Home > Love is Contagious : A Charity Anthology(6)

Love is Contagious : A Charity Anthology(6)
Author: J. Saman

“Well, I’m a little psycho crazy,” I admit with some degree of honesty. “But it will never be directed at you specifically, and you do not need to worry about me ever being super clingy in love with you.”

“We’re cool, chica.”

I smile so wide I can’t help it.

I’m finally getting the excited butterflies because I feel like, for the first time in two years, I’m taking my life back into my hands. I’m practically vibrating with it.

“Then I guess we’re off, Ryan. Driver picks the music, and as a rule, since it’s my car,” I turn to look at him intently, “no classic rock.”

He stares at me for a minute, but doesn’t ask why. I’m sure he can guess. It’s not a hard one to make.

“You got it.”

I nod and start the car. It’s already set up for my phone to come through the Bluetooth, so when Silversun Pickups blares out, Ryan nods his head approvingly.

“We’ll get along just fine, Katie. Just fine.”

We’ll see.

 

 

3

 

 

Kate

 

* * *

 

“Why do you call me Katie?” I ask after half an hour of silence. Ryan had been tapping away on his phone, and I didn’t want to interrupt, but I’ve been curious about this, especially since he hasn’t stopped, even when prompted.

He doesn’t pull his eyes away from the passing landscape out the window. “Because that’s how I remember you. That was your name when we were introduced,” he says like it’s really just that simple.

“Ryan, you were only ten when we met. That was a long time ago. I doubt you even remember much about me from that one visit.”

He shakes his head, finally turning to look at me.

“You’re wrong, Katie,” he emphasizes my name. “I have an amazing memory, and I remember everything about that visit.”

I scrunch my nose. “Really?”

He nods once. “Yup,” he says, popping the p sound.

“All right. Lay it on me then, and maybe it will spark something, because I don’t remember anything about that visit.”

His face breaks out into a crooked smile that’s a little unnerving. “Well, within the first five minutes of coming to my house, you stripped down to your days-of-the-week panties and ran through my sprinklers.” My eyes widen, and he nods. “It was awesome,” he chuckles. “Your mother started freaking out, but your father pulled her back, telling her you were just being a kid.”

I smile at that. “My dad was super cool like that.”

“He seemed like a good guy,” Ryan agrees. “So after you were done with your wet strip-show, you ate everything in our house, lost three games of checkers to me, refused to learn chess, did some other stuff and then passed out in my bed.”

“Seriously?” Wow.

“Yes, your mom said that you were a bit of a wild child. I think everyone agreed with her assessment.” He’s still smiling, the memory amusing him.

“I was,” I laugh. “I never listened, always did my own thing, or annoyed everyone until I got what I wanted. Maggie was just like that.” I shake my head, but then my smile drops when I think about what I just said, and the lump forms in my throat that I have to swallow past. “Where did you sleep that night if I commandeered your bed?” I ask, needing to change the subject quickly.

“I slept in Kyle’s room. He had a bunk bed, which incidentally worked out in your favor; otherwise, I would have shoved your cute ass to the floor.”

I chuckle lightly, but it still feels forced. “Who’s Kyle?”

Ryan looks over at me like I’m a moron. “My brother.”

I shrug sheepishly. “I didn’t realize you had a brother. Sorry.”

“It’s fine. He’s younger than me. He was only three when you came to visit that time. He lives in New York now, finishing up law school.”

“That’s pretty cool.” Ryan gives a strong nod like he agrees wholeheartedly, and I can tell just by that small gesture that they’re close. “So how come you guys never returned the favor and came to visit us?”

Ryan runs a hand through his hair and stays silent for a moment, his eyes going back to the window as I-95 south breezes past. “Kyle was diagnosed with leukemia when he was five, so we didn’t travel and didn’t have people over either. My mom was really paranoid about him being exposed to germs.”

“I can see that.” Ryan doesn’t turn, just stays focused out the window. “But he’s doing well now?”

He nods. “Yes. He underwent chemo on and off for years, but eventually I donated marrow and platelets, and everything else I could give, and he got better.”

“Wow,” I gasp in awe, because I know that what he did for his brother had to have been hard and very painful. “That’s incredible you did that for him.”

He shrugs one shoulder like it’s not.

“He’s my brother.”

And I get that. Not exactly the brother part, but definitely the doing whatever it takes to save your loved one part.

We both fall silent, sliding into our own introspection. But it’s not awkward or uncomfortable. It’s companionable and easy, and for the first time since this whole thing with Ryan started three days ago, I’m happy he’s along with me.

After navigating our way through DC traffic, we finally make it into the city limits. “Where should we go?” I ask, looking around for a hotel. “Should we try and find a hotel or something?”

“Nope. My friend made reservations for us at the JW. I know where we’re going, just continue down Pennsylvania Ave.”

“Who is this friend of yours, and why would he make us hotel reservations?”

“I went to college with him and have done some work with him since.” He looks over to me. “And he owes me, so this whole night or however long we stay is on him.”

My eyes widen. “For real? I can’t accept that.”

“You can. Trust me. He could pay for everything, and it still wouldn’t cover the debt.” Ryan points for me to take a right turn, so I do, and then I see the hotel’s valet area coming up.

“Do I even want to know?”

“It’s nothing crazy or scandalous. I just saved his stupid ass from getting hacked, and made it so he got to market with his app sooner than he would have. Instead of payment for my endeavors, I asked to be repaid in favors. This is one such favor,” he explains simply.

We get out of the car, and I grab my suitcase with my spring/summer stuff in it, because even though it’s the end of September, it’s hot here. At least in the eighties.

The valet takes my car with the rest of my stuff in it. Ryan and I walk into the large, open, elegant lobby appointed with marble floors and crystal chandeliers and head toward check-in.

“Why did you ask to be paid in favors?” I question as we’re waiting in line.

“Because favors are worth more to me than money.”

Okay, sort of cryptic, but whatever. “And this favor was worth a lot I take it?” Gesturing around the expensive-appearing hotel.

Ryan turns his gaze down to me just as we’re being called up. “Because of me his app didn’t get hacked and it came out ahead of any competition. That app made him well over a hundred million dollars.”

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