Disclaimer: not mine, borrowed and nurtured. A/N: Thanks for the favs & follows.
Berkeley Series
ii
The More the Merrier
Ryan pushed his shoulder against his apartment door and jiggled the key, hoping it would give in. He glimpsed the kid's sour expression, and regretted not getting a locksmith before today, it was on his to-do-list, but had slipped his mind, like everything else had that day.
"You sure this is your apartment?"
Ryan brushed off the kid's suspicion and yelled for Taylor's help. He caught the kid's instant regret, and noticed him gripping his bike's handles, as if ready to mount it down three flights of stairs.
"It's really not that bad on the inside," he said.
They heard the lock slide, and Ryan took his keys back to see Taylor's vivid features. She wore a black dress with hooped earrings, and a green coat, she must have just gotten home from work herself. He almost forgot to give her the Chinese takeout, as she kissed him in greeting.
"Bonsoir, comment ca va?"
"It means, how are you?" Ryan translated, kicking his boots off at the door.
"Hungry, I guess," The kid admitted.
"Well, it's a good thing we ordered extra food then. I hope you like Chinese?"
Taylor took their dinner and invited them inside where Je Pense! reruns were playing on the tv. Ryan observed suitcases with tags from the Amalfi Coast, Italy, and two pairs of sneakers. He smiled, he wasn't expecting Seth and Summer until next week, but their impromptu visit was welcomed.
"Yeah, it's better than rummaging through the garbage bin."
Taylor exchanged an alarmed look with Ryan, who hadn't the heart to say, he had been there.
They moved into the living room, where Taylor had set out some plates and cutlery.
"We've got Mongolian Lamb, Fried rice, Beef in Black Bean, Lemon chicken and Satay chicken."
Taylor opened each Chinese container and unpacked the chopsticks and fortune cookies.
The Kid fumbled with the chopsticks, spilling beef down his shirt. Taylor showed him how to balance the sticks on his fingers. "It's easy once you get the hang of it," she said.
"Ryan!" Seth grinned, holding beers. "It's been too long, man."
Seth passed Ryan a beer, his hair longer than Ryan remembered, with a tan on his arms and face.
"How was the honeymoon?" Ryan smiled, somewhat distracted by the Kid's presence.
Seth chuckled, "Good, we came straight from the airport, lots to tell you."
Ryan smiled, "I bet, where's that wife of yours?"
Summer's hair was short and wavy, and he had not missed her punch to his ribs this last month.
"Hey Atwood, is this your kid? Aren't you going to introduce us?"
Your kid. The term echoed in his brain.
It frightened him and exhilarated him, at the same time.
He and Taylor hadn't discussed children, they had been together more than five years, on and off, but the thought of babies hadn't entered his mind. Not since adopting Flapjacks, their bunny who was getting on in bunny years, and had created a den out of Ryan's clothes, left on their bed.
Ryan still didn't know his name.
"What's your name, kid?" Seth asked, digging into Beef in Black Bean, as Summer rested her feet against the table, pinching food from Seth's container more than her own. Taylor handed the kid two drinks – water, and kombucha. "Sorry, it's all we have."
The kid looked up at them, a bit of colour had returned to his cheeks.
"Dylan Barber," he muttered. "Thanks, for dinner… I guess I better go."
"That was my reaction when she offered me Kombucha the first time," Seth chuckled.
Taylor frowned, "It's supposed to be good for your gut," she said, reading aloud the health benefits.
The Kid stood up, putting his chopsticks in his serviette, and wiped his hands on his pants.
"You can leave if you want, but usually dinner isn't over until we've read our fortunes."
The Kid watched as four adults scrambled to get the fortune cookies of their choice.
Ryan passed one to Dylan, "Maybe it'll bring you good luck," he shrugged.
Dylan closed his fist around the gold wrapper, "Thanks," he mumbled.
A/N: I hope you liked this random idea. Stay tuned for more x