"Oh," she said, hesitating as she looked at him. "Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?"
He wasn't about to leave, not without getting to know her and hopefully a date. "I'd love some coffee. Maybe we can come up with a plan to get the two lovebirds back together. Where is Ria by the way?"
"She's still asleep, she was up late and had a lot of wine so I thought it was best to let her sleep in," she answered, handing him a cup and they sat down at the table to talk.
"Ria's not the only one who had too much to drink. Ryan was totally wasted when I went over there last night and let me tell you he is one angry drunk. I don't get your friend, it's so obvious she's crazy about the guy so why has she turned her back on him and love?"
"I know, she loves him but she has her reasons, ones that aren't mine to tell."
After talking about Ryan and Ria they started talking about each other, getting to know the other one better. They both turned their heads when they heard Ria entered the kitchen.
"Robbie, why are you here?" she asked, confused.
"Ryan asked me to bring your stuff over," he answered. He was shocked to see the way she looked, her eyes were bloodshot and watery. Her face was pale and blotchy, she looked like death warmed over.
She reached in the cupboard and took out a mug and filled it with coffee, her back still to him. "How's he doing?"
"Honestly, not well. The man is a pile of mush, he's heartbroken Ria. I found him drunk and almost passed out. You hurt him really bad. How could you do that to him? he is so much in love with you."
She turned to face him, fighting to hold back her tears. "Do you think I like hurting him? Ryan is a wonderful man, warm and loving and he deserves to be with someone who can give him her whole heart. I'm not that woman so I had to end it."
"Ryan has never loved anyone before and he has fallen hard for you. Now I'm afraid he's going to go back to his old self.
Drinking and using women only to drop them, breaking their hearts. We come from a family that never showed love and our parents taught us to be the same way. But you changed him, made him a better man, showed him how to love so again I have to ask, why are you doing this to him?"
"Why do you care? Don't you remember the things you used to say to me, how you kept hitting on me? You certainly didn't care about him then," she snapped at him.
His face turned red and he saw the way Kelly was staring at him with shock written on her face. "I was a jerk, but I was also trying to find out if you were with him for the money. Once I realized you weren't I backed off. We were never close but he is still my big brother and I do love him. I told Ryan how I tried to kiss you and got slapped for doing it and he still punched me in the mouth."
"He did?" she asked, shocked since he had never mentioned it.
"Yeah, well I wasn't the only one he used his fists on. Remember Mr. Macon? When Ryan found out what he did to you he went over and gave him what for. Girl, I'm telling you, the man is so deeply in love with you. Won't you please go talk to him?"
"I can't, don't you see how much this is hurting me too? Please, just drop it or I'm leaving."
Robbie decided to drop it for now. "I'm getting hungry. Let me take both you ladies out for a bite to eat."