Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
the morning air was crisp, the kind that carried the scent of saltwater and sunscreen even when no one was swimming. off in the distance, sailboats dotted the coast, their white sails catching the light just right, like some perfectly curated postcard. ryan stood beside seth, both of them leaning on a low railing overlooking the marina, but neither looking at the view. they were waiting.
"thor," seth said suddenly, breaking the silence. "it's a strong name. no one's gonna mess with thor."
ryan didn't move. "thanks."
"seth's a good name too," he added. "although at camp tokaho, i was often referred to as a girl, so i guess it works either way."
ryan side-eyed him. "can we not play the name game?"
"right. sorry. premature." seth shook his head, his curls bouncing a little. "she's probably not even pregnant. maybe you shoot blanks."
ryan inhaled sharply through his nose. "i feel much better."
"sorry. if you're in no mood to kid, i—kid. that was an unfortunate choice of a word."
ryan rubbed his hands over his face. "we don't even know if this kid is mine."
"we don't even know if there is a kid," seth countered. "i mean, how much faith can you put in a pee swab?"
ryan winced. "seth. don't say swab."
he started to walk away, but seth followed, grinning.
"ryan atwood just made a joke," he said, almost proudly.
"yeah, gotta keep a sense of humor no matter what, right?"
"stuffed in a locker, shoes full of water polo team's urine—never funnier," seth replied, shrugging.
ryan looked at him sideways. "good to know."
"yeah. in fact having you around to defend me, i've kinda gotten soft not having anyone picking on me. there's really been no need for the, uh, seth cohen retaliatory zinger."
they stood there for a moment, the tension starting to settle into something slightly less suffocating. seagulls cried somewhere in the distance. then seth, quieter now, glanced over at ryan.
