MELANIE
"Sorry, I'm quite... expressive," I offered when Ryan gave an awkward cough. Fuck me.
"Uhh, it's fine. I'm not complaining." He answered immediately.
Wait what? I felt my cheeks heat up.
He must have realized how it sounded because a few seconds later he gasped. "Um, no not like that. I just mean... I get that you're tired, you've been working late."
An awkward silence followed and a few seconds later I caught myself chuckling. Ryan joined in and it went on for a while. For some reason, it was hard to gather my words around Ryan. I'm not saying he wasn't easy to be with, because he was. Good Lord, he was. But there was something about him, I couldn't seem to understand it.
I relaxed into the plush seats and it was then that I really began to observe the car. Wait a minute. How was he able to afford a Porsche? I wondered, my face scrunching in surprise. He said he worked in Creatives. Just how much was he paid?
I turned to him. "This is your car?"
He looked puzzled for a few seconds. "I'm flattered you think I can afford this baby," He laughed, running his fingers over the steering wheel.
"So it's not?" I pressed on.
"Nope. Would it make any difference it it was though?" He asked, glancing over at me briefly before facing the road again.
"Fuck, yes. I wouldn't let you go until you've taught me your ways. I was about to ask if you were embezzling or some shit."
Ryan replied by booming with laughter as he took a turn in the road. "Take a right at the next junction," I told him. He nodded.
"You know, for someone who works in a professional setting, you swear a lot."
I shrugged. "It helps me express myself."
He eyed me curiously. "Really? I fail to see how that works."
"Hmm, okay. Here's a scenario, you get back from work, you're fatigued and hungry. Someone asks you, Ryan would you like some food? How do you reply?"
He looked like he was confused but the interested smile on his face told me he was enjoying this nevertheless.
"Yes."
"Good," I nodded. "Now try adding 'fuck' to that. Ryan would you like some food?"
"Fuck yes."
The look on his face was so hilarious I couldn't help but laugh. "See? That tells me you're extremely hungry."
He gave another of his deep chuckles. "I want to argue but I have a feeling you have a reasonable explanation for everything."
"I see you're catching on," I murmured, nodding my head thoughtfully.
He glanced at me again, but this time our eyes held for a tiny bit longer. I felt a tingle climb up my spine as I awkwardly looked away. What the hell was happening?
The rest of the drive went on in silence and I wasn't exactly sure if the silence was awkward or comfortable. Maybe a bit of both. At intervals I would risk a glance at him. He looked so relaxed and in his element. Come to think of it, he always looked relaxed. And he had a sort of aura that was just really comforting. Not to mention how delicious... My gaze drifted to him once more.
What if I invite him in when I get home? Could it be a solution to my sexual starvation? My face flamed.
"Shut up," I muttered to quiet the dirty voice in my head.
"What?"
"Oh, I wasn't talking to you." Father, take me now. Was I programmed to make a fool of myself around this gorgeous man? This was really getting out of hand.
"You're the weirdest person I have ever met. And it's nice to meet someone who's not afraid to be themselves or speak their mind. It's refreshing actually."
I couldn't help the blush that creeped up my face. For a second I was speechless. "You're in luck then," I blurted in lack of anything else to say. Fine, maybe I should have said something else. Something sweeter. But, sarcasm was my default, always been. As usual, he laughed.
"This is me," I said as I finally sighted my apartment building. The ride had seemed longer than it really was, for some reason. Looking at my apartment seemed to remind me of how tired I felt. I couldn't wait to shower and jump into my bed.
"You good?" Ryan asked as he got out to open the car door for me.
"Yeah, thanks for the ride."
"Anytime."
My breath caught when he smiled at me. For a moment I considered asking him if he wanted to come in for coffee. I bit my tongue to keep myself from doing so. It was a bad idea.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," I said, smiling and gesturing toward my apartment.
"I guess you will."
I offered him one last smile and then I was gone. As I shut the door behind me I tried to figure out why I felt so hot. Had it really been that long since I had a nice guy around?
Shaking my head, I dumped my purse in a chair, kicking my shoes off and tossing the leftover chicken porridge I had made in the microwave. I would have preferred to have some fast food right now but nothing on earth would make me leave this house when I had stripped already. And it was too late to order. So, chicken porridge it is.
As I curled up in a sofa and waited for my food to heat up, today's events began to replay in my head. I had a lot to tell Emily.