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Chapter Four
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Ryan was the only thing on Jennifer's mind for the next few days. She had been apprehensive about asking him out, but their short and unexpected date had gone well. Better than other dates she had been on, but not the best. She got the feeling that he mutually liked her, perhaps not in the way she was interested in him, but at least he liked her. She had been with plenty of men in her past, but there was something unusual about Ryan. He spoke very little and was never the first to engage a conversation. She hadn't even seem him smile yet. Written on paper all these qualities would make him out to seem like a very unlikable person, yet, his spoken words were warm when he talked, and his eyes sincere. Rigid though he was, he was still someone Jennifer found herself attracted to.
As she sat on the back porch of her friend's house he was still on her mind. She leaned her elbows on the small patio table, a shadow cast over from the umbrella overhead. A woman came out of the house holding two ice teas, setting on in front of Jennifer and then sitting across from where she sat.
"So, what you been up to on these fine, sweltering days?" Jennifer asked.
"Oh you know, it's a race everyday between packing lunches for Johnathan and Noah." She referred to her son and husband respectively. "I don't know what's tougher, preschool or law. Between the two of them when they come home it's hard to tell." She gave a laugh.
"Lucy, Noah can make his own lunch." Jennifer gave her friend a look.
"It's called a joke." Lucy rolled her eyes. "You think I would actually baby him like that? Ha! I already have one baby to take care of and that's plenty."
"Good. I got worried for a moment there."
"No but seriously, my days are full of nothing now. I actually can't wait to start working again." Lucy leaned back in her chair. "I start up again next week. What about you? Is your life just as exciting as mine?"
"Same old." Jennifer shrugged. "I went on a date on Saturday."
"Now there's some news." Lucy grinned. "How'd it go? Who was it with?"
"Well, I think it went okay? I don't know. I met him last week in the book shop. He's an odd guy."
"Odd how?"
"He's really serious. Like, I don't think I've ever met someone so humorless."
"Oh." Lucy made a face.
"No, no don't make that face." Jennifer shook her head. "He's not bad. He's really nice actually. I can't tell if he was really into the date though."
"What, it wasn't his idea?"
"No I asked him. It was sort of random. He doesn't seem like a random guy, he seemed really surprised."
Lucy laughed at her now.
"What?" Jennifer slumped.
"You've always been too forward. You always chase men away with that. You have to tease them a little."
"I'm no good at that." Jennifer huffed, taking a sip of her cold tea. They both paused for a few moments, neither saying anything as they enjoyed their drinks.
"Is he cute?" Lucy broke the silence.
"Oh my god he might just be the most handsome person I've ever seen." They both laughed now.
"What's his name?" Lucy asked.
"Ryan. He's ex-military."
"Oh that does sound hot."
"And get this, he used to be an archivist."
"Say no more, he was made for you." They laughed again.
"Okay, lunch break over. I need to go back to the shop." Jennifer got up. "Have fun here in boring town."
"Until next week." Lucy raised her tea.
"Until next week." Jennifer repeated before she turned around to leave.
The shop was slow moving when she got back to it, but she found none other than Ryan sitting at the window side table reading the rest of the book on Jaspters history.
"Ryan." She smiled at him, her cheeks flushing instantly upon seeing him. He looked up. Shutting the book he got up and walked over to her.
"I thought I would drop by instead of calling, I hope that's okay." He greeted her.
"Better than." Jennifer laughed lightly. He still didn't smile, but he seemed happy none the less.
"Are you free tonight?" He asked.
"Um, yeah. Do you have anything in mind?"
"There is a meteor shower tonight."
"Oh, actual night." She blinked in surprised. She thought he had meant evening. "No matter, its fine." She shook her head. "What time is it at?"
"It starts at three, is that fine with you?"
"Yes, that's fine. Should I meet you there?"
"I can pick you up." He offered.
"Okay, I live on Twelfth Street. The white house on the corner. If you have any troubles finding it just give me a call, okay?"
After they agreed to their second date, he left. Jen was feeling optimistic about the upcoming night. 'Ryan' felt as if he had just willingly dug his grave even deeper.
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Sort of a filler chapter, just to get a perspective of Jens take on everything. Also, is anyone actually reading this?