The Sun and the Moon [Wattys 2015 winner]

Chapter 21: Body Shots

Marie says that you're dating the coffee shop hottie.

True.

Hugo's text was just one of several texts and calls waiting for me once I finally checked my phone after I got back from Ryan's house Sunday afternoon.   Astonishingly, I had managed to not check my cell phone all weekend long. I didn't check Twitter, I didn't check my work emails, I didn't look at texts. I had just put it away and didn't even think to get it out. I guess I was otherwise occupied. This felt like progress.

Ryan had driven me home after I had spent the whole weekend at his house wearing his clothes.  When I walked up to my front door, I wore his boxers, his shorts, his t-shirt, no bra, and some flip flops of his. I looked ridiculous, but I didn't care. I decided to permanently co-opt his clothes. They were pretty comfy and they smelled good, like him. 

After he walked me up to the door, he kissed me thoroughly, and then prowled back to his truck and took off.  Then I finally checked my messages.

So this means no time for me?

I always have time for you. As. A. Friend.

Have you told him that you love him yet?

I'm certainly not going to give you that information before I give it to him.

That means you're in love. So cool, girl!

Shit.

#

Hugo tells me that you're in love with Ryan. I haven't even met him yet. Why am I the last to know?

Uh, correction, Marie. Ryan would be the last to know.

Oh. I get it. Drinks. Tuesday night. Bring him.

Now everyone's bossy.

#

"I'd like to ask Ryan to come to Thanksgiving, Mom," I said.

"Sure, honey. If you're getting serious about him, I'd like to meet him."

Excellent. Her tone had changed. No hint of a snob this time. And, frankly, I was proud to bring Ryan around my parents. He was a great guy, caring for me, caring for his sister, and building a business that was all his own.

It seemed that asserting myself to my mother may have shifted our relationship a little bit from me doing whatever it was that she told me to do, to doing what I really wanted to do. And actually, now that I thought about it, all of the personal growth and development that I was doing because of Ryan was part of getting to know myself for real. I didn't have to do what I thought my mom wanted me to do. I was starting to learn to be a true adult.

#

First thing Monday morning, Jake walked in my office.

"I'd like your help on the Chodos matter. We were just served with the complaint and I think we need to file a demurrer. I know you don't like to bring those, but I think there's a chance that we could get the punitive damages knocked out altogether."

Yeah. Back at work again after my weekend of sex, surfing, and the Sun God.

Back in the suit after wearing essentially nothing for most of the weekend.

"Is it venued here in Santa Barbara?"

"No, they filed in Ventura."

Bonus. More time at Southwinds.