Page 34 of Sinful Abandon

Ryan pauses in signing for a moment, seeming surprised by my compliment.

“My son was supposed to go pro,” Ryan translates what his mom signs. “He was City Player of the Year in high school and First Team Conference Player of the Year at Northeastern.”

I smile and nod to his mom, wondering if it bothers Ryan to have to talk for his parents, especially about himself.

“Then, he hurt his foot, and his career ended. I’m happy he’s found a new passion. I was never crazy about football. Always praying he wouldn’t get hurt. But, now, he has a new path, and we are so thankful you have taken him under your wing. He says you are the smartest woman in television.”

My head shoots toward Ryan, surprised he talks about me to his parents.

“Mom,” Ryan says. Then, he starts signing to her without speaking his words.

His mom voraciously signs back while his dad curiously eyes me.

“Fine,” he says. He turns back to me. “My mother would like me to invite you to stay at our house for dinner.” Ryan says out of the side of his mouth, “I already told her we have plans. Besides, I’m trying to impress you, and a night with my family is not the answer.”

His mother hits him in the arm again.

“Quit it, will you?”

Fred takes me by the arm and escorts me away from Ryan and his spoon-wielding mother. “Come, stay for one game,” his father speaks, his speech less intelligible than Jenny’s.

I follow the man down the driveway.

Ryan goes into the house to change, and I am brought into a backyard full of celebration with people talking and laughing. There’s a long table in the center where a group is sitting down, playing a dice game. In the back is a barbecue with another table filled with food next to it.

Fred walks me over to a girl, about eighteen years old, with long brown hair and bright blue eyes, and he signs to her.

When he’s done, she instantly shouts, “Ryan brought a girl home!”

Her words cause everyone in the backyard to stop what they’re doing and look my way. I offer a pathetic wave.

She grabs my arm and pulls me into a hug.

“You must be Aubrie?” I guess, my arms hanging on the sides of her.

“I’m Andrea. Nice to know the lughead talks about us. Come, meet the family.” She pulls me toward the big table.

“I’m not staying long. Just a few minutes.”

The crowd has gone back to enjoying themselves.

I take in the tiki torches and lanterns decorating the backyard. “Is there a special occasion?”

Andrea shrugs. “No, this is just a typical Friday night,” she says. Then, she stops for a second. “You’re just as pretty as he said you were.”

My face heats. I fear I’ll turn bright red. “Ryan said I was pretty?”

Andrea’s face lights up, her smile wide and bright. Then, she turns to the table of people playing a dice game. “This is Ryan’s boss, Heather.”

The group looks up.

“Supervisor,” I correct.

An overweight man with a Jimmy Buffett shirt is the first to speak, “My supervisor doesn’t look like you.” He laughs as the woman next to him hits him in the side.

“Cut that out, Hal. Don’t harass the girl,” she says to him.

“What? My supervisor is a fat sack of—”