1
RYAN
“Why exactly are we at a strip club instead of the show I scheduled for us, Tiffany?”
My step-sister was just shy of drunkity-drunk drunk and her cheap looking Bride tiara was two seconds from falling off her brassy blonde head. I knew she’d paid thousands fro the hair and the extensions giving me confirmation that money definitely couldn’t buy class.
“Oh, lighten up Ryan. You’re so stuffy. You should learn to relax and have fun before you head out to Hollywood and all of the parties you’ll be invited to. I swear they never make the right people famous.”
Her bestie, Tami, nodded her matching blonde head as only a drunk sycophant can, “You’re absolutely right, honey. You should have been the one to get a Netflix deal, not him.”
My hackles raised, but I ignored the girls and headed to the bar and far away from the stage. There were both men and women shaking their asses and all the other appendages for the audience's enjoyment, but I wasn’t in the mood. I was finally realizing that even though I had high hopes of reconciling with my family and my step-sister, especially, it wasn’t going tohappen. I knew now that the only reason I’d been invited to the trip was because of the announcement my last thriller was being made into a series.
“What can I get ya, honey?” I looked up to see the bartender waiting for me to hurry up and order. A quick shot of tequila later and the blondes had made their way back.
“Ryan, I don’t have my purse and we want to drink here for a while, can we use your card to start a tab? I’ll get dad to pay you back.” I could tell she knew what my answer was by the way she lowered her head and looked up at me with a silent pout on her lips. I didn’t care, but I knew if she complained to my step-dad, I’d never hear the end of it.
Giving the card to the bartender wrapped in a hundred dollar bill, I heard the girls squeal, then run back to their front row for the new show on the center stage. Funny they had enough cash for the dancers, but had still expected me to pony up for the liquor and anything else they needed. Noticing them order not one but three bottles of the most expensive champagne, I could feel the heat rising up my neck into my face. I had been ostracized for years from the family since my mom had passed away. I thought this would be my time to actually have a sister, a family, at the holidays, but nothing ever changed, did it?
Flexing my hands into fists, I took a deep breath and made my decision.
“Fuck this shit. I’m done being their afterthought.” Motioning to the bartender, I pointed to the card I’d just given to her, “can I get that card back, please? I’ll give you this one instead.” Pulling out my sister’s card I’d brought, just in case, I traded it for mine. “I’m going to apologise in advance, she’s not going to be happy with me for this, but here’s something for your trouble.” I handed her another hundred.
Her smile was rye and full of understanding. “Thanks, honey. I’ve handled worse, believe me.” She pocketed the bill and thensmiled shyly, a little more hesitant than she’d been before. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
I smiled and nodded, “Of course.”
“Are you Ryan Winthorpe? You look just like him. I mean if you’re not, then you could be his twin. You have that gorgeous dark hair and you’re” she flailed her hands up and down toward me, “you know, gorgeous.”
I blushed, replacing the red in my cheeks from earlier anger to my own shyness. “Awe, you’re sweet, thank you. And yes, I am Ryan Winthorpe.”
Her face lit up and she nearly jumped up and down.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe it’s really you! I love all your books. I’ve read all of them and I can’t wait to watch the new series. I read it should be out next year, is that right?”
Even though I’d been ready to run out of the place minutes before, I sat at the bar and made a point to talk for a while. She’d introduced herself as Samantha, and told me she was only working this job as a way to pay her way through school. She had one semester left before she graduated with her Creative Writing degree. It was always a thrill meeting up-and-coming artists in any genre, but especially writers. After agreeing to read over a few of her stories and leaving her with an autograph on the cover of her ereader, I left feeling even more sure I’d made the right decision leaving and not looking back. But now I had a problem, so I texted one of my closest writer friends to figure out my next move.
“Call me when you get a sec, I just left the evil step-sis in a strip club with a card on tab with a $550 limit.”
Practically as soon as I hit send, my phone rang, “OMG, you really did it? That’s fantastic!” Alden, my sweet friend was nothing if not enthusiastic.
“I definitely did, and I don’t even feel bad about it. However, I need to find something to do over the holidays now. My floorswere just varnished and need a week to cure before I can walk on them. I can’t go home, and I’m absolutely not staying here. Any ideas?”
“Yes! I know the perfect place. There’s this adorable lodge in Oregon. I’ve heard some great things about it this year.”
“Alden, this isn’t a fix up is it? The last two times I asked you for recommendations, you sent me to a shifter dating weekend and a spa retreat for breaking through to your inner shifter. I like you, dude, but I’m not interested in finding my inner lost animal or my long lost mate. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m pretty much a de-fact human who will be alone for the near future.”
Alden was giggling, which I knew was a warning sign, but the link he sent me for the lodge seemed legit. It looked like a simple human lodge with no warning signs, so I booked it.
“It looks beautiful. That’s crazy that they have a vacancy this late in the holidays, but I’m not complaining. I guess it's fate.”
Alden laughed, “You could say that fate is always looking out for us in one way or another.” I heard a muffled voice, then the cry of a toddler about to pitch a tantrum. I’d heard it a few times since Alden and his mate had their little one and knew the conversation was about to be cut short. “Hey, Ry, I need to run. Hubby has to run to work and it’s nap time.”
“No worries, I get it. If I don’t talk to you before the big day, Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you too, Ry. Enjoy your holiday and don’t worry about anything. Remember, fate has you covered.”
I ended the call just as I entered the crazy expensive hotel I had reserved for sis and her posse of fake blonde minions. A genuine smile spread across my face as I imagined what I was about to do and the looks on their faces later tonight when they found out. Walking up to the desk, I brought out my ID and gaveit to the associate. “Good evening, Mr. Winthorpe, how can we help you tonight?”
