8
Russell
I laughedout loud at the text from Nick just before I left the house to pick up Ryan. The wording made me laugh.
Nick: Is today the day you’re going to talk to your boy about making him a permanent fixture in your life?
Russell: The way you worded that made him sound like some sort of flush mount lighting or flooring upgrade that I would make to the house.
Nick: You know what I meant.
Russell: I did, and that’s why it was so funny.
Nick: Russell, what are you waiting for? He’s yours. Get that bracelet on him and start living your life with him.
Russell: Believe me, I want to. But you know that Ryan can be skittish about the mere mention or thought about change. I can’t startle him about this.
Nick: I think you tend to forget that Ryan needs you and everything you give him. They aren’t flashing wants or desires, but actual needs.
Russell: I agree with you. I also need him.
Nick: And you want him.
Russell: I do. You’re right; I’ve lived long enough in a house. I’m ready for it to be a home.
Nick: Stop delaying. Collar him, Russell. Have fun with him today.
Russell: Will do.
I got in my car and while I waited for the garage door to open, I sent Ryan a text to let him know that I was on my way to get him.
Russell: Ready, my boy? I’m leaving the house now.
While I awaited his reply, I opened my email app and deleted the eight or nine emails that Claire had sent in the last twenty-four hours. I opened up the incoming text from Ryan.
Ryan: I’m ready! I’m excited!
I smiled and set the phone on the passenger seat and made my way to pick him up. There was a sports trade show here in town for the weekend and when I saw the advertisement for it, I knew it would be a perfect thing to take him to. I could tell by his text that he was in a great mood and that he had a lot of energy. I had some of my own ideas of ways for use that energy.
When I pulled up and before I got out of the SUV, Ryan was already coming out of the house. He waved and turned to lock the door. It was good to see him so excited. Wearing jeans, sneakers, and a USC baseball t-shirt, he jogged down the sidewalk from his door and cut across the grass. I unlocked the door as he approached.
“Hi!” Ryan energetically greeted me as soon as he opened the door.
“Hello, my boy. I’m glad to see you’re so excited.”
“I am!” he beamed as he took the passenger seat.
I grabbed his arm and pulled him closer so I could kiss him. I would have preferred to have been able to exit the car and collect him at the door. It would have given me the time to get my mouth on him. I pushed his tongue around in his mouth as I held his jaw still. When I pulled away from the kiss, his big smile and those dimples stared back at me. He clapped his hands loudly and then playfully punched my bicep.
“Aren’t you excited, Russell? How could you not be? This is one of the largest sports memorabilia trade shows in the country. I was looking at the online info and there are booths from all the major league baseball teams!”
“Just baseball?” I asked, even though I was fully aware of what was going to be there.
“No! There’s football, basketball, and hockey too. But, baseball Russell! There will be a Dodgers booth!”
“Well, we will have to make sure that we stop by that booth then, won’t we?”
The entire way to the expo, Ryan held the tickets in his hand, as if they would have disappeared from the cup holder that I had them sitting in. He was in an easy-going, happy mood and seeing him like this made my day. The only thing that would have made this more enjoyable would have been if we could have left my house, our house, together.
