The Cabin by the Lake

As the calendar was swapped from September 30 to October 1, things got busier around the Garden. I honestly was just too busy to think about anything besides work and helping Sarah with her wedding plans. The last thing on my mind was the season starter party that was happening Monday night, two days away. I was busy planning with Chris and Jim and a few other media guys how we would set up our cameras and who would be responsible for what. Jim told me on the side he wants me to just capture everything; players and their wives, girlfriends, children, the fans…everything. It’s Saturday night, the girls are out with their significant others bar hopping, and I’m stuck in a small office trying to finalize the plans and running off copies. It is Jim’s wedding anniversary and I didn’t have the heart to tell him I couldn’t help out. My clock hit 8:30pm and I groaned. I hadn’t eaten dinner, or even lunch for that matter. I ran right out of the house to come here. My jeans were getting uncomfortable, and I couldn’t decide if I was hot or cold. So my sweater kept coming on and off, on and off.
There was a light knock on my door, and I looked up. I must have looked frantic because Ryan laughed at me before sitting in the chair in front of my desk. “Ry, I’ve got tons of work…” He smiled, “I know, but you’ve got to eat right?” He handed me some Tupperware filled with chicken and pasta, and another with a cupcake. “Did you make this?” He laughed, “No…Torey did. But we had left overs.” I laughed and took the containers, “Thank you.” He kept sitting, and looking at me. “What?” He smiled, “this is kind of like a date.” I rolled my eyes, “This is nothing like a date.” He smiled wide, “Then let me take you on a real date.” I grabbed a plastic fork form my desk and opened the container, “Ry, I am way too busy to hang out with my friends on a Saturday night, let alone go on a date with anyone.” I took a bite of the food, and my stomach rejoiced. “I’m patient.” He said with a smirk and I rolled my eyes again.

Ryan and I have gotten pretty close on the friend scale these past few weeks. He comes visit me in the office when practice is over, he tells me how he misses his dog Carl, and the repeated date questions. I’ve opened up about my brother with him, the anniversary if his death was coming up. He was going to graduate in the winter instead of the spring with the rest of his class…I’ve talked about Sarah’s unrealistic wedding plans, and Casey’s growing relationship. There were days I wanted to date Ryan, and be a happy couple. But there was always that voice in the back of my head he’s not Zac that I tried to silence. Ryan still steals a few kisses here and there, and I welcome those kisses. It’s nice to feel wanted. He broke my concentration when he picked up a big notebook off my desk. “Woah hey, careful! That cannot become unorganized. I spent all day yesterday doing that.” He put it down and put his hands up. “Give me something to do. Let me help you get out of here earlier.” I smiled at him, “Come on. Anything!” I bit my lip, “fine…do you know how to use the copier?” He nodded with a smile, “Okay, I need copies of these two thing.” I wrote down how I needed the copies and how many I needed for each. “I’m trusting you Ry.” He smiled, “I won’t let you down!”

He left my office, and I could now devour the delicious food in front of me. I took one bite when my cell phone started to ring. It was Sarah, she also texted me…I hesitated to answer; I didn’t want some drunk mess while I’m trying to focus…but I answered in case it was something important. “Hey Sarah, what’s up?” There was loud music in the background, but it was muffled, she must have been in the bathroom. “Come join us!” I rolled my eyes, I knew it would be this kind of call. “I’m working, I can’t.” She sighed, “But you’re always working!” I couldn’t disagree there. “Sarah, I need to go. I have too much on my plate.” Literally, I wanted to eat this food. “Fine. But Casey is staying at mine tonight. So you’ll have the place alone.” Thank god, I needed peace and quiet. “Alright, thanks for the heads up. Be safe.” I hung up the phone and sighed. I loved my friends, but sometimes I wonder if they ever have extra work to do. I finished the food Ryan brought to me, and started on the cupcake. I took one bite and I was surprised. I didn’t expect red velvet. I walked out to the copier where Ryan was focused. “Hey.” He looked up with a smile, “hey yourself. I’m almost done here!” I smiled, “Where did you get this cupcake?” He smiled, “a bakery around the corner. I picked it up earlier today.” I walked towards him, “How did you know red velvet was my favorite?” He smiled wide, “You mentioned it weeks ago when you were talking on the phone with Sarah about cakes for her wedding, and how your wedding will have red velvet.” A smile crept on my face, “you remember that?” He grabbed the copies he did and smiled at me, “Of course. I remember everything about you.” It was something so small, a simple gesture. But he remembered that small fact about me. I gave him a kiss on the cheek, “Are you busy tonight?” He shrugged, “I had a date planned, but the girl bailed.” He winked at me. “Bummer…well if you’re free I’ve got the apartment to myself. Would you care to watch a movie with me?” He smiled, “it’s not a date Ry.” I laughed as I turned back into my office, “But I’m getting closer!” He said as he followed me in.

We got to my apartment around 10:30. Ryan went out and bought some movie snacks while I finished up working. He brought the backs in and put them on the counter in the kitchen. “Alright, we have popcorn, Swedish fish, twizzlers, sour patch kids, ice cream – moose tracks flavor, and a fruit platter.” I came out of my room where I changed into yoga pants and my Spooner t-shirt. “Fruit? That’s not a movie essential.” He laughed, “don’t worry it’s for me. I can’t be eating this crap.” I grabbed the bags of twizzlers, “but I can.” He I grabbed drinks; water for both, while he put the movie in. “What are you picking over there? I’m not watching Saw ever again.” He laughed, “I picked an Emily friendly movie.” I sat on the couch with my legs up and my cheetah print blanket covering me. Ryan Sat next to me with his arm stretched out behind me. I scooted closer to him and rested my head on his shoulder. “This kind of feels like a date.” He smirked at me, “Oh shush you, it’s starting.” Leap Year one of my all-time favorite romantic comedies. I looked over at him, and he read my mind, “I told you, I remember everything.” I smiled and kissed his shoulder as I leaned against him. Like many times being with him, this actions caught me off guard. I didn’t mean to kiss his shoulder, it just happened.

Half way through, I started to feel how I always feel during this movie; lovey dovey. Ryan and I were cuddled together by now, and he would kiss my forehead every so often. We hadn’t slept together since the charity weekend, and I didn’t really find myself craving it as much as then either. But this movie made me want to hold Ryan close. I looked up at him and he smiled at me, my heart started to beat faster. Should I kiss him? I started to lean forward, and so did he…but then there was a knock on the door. I gave a small smile and got up to answer it. I looked through the peep-hole and then back at Ryan. “It’s Zac.” Ryan paused the movie and turned on the lamp next to the couch. I opened the door to see Zac standing there with sad eyes. “Hey, come on in.” He walked in and was surprised to see Ryan. “Oh…were you guys…”Ryan did a soft laugh, “It’s not a date.” He winked at me and I rolled my eyes at him, “What’s up?” Zac sighed, “Steph and I got into a fight…I had no idea where to go…I just ended up here.” I looked over at Ryan, then back at Zac not really sure what to say... “I don’t really know why I came here…I’ll go.” I reached out to Zac’s arm, “You can stay…we’re just watching a movie.” I looked towards Ryan who I could tell was disappointed, but he just smiled. “Yeah man, stay.” Zac shook his head, “no, it’s fine really. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” He got up and left, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him, what was the fight about?

I looked at Ryan, “Why did you break up with Stephanie?” He rolled his eyes, “Em, I really don’t want to talk about it.” I took a twizzlers and held it in my hand, “I know…but you never want to talk about it.” He laughed, “It’s just not something to worry about.” But it was. If she was mean or bad or a cheater, I needed to warn Zac…didn’t I? “Plus, you’ll just tell him.” I shook my head even though he read my thoughts, “no…I wouldn’t.” That was a lie, and Ryan knew it. “Emily…do you know why I’m always okay with you turning me down for a date?” I shook my head slowly and he sighed, “If we were to ever become a thing…I wouldn’t want anything between us…and as much as you might deny it…Zac is between us.” I put the twizzler down, “No he’s not.” Ryan just shook his head, “Emily, I’m not stupid. I know you had feelings for him…maybe you still do. But I know you keep saying no because of those feelings…You’ve only told me so little about your friendship with him…I know you met at the cabin your grandmother left you, and that he didn’t tell you he was in Boston…but what happened in the middle?” Ryan was frustrated, and I understood why…but he’s never been like this with me before. “Ry…it doesn’t matter.” He stood up and grabbed his sweatshirt. “Where are you going?” He signed, “I have to go Em.” I wrapped my blanket tighter around me, “We didn’t finish our movie.” He walked to the door, and didn’t turn around “I’m not interesting in its ending.” He opened the door and walked out. The ending of the movie shows who she finally chooses between the two loves in her life; the guaranteed to work out relationship or the spontaneous relationship.

Notes

Thank you all!<3