A Deadly Affair

Fifteen

I can't keep my mind off of that Simon guy. His words, the way he grabbed me, that nagging feeling of being in danger. Everything is replaying in a constant loop in my head, keeping me from falling asleep despite how exhausted I am. I sigh softly, nestling deeper in Ryan's chest, and looking up to the TV where Friends plays soundlessly.

"I thought you fell asleep," He comments, typing away on his laptop. My eyes wander to the screen to find a spreadsheet, with several codes on it. I shrug, my thoughts swirling wildly in my mind; Simon said that there are things I need to know about Ryan, but he's opened up to me a lot more about himself. He doesn't like any of his Aunts or Uncles, he hates crunchy peanut butter, he liked his grandparents on his Mom's side but loved both sets equally. What am I missing? Some horrible past from New York City that's managed to follow him back to Cedar Grove? I frown, I definitely can't see charming Ryan in the mob. He runs his hand along my arm, causing goosebumps to form in his wake. I look up at him to find him watching me. "Did that guy scare you?" He guesses, and I shrug.

"I mean, I know it could happen at a bar." I tell him, looking at the wall ahead of us. "I felt helpless though; I'm getting tired of feeling like that." I admit quietly, thinking of every time Miles has made me feel uncomfortable in the past month, and now this Simon guy tonight. I hate feeling that way; and tonight, while I had my pepper spray, it never occurred to me how easily a guy could knock it out of my hands. It should have though, and I should have been better prepared to defend myself. A guy coming to your rescue, saving you? That happens in movies; sometimes they're fighting their own battles. "Where'd you learn to fight? Mob days in New York?" I joke, grinning tiredly at him, but he's scratching his jaw, as though the comment makes him uncomfortable.

"My Uncle taught me. We weren't in the mob, but being in New York City meant having to know how to take care of yourself." He explains, as I trail a hand from his collarbone down his chest, then working back up.

"Did you like living there?" I ask, noting how tired my voice sounds: but Ry never really opens up about his life there. He's told me about his family, but he left out the Uncle that raised him, and his life in New York.

"I hated it." He says solemnly, before returning to typing codes on his laptop. I watch in fascination as his mind works; and wrap my arm around his abdomen feeling so happy my heart might burst.

"So you'd never move back there?"

He contemplates for a minute, before shrugging. "Maybe." He says hesitantly. "You thinking of abandoning me to move to the big apple, babe?" He jokes, and I pinch his side causing him to squirm in discomfort. "My Uncle was horrible, honestly." He tells me, running his hand through my hair. "I hated the city because my house was his house, so I don't really know how I feel about the actual place. Maybe we'll go visit."

I stifle a yawn, smiling sleepily up at him. "Yeah, I'd like that. Show me all your old stomping grounds."

He chuckles, before kissing my forehead and putting his MacBook on the nightstand. "I went to school, and worked at a bar. I doubt you want to touch a bar for a while." He comments, sliding down so he's laying next to me. I curl into him, resting my head on his arm.

"It might be a while." I admit quietly, earning a soft kiss to my temple- I love when he does that.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there." He laments, and I shake my head.

"I'm not a damsel, Ry." I insist. "I do think I need to take some self defense classes."

"I could teach you." He offers, and I laugh softly.

"So I can kick your a-I laugh, as he tickles me, grinning wide as he kisses my cheek, then my forehead, then my other cheek, trailing kisses onto random parts of my face.