Sweet Caroline {Ryan Blaney} ✔️

twenty-nine

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

"You are the coolest person in the world right now, according to Caroline." Lydia plopped in the seat next to Ryan, her eyes trained on her daughter who was excitedly looking out all of the airplane windows.

"Am I?" Ryan chuckled, shifting a little. "Thank you for coming, I really appreciate having you guys with me."

"Of course." Lydia squeezed his hand. When Ryan had asked them to come, she was hesitant, afraid that now Stacy was gone, they'd take another look at Caroline and notice how much she looked like Ryan. But he had been insistent that nobody would notice and who was she to say no? She would never get in the way of Ryan and Caroline spending time together.

But there was a piece of excitement in Lydia that she'd get to spend time with Ryan too. From the beginning, they had a spark and that spark never dimmed even after all the time and trauma that had been inflicted. That was special and Lydia knew it.

When Ryan had suggested that they have sex again, Lydia's heart nearly leaped out of her chest. She had always thought about it but never would've brought it up again. And it hadn't disappointed. She had been worried -- so worried -- that'd he'd see the way that pregnancy had changed her body and not want her anymore. But the lust in his eyes only intensified when she bared all.

After sex, when they were watching a movie, Lydia let her mind wander to what it'd be like if she and Ryan ended up together. And all she could think about was how happy they'd be and how badly she wanted that -- how good it would be for Caroline. But that was awhile away and Lydia had to keep reminding herself that having sex with him didn't mean that he was ready for a committed relationship.

"I told my mom." Ryan murmured, shaking his head. "Stacy called her and told her that I had been cheating and left her. Imagine her surprise when I told her about Caroline."

Anxiety surged through Lydia. "Is she mad?" Lydia wasn't one to worry about what other people thought but she seemed to be hyper-aware of how this situation made her look.

Ryan flashed a grin, "Actually, she's wondering when she can meet her. In her words, 'she has five years of spoiling to make up for'."

Lydia couldn't help but crack a smile. "That'll be great. The closest thing Caroline has to a grandmother is Louisa -- the woman that lived down the hall from us and helped me take care of Caroline while I went to law school."

"What about your mom?" Ryan's voice was soft, tentative even.

Lydia bit her lip, unsure of how to answer that question. It was a loaded one that probably required way more backstory than she was willing to share. She knew she should tell Ryan everything that happened including why she had left him at the hotel but she had locked all of that pain in a box and she wasn't really too keen to open it back up. Not when she needed to be strong for Ryan. "We only talk once a year." She finally answered, desperately searching for a way to turn the conversation elsewhere.

To Lydia's relief, the pilot came over the intercom, asking everybody to buckle up and prepare for take-off.

"Do you want to sit by Caroline?" Lydia offered, watching as Caroline made her way towards their seats.

Ryan's face lit up, standing up so they could switch spots. "Caroline, have you ever been on an airplane before?" He asked, helping her buckle her seatbelt.