*Whoever said 'it takes two' didn't run away fast enough*
(Thanks from many plus Shawhollow for the edit)
Lydia Davies was hanging out after work with several of her co-workers from her mother's boutique when she saw this cute guy that she'd helped with some lingerie shopping a few months back. He'd been awkward in a cute way, shy yet determined to find something for the woman who had everything. She was now curious if any of the two women at his table (along with the three guys) were the recipient of his gift.
"Hey...Ryan is it?" she asked . She remembered his name; Ryan Ferris with his dark grey eyes, thick, tossed black hair, clearly well-muscled physique – yum-yum.
"Hi Ms. Davies," he smiled back. It was nice to see that he was sharp enough to remember her but,
"Lydia," she corrected. "How did your selection work out?"
"Selection?" one of the men asked. Ryan looked highly uncomfortable but for some reason she wanted to keep this boy on edge.
"Yes, I own Leather and Lace on Park Avenue," Lydia informed the table. It was clear that none of the men at the table knew of the place but the women did.
The older of the two women at the table covered one of Ryan's hands with her own – definitely possessive and definitely not the One.
"Is that an S&M store?" one of the guys joked.
"It is a lingerie store," Ryan responded quietly but with authority.
"A high end lingerie store," the possessive woman clarified. "Ryan, were you picking a gift up for someone we know?"
"Oh, it was months and months ago," Lydia interjected. "I swear he barely looked old enough to be in the store." That brought a moment of silence to the table and from Lydia's little group of girls as well.
"This is a little birthday celebration for Ryan," one of the male co-workers spoke up. "We don't get him coming into the office much. Ryan is a stay-at-home kind of guy."
"Oh," Lydia perked up; Ryan had been pretty closed mouth about his background or what he did, "What is it that you do Ryan?"
"He's a graphic designer/artist," the possessive woman answered leaving Ryan unhappy. He was definitely a very private individual and it was an indication of his affection for the gift's recipient that he'd come to her store to pick something out.
"Are you any good?" Lydia asked Ryan. While he shrugged noncommittally, his eyes spoke volumes of for his pride and confidence.
"He's one of our best," the second woman informed her. Lydia translated that over to be 'the best'. "Still he insists on living in this rundown loft in Red Hook. I swear, half the time I go down there I expect to find his place broken into, him dead, or ending up being raped."
"Seriously Tonya?" Ryan asked somewhat alarmed.
"No," Tonya laughed, "after that first time no one has ever bothered me."
"First time?" Lydia was intrigued.
"Oh, the first time I showed up to drop off some work a few of the local wildlife decided to give me some attention. Like a flash, Ryan showed up and they couldn't run away fast enough," she regaled the group.
"Huh?" one of the guys wondered; it must have been the first time most of them heard this story.
"He came running out with nothing but sweat pants and a scowl. He demolished five guys as if they were nothing – I mean broken bones, screams, and grown thugs crying like little babies. I've never been bothered since. In fact, I've seen them scatter when the cab drops me off," she gushed.
"Ryan, are you some kind of ex-military?" Lydia inquired.
"No," he muttered, "I went to a rough high school."
"Where?" the third guy guessed, "Afghanistan or Iraq? Hell, if I knew you were athletic I'd have tried to talk you onto my Urban League Baseball team."
"I don't do competitive sports," Ryan admitted.
"How about one-on-one?" Lydia teased him.
"Excuse me?" Ryan answered.
"How would you like to go out on a date? Consider it a birthday present," Lydia propositioned him.
"Thank you very much but I'm not dating right now," Ryan evaded and Lydia was a little hurt.
"Go on dude," one of his buddies said, "you aren't seeing Hot Dog Girl anymore so what's holding you back?"
"Hot Dog Girl?" Lydia mused.
"Yeah, our monk, who has shown no interest in women since we've known him ... for three years now, suddenly starts talking it up with the girl who works that hot dog cart on 42nd street," the guy told everyone. Only Lydia seemed to note Ryan's smoldering anger.
"Well, we go down one day when Ryan is actually at the shop and he notices she's reading some book by a Polish guy and they get to talking ... in Polish," he grins.
"Yeah, I know, who would have thought Ryan knew Polish. Still, I don't think much of it until a week later I stop by and there's Ryan talking to the girl and Ryan doesn't say much but according to her they've been out a few times to some nice clubs and she's all bubbly. They stay serious until a month ago when – BANG – she says he's pulled a vanishing act. She wants to know if he is doing okay."
"What happened, Ryan? Do you feel like talking about it?" Lydia gently prodded.
"Not really," Ryan moped.
"According to her they are talking like they always do then he suddenly he pops up, looks around and beats feet down the street, never to be seen again," the mouthy friend keeps going on. "So Ryan, what happened?"
"I'm trying to live a normal life," Ryan muttered then stood up abruptly. "Thanks for everything guys, but I should be going." The older woman came around the table one way and Lydia came around the other, catching Ryan right outside the door.
"Ryan," Lydia got out first. He stopped but didn't turn around.
"Ryan," the other woman said, "do you want to talk about it?"
"Melissa," Ryan sighed, "talking about this isn't going to help. Its...fuck it. It is never going to change."
"It won't change if you stop trying," Lydia interjected.
"You have no idea what you are talking about," Ryan replied as he turned and regarded both women.
"Seriously, spend one more day at the office. Go out on one date with me. What have you got to lose?" Lydia challenged him.
By giving him an extra work day she was hoping to buy off the older woman and it seemed to work. Ryan stared down at the ground for about thirty seconds before looking at Lydia.
"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you," he warned. Lydia grinned; it was a little more work than she was used to for getting a date but hopefully he was worth it.
Three Weeks Later
Ryan had turned out to be a wonderful catch. He didn't talk too much about what he did but he seemed to have been everywhere and seen all kinds of things in his short life. He was patient; maybe a bit too patient, but there wasn't anything he was afraid to try, be it food, entertainment, or less travelled parts of the city.
Lydia decided that date number seven was enough stringing things along. Ryan was definitely heterosexual from all the reactions she was getting off of him and he seemed eager enough so after dinner tonight they were going back to her place to 'watch some Blue Rays' which if he managed to do after she changed into 'something more comfortable' she'd nominate him for sainthood.
The entrees had just arrived and Lydia was savoring the wine Ryan had chosen when Ryan gave a start. For a twenty-one year old he had developed quite a refined pallet.
"Ryan, is there a problem?" Lydia inquired. His eyes remained riveted on the door, angry and electric.
Lydia followed his gaze to the door where a woman with flowing black hair, large sunglasses and a lavender trench coat walked into the restaurant, her gaze locked with Ryan's. She strode toward their table like she owned the place. Ryan rose up, his fists clenched and his jaw set.
"Ryan?" Lydia said in a more guarded manner.
"Hello ... Ryan," the woman greeted Ryan in a too familiar style. She seemed somehow old yet vibrant and young at the same time. She took a seat uninvited and sat down. "So, who is your little friend?" That stung Lydia and she felt like biting back.
"The woman I am here on a date with is named Lydia, 'S'," Ryan snarled as he sat back down.
"She seems awful frail for someone of your energy ... Ryan," the woman spoke as if Lydia wasn't really there, on her date, at her table.
"How about you two have this discussion tomorrow afternoon ... when Ryan isn't on a date with me whoever you are?" Lydia snidely commented to 'S'.
"Accept my advice, Lydia," the woman regard her, "you aren't up to the task. He is far more than you can handle ... I would know." Ryan shot up.
"That's it. Step outside," Ryan snapped.
