joked
referencing her favorite childhood movie, The Wizard of Oz, just before
pressing her lips to his. “But, honestly, Ryan, walking away from you just
feels wrong. It makes me sad inside.”
The smile faded from her face and the beautiful glow from
their sexy morning together had gone dim. She no longer felt warm and cozy.
Leaving Ryan and her brother left her feeling hollow and cold. “I know it’s
just seven more weeks, but it feels like an eternity.”
“You know, if business school doesn’t work out, you could
always try your hand at acting. You’ve got drama all figured out, Princess.”
She knew what he was doing. His pasted on smile didn’t reach his eyes and his
grip tightened just a little bit more. She loved that he was trying to lighten
the mood even though she could see that their separation was painful for him as
well.
“Yeah, well, you should definitely keep your day job, Romeo,
because your acting skills suck.” Ryan smiled warmly as he squeezed Ashley
tighter.
“Alright, Ash, your gate is all the way at the other end of
the airport, so you better go. Call me when you land. I love you, babe.”
“Bye Ry,” she blew him a kiss, threw her backpack over her
shoulder and headed to her plane.
Had she known how long it would be before she got to hold
him in her arms again, she would have held on just a little longer, but she
didn’t. She let go.
Stubbornness Works Both Ways
“DUDE, IF I had a camera, I could
ruin you right now,” Leo teased, not even trying to contain his laughter.
Ryan’s face must have displayed his confusion because Leo explained, “You are
so whipped. And look, as her brother, I am so fucking happy that she found a
great guy. But as your best friend, you look like a love sick puppy!”
Ryan couldn’t help but to release the laughter he’d tried to
hold in. Leo was a call ‘em as you see ‘em kind of guy. It was one of
the reasons why they’d remained so close for so long. That was also one of the
reasons Ryan had felt comfortable approaching Leo about his feelings for
Ashley. He’d known that good or bad, Leo would give it to him straight. There
would be no game playing about Leo’s best friend and his sister dating.
“Do I look that fucked up, man?”
“Worse,” Leo admitted. “Let’s go Ry, I think it’s time we
had a little chat about you and my baby sister.” Ryan cringed at the look on
his best friend’s face as they instructed the taxi to take them back to their
tour bus.
The bus was empty when they arrived. Jayson and Zane had
taken the day to visit Zane’s family in a town about an hour north so Ryan knew
they had plenty of time to talk candidly without being interrupted.
“So, here’s the deal, buddy,” Leo started, setting two beers
on the small Formica table in the dining section of the bus. “I get that things
between you and Ash are serious—”
“Leo,” Ryan went to interrupt but the way Leo lifted his
hand and closed his eyes told Ryan loud and clear that this conversation would
be one-sided for a little while.
“Man, you’re my best friend. I love you like a brother. But.
She. Is. My. Sister.” Leo emphasized each word. He hadn’t needed to. Ryan knew
how much Ashley meant to him. He sat in silence, waiting for Leo to continue.
“I would walk through fire for that girl. Do you understand?” When Ryan opened
his mouth, Leo’s don’t interrupt me stare had Ryan closing his mouth and
nodding his head without ever letting sound escape.
Taking a long pull of his beer, Leo closed his eyes in what
appeared to be contemplative thought. “I don’t know what you two have done, but
I know what you haven’t…done. I know you’ve been a perfect gentleman, while
she”—color rose in Leo’s cheeks—“has tested your willpower.”
Shifting his glance to the floor, Ryan allowed himself to
exhale the breath he’d been holding. He loved Leo like a brother but until that
moment he hadn’t realized how
referencing her favorite childhood movie, The Wizard of Oz, just before
pressing her lips to his. “But, honestly, Ryan, walking away from you just
feels wrong. It makes me sad inside.”
The smile faded from her face and the beautiful glow from
their sexy morning together had gone dim. She no longer felt warm and cozy.
Leaving Ryan and her brother left her feeling hollow and cold. “I know it’s
just seven more weeks, but it feels like an eternity.”
“You know, if business school doesn’t work out, you could
always try your hand at acting. You’ve got drama all figured out, Princess.”
She knew what he was doing. His pasted on smile didn’t reach his eyes and his
grip tightened just a little bit more. She loved that he was trying to lighten
the mood even though she could see that their separation was painful for him as
well.
“Yeah, well, you should definitely keep your day job, Romeo,
because your acting skills suck.” Ryan smiled warmly as he squeezed Ashley
tighter.
“Alright, Ash, your gate is all the way at the other end of
the airport, so you better go. Call me when you land. I love you, babe.”
“Bye Ry,” she blew him a kiss, threw her backpack over her
shoulder and headed to her plane.
Had she known how long it would be before she got to hold
him in her arms again, she would have held on just a little longer, but she
didn’t. She let go.
Stubbornness Works Both Ways
“DUDE, IF I had a camera, I could
ruin you right now,” Leo teased, not even trying to contain his laughter.
Ryan’s face must have displayed his confusion because Leo explained, “You are
so whipped. And look, as her brother, I am so fucking happy that she found a
great guy. But as your best friend, you look like a love sick puppy!”
Ryan couldn’t help but to release the laughter he’d tried to
hold in. Leo was a call ‘em as you see ‘em kind of guy. It was one of
the reasons why they’d remained so close for so long. That was also one of the
reasons Ryan had felt comfortable approaching Leo about his feelings for
Ashley. He’d known that good or bad, Leo would give it to him straight. There
would be no game playing about Leo’s best friend and his sister dating.
“Do I look that fucked up, man?”
“Worse,” Leo admitted. “Let’s go Ry, I think it’s time we
had a little chat about you and my baby sister.” Ryan cringed at the look on
his best friend’s face as they instructed the taxi to take them back to their
tour bus.
The bus was empty when they arrived. Jayson and Zane had
taken the day to visit Zane’s family in a town about an hour north so Ryan knew
they had plenty of time to talk candidly without being interrupted.
“So, here’s the deal, buddy,” Leo started, setting two beers
on the small Formica table in the dining section of the bus. “I get that things
between you and Ash are serious—”
“Leo,” Ryan went to interrupt but the way Leo lifted his
hand and closed his eyes told Ryan loud and clear that this conversation would
be one-sided for a little while.
“Man, you’re my best friend. I love you like a brother. But.
She. Is. My. Sister.” Leo emphasized each word. He hadn’t needed to. Ryan knew
how much Ashley meant to him. He sat in silence, waiting for Leo to continue.
“I would walk through fire for that girl. Do you understand?” When Ryan opened
his mouth, Leo’s don’t interrupt me stare had Ryan closing his mouth and
nodding his head without ever letting sound escape.
Taking a long pull of his beer, Leo closed his eyes in what
appeared to be contemplative thought. “I don’t know what you two have done, but
I know what you haven’t…done. I know you’ve been a perfect gentleman, while
she”—color rose in Leo’s cheeks—“has tested your willpower.”
Shifting his glance to the floor, Ryan allowed himself to
exhale the breath he’d been holding. He loved Leo like a brother but until that
moment he hadn’t realized how
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