Dawn in Vancouver

Chapter 14: "Beatings"

"I'm not asking you not to leave me, I just know that if you leave, my life will be over, I'll make those wounds of yesterday disappear. Have a little faith in me. I know I can..."

"Stay" Jesse & Joy.

WHISTLER STATION:

MORNING AFTER...

"The information we have so far is that the roads have been completely closed until the storm passes. And that for safety we cannot allow any of our clients to leave the premises."

Ryan took a deep breath as he listened to the hotel receptionist's words and his mind traveled to Lauren. What would she be doing? The phones had also been left with connection problems due to the storm. He had only been able to reach her once. Ryan was sure that as concerned as Lauren was she would now be extremely worried about him.

Besides, living with Jason was not what he had expected those four days. The night before after learning what had happened he hadn't even bothered to try to contact his wife. On the contrary, he had gone down to the hotel bar and Ryan hadn't seen him again until that morning.

Ryan smiled at the receptionist and bid her farewell as he returned to the room. He found Jason comfortably in bed reading a book.

"We won't be able to leave," Ryan said softly, closing the door. "The streets are impassable. We're stuck here for I don't know how long."

"And that's bad because?" Jason asked, rolling his eyes. "You should be jumping for joy. We'll be able to live with more people than the two women we have for wives. I know a couple of girlfriends who were really, really up for a good time last night."

"You told me you have problems with your wife," Ryan said, leaning back on the bed and looking at the ceiling. "That she humiliates and mistreats you," the irony in Ryan's voice was clear. "But what I see is a man who simply doesn't value the woman next to him. You don't love her."

"Wanting is an overrated feeling," Jason said, "I married her, didn't I? How else could I prove that I care about her than by giving her my last name?"

Ryan just shook his head listening to Jason and remembered that beautiful woman Camila. She was a very tender, shy person. A woman he was sure Jason didn't value.

"What did you do last night?" Ryan asked, even though inside he knew the answer.

"Something you should have done too," Jason said. "Have fun with beautiful women who don't have as much drama in their lives as ours."

"Were you unfaithful?" Ryan asked in complete surprise as he sat up in bed looking directly at his friend.

"Unfaithful is such a strong word," Jason laughed. "Let's just say I pretended I was single."

"You pretended you were single?" his friend said wryly and Jason laughed, "And how are you supposed to pretend to be single if you have a wife?

"Not by saying you're married," his voice was mocking as he laughed uncontrollably and Ryan watched in disbelief.

"How can you love your wife so little?" His surprised voice filled the room.

"And how can you depend on her so much?" They looked into each other's eyes. "Do you know how pathetic it is the way Jauregui handles you?"

"Lauren doesn't handle me" Ryan looked offended. "We're just a married couple who respect each other."

"Really?" Jason sat down on the bed facing his friend. "And you think she doesn't have a good time on her big tours?" Jason smiled and Ryan just shook his head.