Really, Rob? I thought we were friends.
I lower my finger from my nose and sniffle a bit. “I don’t think...”
“One picture won’t kill us,” Ryan says, wrapping his arm around my waist and drawing me to his side.
There’s nothing suggestive about how we’re posing, but having my hip pressed against his feels strangely intimate. I do my best to banish the thought away, facing Rob and giving him my best smile. It falters when Ryan leans down, bringing his mouth so close to my ear that I almost jump.
“This is kind of crazy,” he says.
My stomach flutters, my body turning traitorous. Time slows down but I keep looking forward.
“What’s crazy?”
“Me having you in my arms again. I never thought I would.”
I look up at him the same moment Rob snaps the picture. The massive flash goes off, causing us both to squint in the aftermath.
“Thanks,” Rob says before scampering off.
Ryan’s hand falls from my hip as I instantly move away, situating myself across from him. “Okay, let’s just maintain our distance, shall we?”
“Your body still reacts to me that strongly, huh?”
“If by reacting you mean physically recoiling, then yes, I had a very strong reaction.”
Ryan looks close to laughing and for some reason, I feel the need to stop it from happening.
“And what are you up to now?” I ask. “What do you do?”
“I’m a structural engineer for a construction firm in Raleigh. It’s more managerial than field work since I’m at the senior level, but I like it.”
“That sounds nice. I always said you would be great at something like that.”
“I remember,” he says, his voice now carrying more severity than nostalgia. It’s understandable. I’m sure seeing me again isn’t easy for him either. As much as I choose to focus on all the wrong that happened between us, it’s very possible that Ryan has spent the last ten years remembering all the right.
Maybe he’s secretly happy to see me again. Maybe he missed me. Maybe he only came to New York so he could find me...
“Are you drunk, Sullivan?” he then asks, pulling me out of my head. “You look a little dazed.”
I blink my eyes as I refocus. “No, I’m fine. It’s just hot out here. Are you hot?” I fan myself with my hand, looking around to see if anyone else is doing the same. They’re not.
“Am I hot? Is that a serious question or are you hitting on me?”
I stop fanning myself. “What? No, I’m not hitting on you.”
“Are you sure?” There’s a mischievous flash in Ryan’s eyes and it makes him look so much like he did in college. I sincerely hope it goes away soon.
“I’m one hundred percent positive I’m not hitting on you. We’re just talking.”
“You seem jumpy for someone who’s just talking.”
“Yeah, well, you make me very uncomfortable.”
Ryan gives me an understanding kind of smile as he takes a small step back, giving me space even though I’m sure he knows I’m not really uncomfortable. Just on edge. And confused. And slightly freaking out.
“Sorry,” he says. “You used to like it when I would rile you up.”
I swallow hard and say nothing.
