Off Limits - Ryan Sitkowski

Chapter Nine

Chapter nine.

Chris kisses Jennie's forehead before he gets up. "Were getting married today." He smiles to himself. Jennie doesn't open her eyes, pretending to be asleep. Her stomach is twisting and her heart is thumping. Once Chris leaves to go to his brothers, she grabs her stuff and heads to Vinny's house, crying the entire way there.

—

Ryan's standing at the table wearing only baggy jeans and underwear. "Jennie? You okay?" He asks after turning around to see her. She shakes her head, letting out sobs as her body trembles. "What's wrong?"

"Where's Vinny?" She asks. Ryan points down the hall, following her to his room. Jen closes the door behind her as she collapses into her brothers arms.

"Hey now.. shh it's gonna be alright." He says, rubbing her back. She just cries against his shoulder, her hands in lose fists. Vinny sits down with her on his bed, letting her cry.

After a while, Jen calms down, hiccuping as she tries to steady her breathing. "What's up?"

"I can't get married to chris. There's no way he's happy with me." She starts getting teary eyed again. "There is no way he wants to spend his life with me."

"Hey." Vinny says softly, causing her to look up. "Don't say that." She starts crying again, sobbing loudly against her brothers chest.

Ryan knocks on the door. "You guys okay?" He asks, still behind the closed door.

"No." Jennie says weakly, wiping her eyes.

"Can I come in?" He asks, not wanting to intrude. Jennie nods, her eyes shut.

"Yeah." Vinny says for her, rubbing his little sisters back. Ryan pushes the door open, smiling softly at them. Jennie starts crying again, her arms still around her brother.
"You can sit." He says. "I'll be right back, okay?" She cries as she pulls her arms from him, immediately attaching to Ryan, who's sitting next to her.

"Shh.." He whispers, kissing her head, holding her tight to his chest. She trembles, curling in on her self. "You're okay, okay?" Ryan rubs her back, letting her cry.

After some time, Jennie sits up, her head on Ryan's shoulder, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "You wanna lay down?" She shakes her head.

"Can we go for a ride in your truck? I gotta get to Allies house soon." She sighs, looking up at her wedding dress. "I'm hungry."

"I'll go get you food, okay? You just get dressed." She nods, sighing as she stands, wiping her face. Jennie watches him drive off, biting her lip.
—
She sits on the couch in the living room of Allies house, waiting for the wedding to start. Her head is spinning and her heart is thumping as she watches people sit in chairs, waiting patiently. She doesn't know if she can do this anymore. Ryan returns, handing her a water and a happy meal. She smiles at it, not really hungry anymore. "Thank you." Jennie adjusts how she's sitting, bouncing her leg as she keeps her eyes on the ceremony seating. Vinny comes into the living room.

"Hey, How are you feeling?" He asks, smiling at the fact that she has food.

"I'm having second thoughts." She responds bluntly. "I don't think I want to marry Chris anymore."

"How's come?"

"I'm not in love with him anymore. Like he's a nice dude and everything but to be honest, I fell out of love." She looks down. "Am I a bad person?"

"No. Not at all." Ryan says, taking a bite of his burger. "Stuff like that happens all the time." She nods, wiping her eyes.

"What do I do?" She asks, her eyes puffy and red. "I dont want to hurt his feelings."

Vinny gives her a soft smile. "Don't get married to him. It's more expensive to get a divorce." She looks up at Ryan, wiping her face.

"Jennie? You ready?" Allie shouts, coming into the room.

"I-I.." She bites her lip, looking back up at Ryan. "Give me a sec, I gotta pee.." Allie nods, walking out.

Vinny stands, adjusting his tie. "I love you kid." He smiles, kissing the top of her head. As soon as he leaves, Jennie stands, biting her pink lip as she adjusts her wedding gown.

"Can we go on a walk?" She asks softly. "It'll help me clear my head." He nods, taking her hand.

—
Jenna stands at the counter of an ice cream parlor, Ryan next to her. She orders a medium mint chocolate chip milkshake and he gets a sundae. "I don't want to marry Chris." Jen whispers, nibbling on her straw.

"Okay." He nods. "You don't have to go back." She rests her head in her hand. Ryan shrugs, looking at his ice cream. "You don't have to go back, Jen." She nods, frowning at her drink.  Jennie stands up, taking Ryan's hand. "Where are we going?"

"For a walk." She says, tugging him away from the ice cream parlor.

Jennie leads Ryan to a community pool. It's completely empty with it being a school day. "I like to come here when it's empty. Gives me room to think." She says, kicking her shoes off before sitting on the ledge of the pool, her feet in the water. Ryan kicks his shoes and socks off, hiking his slacks up his legs before sitting next to her.

"Hm." She says, laying back. Ryan takes his suit jacket off and bunches it beneath her head, smiling slightly. "This is nice." He slides into the pool, slowly wrapping his hands around her ankles before pulling her into the water with him.  She squeals, closing her eyes.

"Ryan!" She squeaks, wrapping her arms around his neck. "My fucking dress!" She gasps, the white fabric sticking to her skin. She turns to climb out, Ryan pulling her back in.
"Ryan!" She laughs, shaking her head. Ryan gives a laugh from his chest, a real laugh.

"Whoops." He says, biting his lip.

—
Jennie ends up in Ryans arms, her eyes closed and her breathing steady. He keeps her above water, running a hand over her back lightly as he hums softly, his head on top of hers. "Hey! What are you two doing!" A man shouts, startling the two. "This isn't some private fuck fest you guys can have!" Jennie's face goes red as she climbs out, her dress sticking to every inch of her. Ryan follows with the same colored cheeks, quickly grabbing his shoes and dry jacket, tossing them over the fence before helping Jennie over.

They start walking back to Chris's place for her to get her stuff, Ryan drapes his jacket over her shoulders, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Lets get food." She says, looking at a cute bakery and coffee shop. Ryan holds the door open for her, smiling.

She starts shivering, her teeth chattering together as she sips her hot chocolate, closing her eyes. "Thank you, Ry."

"You're welcome, Jen." She smiles, rubbing her eyes. "I don't know if I told you but I got my own place in Wilkes-Barre."

"You did?" She asks, raising her eyebrows.

"Mhm." He nods, sipping his coffee. "I did and there's an extra bed and bathroom if you'd like to stay with me?"

"You'd let me stay with you?" He nods again. "Seriously?" He nods once more. "Oh I'd love to!" They both grin and Ryan chuckles.

"You just say the words and you're living with me."