Chapter 64 I have no plans to be a stay-at-home boyfriend
Saraphina
Waking up beside Ryan each morning felt like the most perfect kind of comfort. It was like being wrapped in your favorite blanket, safe and content, a place you’d happily stay forever. And the unbelievable part? This was my real life now. Every single day.
“Mmm, mornings are the best when you’re right here,” he murmured into my ear, tugging me until I was lying across his chest. “Right here in bed. With no clothes on.”
“Ryan!” I scolded, but I was laughing, planting tiny kisses on the tip of his nose. He caught his lip between his teeth, that familiar smirk playing in his mouth.
“Better be careful. Push me too far and you’ll be in for a long night.”
I rolled my eyes and tried to get up, but his arms locked around me, pulling me back down. His lips found my neck, and a wave of feeling crashed through me, warm and electric. It took every bit of my will to sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed.
He followed me up, his mouth still tracing a teasing path along the back of my neck. Finally, I gave him a firm push and he fell back onto the mattress. I fixed him with a look.
“What time will you be back tonight?” he asked, completely casual, tucking one arm behind his head.
“Around four or five,” I answered.
“Aw. It’s going to be so lonely and cold here without you,” he said, giving me that intense, focused look of his. I wanted so badly to go over and pinch his cheeks, but I held back.
“You’d better get used to it. Winter is coming,” I said, keeping my face serious.
“Did you just make a ‘Game of Thrones’ reference to me?” His grin was wide and triumphant. “Woman, I think I have to marry you now.”
My whole face burned hot. I spun around toward the bathroom, hoping he wouldn’t see, but of course he did. His laugh followed me.
Ryan had been staying at my place for a few days while we figured out what came next.
Okay, I know what you’re probably thinking. Are you out of your mind? Those were literally Elle’s words when I told her. She’s just protective, and she’s the best friend anyone could ask for, so in the end she said she’d stand by me no matter what. Elle is the only person who knows about Ryan and what we’re planning. I hadn’t found the courage to tell Cole. But I could feel the time passing, each moment bringing me closer to the moment I’d have to hurt him all over again.
Why does love have to be such a mess?
And then there’s Louisa. Clement and Ryan talked on the phone once while I was there. They just chatted, easy and normal, like the world wasn’t upside down. So when my mom called to check in, I tried to do the same. It was strange, talking to her about my classes while Ryan rubbed my feet. But she sounded happy. And I was happy.
So, I don’t know. Maybe there’s a way for everyone to be okay in the end? Maybe not knowing all the details is what keeps the peace.
I wished life was as simple as the movies. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, roll credits. But my life isn’t a fairy tale. I have no idea what our happy ending will be, only that getting there will cost us. It will mean sacrifices, and it will mean hearts getting broken.
ONE WEEK LATER
Time moved too quickly. Before I could catch my breath, a whole week had gone by with Ryan living with me in New York. We found our own comfortable pattern. I went to class during the day, and we spent every evening together. Tonight was the same plan. After class, Elle and Cole wanted to hang out, but I said no. Ryan had promised to make me dinner. He made it sound like a huge deal over the phone, said he had big news. The thought of it stayed with me, buzzing in my head the whole walk home.
I really hoped it was good news.
“Honey, I’m home,” I called out, swinging the door open and copying his old line from Hawaii.
I expected to find him stretched out on the couch like usual, but the sight made me stop dead.
Tonight was different. Ryan was standing by the table. He’d set up a candlelit dinner, with milkshakes, pizza from Joe’s, and chocolate ice cream.
“Ryan, what is all this?”
“This is date number two. We never got to finish our first one,” he said with that smirk.
“Well, I could get used to this,” I giggled, walking over to the table.
“Please don’t. I have no plans to be a stay-at-home boyfriend,” he said, pulling out my chair.
He said ‘boyfriend’. I felt like my heart could just stop right then, and I’d be perfectly happy.
I sat, and he took the seat across from me. The first bite of pizza made me realize how hungry I was, but more than that, my heart felt impossibly full. Ryan had definitely figured out how to make a woman happy.
“Okay, now that you’ve eaten, time for the news,” Ryan said, his eyes not leaving my face.
“I’m listening,” I said, taking a long drink of my milkshake.
“You remember my friend Grayson, right? The one I met on tour?” I nodded. “Well, we just got the final approval from our sponsors. We’re going to open a surfing school together. In Bali.”
“Bali as in…?”