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“Are you going to elaborate, or will there be one-to-two-word syllables for the rest of the evening?” I give him a death glare before returning to my doodling.
“You’re lucky I’m even giving you the time of day.”
“You can’t be upset after all these years, can you?”
“I can.”
“Callie…”
“Look. Just be fortunate enough that I didn’t ask for a new partner. Okay?”
“So, I assume you never told anyone.”
“Did you?”
“Of course not.”
When we shared a table together at the event, we ended up at a local bar and had a few drinks. One thing led to another and well, long story short, we ended up spending the night together. Something I’m not particularly proud of and have never shared with another soul.
“If you’re telling the truth, I have to say I’m proud of you.” My sarcasm holds no boundaries at this point. “Why don’t we just write?”
“Why don’t we just talk this out?”
“What do you want to talk about, Ryan?”
“Us.”
“There is no us.”
“Callie, have you ever noticed that since we spent that night together, that I haven’t been with another woman since?”
“Why would I notice?” I ask. Actually, I have noticed. He used to post his dates and his conquests on social media weekly. Then, after that weekend, it stopped. When someone asked what happened, he said he found the woman of his dreams.
“Tell me something.” I slam the pen in the middle of my notebook and close it. Twisting in my seat, I stare at Ryan to see what he wants. The tiny boat tips back and forth a little. “When did you and your husband stop sleeping together?”
“That’s none of your business.” He’s right. We stopped sleeping together before the event. Things started getting worse after the event. But Richard already had a woman to satisfy his needs well before Ryan and me.
“Just answer the question.” He shifts himself so he’s sitting right in front of me. We’re only inches away from one another. His eyes are full of eagerness and wonder. When I don’t answer, he huffs. “Callie. Just answer the question.”
I close my eyes and drop my head. “The last time we slept together was months before the signing.” There, I said it. I finally admitted it. “But he was still having sex,” I let out softly.
Ryan takes my chin in his finger and thumb and lifts my head up. “He hurt you in so many ways. I want to hurt him.” His eyes dance with mine. “Callie, I knew something was off when we attended that signing. I have wanted to be with you for so long. I always respected the fact that you were married. But since that night, I swore, I would wait for you, no matter how long it would take.”
“You’ve seriously been single since that night?”
“I swear on my life that the only one I’ve had sex with since that night was my hand.” I study his face and watch his eyes. He appears to be telling the truth.
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
We decide to take the time to do what we’re supposed to do. Write.
Ryan has been focused on his pen and leather binder and I am diligently writing in mine. We should be presenting our writings tomorrow to our original group in about an hour. The tension has ceased between Ryan and me. He wants to take me out to dinner tonight. I agreed but hope it’s not a bad decision.
We’ve made great progress, and our group seems to have written more than the rest of the groups. Ryan hasn’t left my side, and I must admit, the side eyes I’ve received from some fellow authors have been unnerving. I know he’s drawn the attention of many women. Some of which he’s entertained by small talk, some he’s never given the time of day to.
We’re almost to our adjacent rooms. We’re walking slowly, while listening to the waves splash up against the shore.
