are we going to watch it?”

             
“I…well, I guess if you want to. I have it set to record.”

             
“Of course I want to see it! Your mom must be so excited.”

             
He sighed. “She’s having a neighborhood block party.” He paused for a moment. “I’m not joking.” I laughed, able to picture the spectacle Brian’s mother made, proud of her son.

             
“Alright, let me just go home and change.” I frowned, realizing the guys might be there. “Do you mind if I shower at your place? The band is at my apartment right now.”

             
“Yeah, the leader, Rich, called asking me if I wanted to come over. I explained to him that my loyalties lie with you. Apparently, Ryan didn’t tell them that you weren’t together anymore.”

             
“He’s an idiot, and thanks.” I was a little sick of Ryan by then.

             
“Alright, then get your butt over here.”

**

              I left the community center, walking towards Brian’s apartment as I called my mom back. She wholly approved of the self-defense class I took and chatted on about this origami bird that she made. After several minutes, I finally cut her off telling her to send me a picture of it with her camera phone. She told me Jordan would have to do it, and I asked why he was home. She didn’t know, she admitted. He showed up at the house last week and wanted to stay a while, which was beyond strange for my brother.

             
When I showed up at Brian’s door, my mother was still chatting about how Jordan helped repaint the house a green color. She was going on about the type of brush he used, and how he tricked my father into splattering paint all over his overalls. I already told her five times that I needed to hang up.

             
I rolled my eyes, as she continued on now talking about how she had to buy new batteries for the garage door opener. Brian smiled next to me on the couch, knowing how my mother was.

             
“Hello, Mrs. Watson,” Brian yelled into the phone.

             
“Is that Ryan or Brian?” she asked.

             
“Brian,” I replied.

             
“Sorry, honey, for mistaking you for that loser that hurt my Anne.” I rolled my eyes at her comment.

             
“It’s alright Mrs. W. Can’t wait to see you at my parent’s house,” he spoke into the phone.

             
“I bought you some presents. I was shopping and I saw some stuff,” she said.

             
“You know you didn’t have to buy me anything. It’ll just be good to see you.” My mother giggled at his comment. He won them over- all ladies alike.

             
“Alright, mom. We have to go. Brian’s commercial is showing tonight. We’re going to miss it.”

             
“Your mom is going to put it on Youtube, so I can watch. We’re not going to be able to see it here in Ohio,” my mom explained, “We’re so proud of you though, Brian.”

             
“Alright, Mom, I love you, talk to you later. Bye.” I hung up before she could speak another word, smiling at Brian.

             
“May I ask what you were doing that you’re all sweaty?” His eyes watched me curiously.

I explained the class I went to and what I did there.

              “Annie,” he chastised. I cringed, realizing my mistake as soon as he said my name.

             
“Sorry, sorry. I know my mistake. Didn’t tell you beforehand.”

             
He frowned. “Let me guess. It was another spur of the moment decision.”

             
I grimaced, nodding. “It actually was.”

             
He crossed his arms. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think that you were avoiding me.” His eyes flashed with pain quickly.

Shoot. I really was awful at this dating game nonsense. Maybe I could tell him an answer that was partially true.

              “I just…” I met his eyes. “I’m afraid you’re going to get sick of me if I keep coming here. I’m trying to find something to do to fill all this new time with.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “And I’m trying to figure everything out in my head. The last week has been a lot emotionally. I’m trying to make sense of it all.”

I turned, afraid of his answer, and walked into his shower, turning the water on.