“Yeah, it has one more bedroom. But we’ll use it as an office for Zach.”
Ryan smirks. “I’d love to ask how his app is going.”
I swallow hard. “He’s, uh, moving on to a new venture.”
Ryan’s brow rises, but he doesn’t laugh like I expect him to. “So what’s his new project?”
“He’s…making an online course.”
Ryan clenches his jaw, and NOW I can tell he’s struggling not to laugh. “And what exactly is his expertise?”
My lips press together as I fiddle with my ring. “Making apps,” I finally say.
It’s ridiculous. I know it is. When Zach told me last weekend that he was abandoning his app, I felt a surge of relief. Finally. Maybe he’d get an actual job that paid a regular paycheck, something that would teach him to have a schedule and force him to work hard and reap his reward.
But instead, he said he was going to create an online course. With Tyson, of course, because the two of them can’t do a single thing without each other.
My reaction was a mixture of Ryan’s urge to laugh with an overwhelming desire to cry.
The thing is, I don’t care what his job is. He could be working at McDonald’s, and that would be fine. In fact, I’d be happy for him. I just want him to learn the value of hard work and the effort needed to actually pay bills. If he goes from his parents’ support to me covering all the bills, will he ever learn?
Ryan opens his mouth to say something, but he’s interrupted by a bang on the door. “Saved by the knock,” he says with a smirk, and we both head to the front entrance.
I open the door to see Zach’s big smile. “Hey babe.” He grabs me around the waist and gives me a rough kiss on the cheek.
I pull back, glancing at Ryan, but his focus is on the kitchen to his left.
“Ryan,” Zach says in acknowledgment.
Ryan tips his head at Zach. “Zach.”
There’s a weird moment where they stare at each other, then Zach claps his hands together. “Look at you,” he says, glancing around at all my boxes. “All ready to go. This should be a piece of cake.”
“I sure hope so,” I say brightly.
“It’s no problem when you’ve got these muscles.” He flexes his biceps and gives me a wink, sparing a quick glance at Ryan.
“Careful, you might pull something,” Ryan mutters.
Zach grabs a heavy box full of books, sends a meaningful look at Ryan, and lifts it with barely a grunt. “Good thing you’ve got a strong fiancé.” He exits the apartment, and I turn to Ryan.
“I guess we’re starting. Are you ready?” I ask.
He gives me a half-grin then picks up the nearest box. “Yep. Let’s get you moved.”
An hour later,we’ve used Zach’s truck to move one load of boxes from my old place to the new one. It’s Zach’s first time seeing it in person; he didn’t want to go apartment shopping two weeks ago and just asked for pictures of the choice with the biggest office. He seems excited about the new place, though.
Zach and Ryan don’t say much to each other, just passing boxes back and forth, lugging them up the stairs, and loading them into the apartment. I try not to read into it.
When we get back to my old place, Zach gets a call from Tyson. “Hey, man,” he says, answering the call. His mouth falls slightly, and his eyes turn to me. “That’s today?” He pauses and checks his watch. “Yeah, no problem. I’ll be there in an hour.” He hangs up and looks at me.
“What do you mean, you’ll be there in an hour?” I ask. Ryan walks back inside the apartment and heads straight to another box.
Zach’s expression is apologetic. “I totally forgot. There’s this training Tyson and I signed up for. It’s live online at noon, and I have to be there.”
“But I’mmoving,” I say. I glance over at Ryan, who seems unusually preoccupied with lifting that box. “I need your help.”
“You can do it.” He gestures at Ryan. “You’ve got him. Right, Ryan?”
