Miss Tyson

Chapter 10

Shay's POV:

"Tell me about this photo." I pointed at a framed picture with a frail boy holding a fish almost the size of his own body, but that wasn't what drew me to the photo. It was the biggest smile I have ever seen on a six year old, so triumphant and proud.

He chuckled and held the photo with both hands and observed it. He smiled to himself and another laugh escaped from his lips.

"My family owns a hut not too far from here. This photo right here captured my first father and son bond. He took me out fishing, and I couldn't help but gape at the marine life I had seen that day. Fish from all shapes, colors, and sizes were circling around our boat dancing." He started telling me about all the exotic colors in detail. This memory must have been very dear to him. I could tell how the images were still vivid in his mind from how fast he was describing them.

"I forgot why he took me there for a moment, to fish. He told me to take away a life. I couldn't dare to disrupt their dancing. Their tails were swaying and they all swam in coalition." He carried on to say, he put the photo aside and squinted.

"Eventually I had to pick, so I picked this one, because it was the least pretty and it didn't join in on their fun. My guess was they hated it anyway." He laughed as he relived the memory all over again.

"So the happiness you portrayed here, was for your excitement about the fish in the sea, not because of the one you clutched with your hand." I asked already observing other photos I could comment on.

"Yes, I loved the ocean even more that day." He confirmed when he sat closer to me so he could look at the pictures with me.

As we were on nostalgia train I felt my chest tighten when I caught a glimpse of someone who had just approached the bar. His face was familiar but although I was certain my face wouldn't be, I couldn't take the risk. The thug sat on the stool and the bartender hurried to get his usual drink, almost dropping it on the counter. His energy was just like his personality, demanding. I needed to get out of here.

"Take me to the hut." I held Ryker's hand unconsciously, almost pleading. I prayed to God he wouldn't see my nervousness, and thankfully he didn't.

"Now?" He raised his eyebrow obviously surprised at my request.

"Yes, now. We have been in this bar all evening. I need a new scenery, and the hut looks nice. When was the last time you went there?" I got up, having my back facing the thug's back on purpose just in case he turns around.

"I guess today would mark the last time I went, let's go buy some stuff first." Ryker held my hand and guided me to his car, taking me by surprise. I never felt blessed for him being so easygoing. These past few months got me to discover plenty of traits belonging to him.

The quietness that surrounded us was only due to the voice in my head reciting all that I had learned regarding his personality. I had seen him smile, but I never saw him with a sad expression on his face. Even with all the memories he recalled for me, I never heard a bad story. I knew how closeted he was about his bad memories for how much he tried to change the subject, always rubbing the back of his neck affirming how nervous he would be.

I think he wants to tell me his bad moments, but something almost always holds him back.

Also, he never met my friends since that time he worried about me for not being there for our morning jog. As a matter of fact, there was never a time we hung out and were with other people at once. He is pretty much on his own most of the time, since I never saw anything belonging to a stranger in his household.

I snapped out of my gaze at the road and I switched it with him. I never saw him wearing anything but ironed shirts and trousers, along with the cleanest shoes and styled hair to top it up. I looked at his blue shirt that was tight enough to show how built his body was, and how the blue color reflected more on his eyes. I liked that shirt.