The realtor had come by this afternoon. She loved the house, was confident that she could sell it right away. Just beautiful, Dr. Hayward. She had said. It would make a wonderful home for a family. Yeah, it probably would have. But right now it would have to settle for me and whomever I happened to be fucking. Which, at the moment, was Krystal Carey. I didn't like Krystal. I didn't even like her sometimes. She was rude, tacky, annoying, and also sleeping with Tad Martin. But hell, what can you expect. I don't exactly have my pick of the ladies, unless I'm prepared to pay for them. And honestly, Krystal herself is a prostitute. The only difference is I don't have to pay to use her.
Right now Krystal's passed out in bed, the result of too much sex and too much booze. I wonder how long I'll have to wait before she wakes up and I can be alone again. That's why I'm not particularly upset when I hear a knock at the door, despite the fact that it's three o'clock in the morning. In fact, I practically leap off the couch to answer it and I swear there might even be a smile on my face.
Which promptly disappears when I see who it is.
"What the hell do you want?" I can't believe that he's here. He must know that he isn't welcome. And I assume the feeling is mutual. He's never forgiven me ever since he found out what happened between Gillian and I. Not that I care. I was never caught under Ryan Lavery's spell, unlike the rest of Pine Valley.
"I need to talk to you." He's out of breath, and now that I look a little closer, I realize he looks like shit. His eyes are bloodshot, and his face exudes a weariness that concerns me, although only in a professional capacity. I am a doctor, after all. But that's beside the point. I'm not interested in anything he has to say. That, and I just don't trust myself.
"Forget it, Lavery." I try to shut the door but he wedges his forearm firmly in the way.
"Don't be so stubborn David. This is important!" Everything's important in his universe. Ryan is what I disdainfully refer to as melodramatic. Compared to Ryan, even Krystal can be attractive. Which is what I'm thinking right about now as I continue to struggle with the door. "It's Greenlee."
I've managed to avoid thinking about Greenlee lately. It makes my life that much easier. Because thinking about her, with him, is downright painful for me. Not to mention pretty disgusting. But now she's back, and now I'm worried. So I open the door and allow him to enter.
"What's happened? Is she okay?" It must be a medical problem. A chill descends upon me as I consider the possibilities. Greenlee's lifestyle choices weren't always the healthiest. Well, whose fault is that?
I can't think straight. "Have you taken her to the hospital?" Ryan looks confused and opens his mouth, but no words come out. "Ryan, what the hell has happened to Greenlee?" I've started to raise my voice but I couldn't care less. I think I might be scared.
"It's nothing...not like that." He finally manages to spit out, his eyes darting around the room. "But I'm-I mean, she's not herself. She's very upset these days, very sad." He says this quietly, like it's a shameful secret. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to think. She was almost manic the last time I saw her. But maybe not with happiness.
Why is she sad? She just got married. I say as much to Ryan, and he shifts his gaze towards the floor. He feels responsible, obviously. And why not? He probably is.
"What the hell were you thinking, man?" I say this harshly, and Ryan's head snaps up, his eyes blazing.
"What was I thinking? Maybe I was thinking that I wanted to help my friend get her company back. It's important to her, especially because she doesn't...she doesn't have anything else." I really wish that he would shut up. I don't need him to tell me how important Fusion was to Greenlee. And Greenlee didn't have nothing. She always had me. The anger returns, full force, and I glare at him.
"But you don't love her. And after everything she's been through, Leo, Carlos, Pablo, her father, that's at least what she deserves. She doesn't deserve to become road kill on yours and Kendall's wild ride. She doesn't need you playing with her emotions, getting her hopes up for a happy marriage. Because you and I both know damn well that you're just going to fall back in bed with Kendall whenever it's convenient for you. And by the looks of it, that would be tonight." Ryan runs his hands through his hair and leans against the wall.
"That's not true, you know."
"Which part?"
"Greenlee-I do love her. Have for a long time." I stare at him with a look that must be disbelief. He's lying. I guess I know what I'm talking about. "Just-just not the same way I love Kendall. But she knows that. We've been clear about those details since the beginning. This is a business arrangement, six months. Then we'll both get what we want. We'll share the Cambuis fortune, and then Greenlee can get her company back. I mean, it's not as if we're actually-well, it's not a marriage in all senses of the word. Not like it should be. Not like people think. "
I don't know if I'm relieved or horrified.
"But these days, she's just...I just don't know what to do. I need you to help her David. Because I don't know what to do." What a selfish prick. He's feeling guilty about this joke of a marriage, and he wants Greenlee to cheer up because she's bringing him down. Without doing any of the hard stuff himself. How did I become the fall guy for these situations? The guy that collects shards of broken hearts off the ground? I'm not made for it, and so far I've done a piss-poor job.
I'm torn between laughing in his face and thanking him pathetically for his honesty. I decide to do neither.
"Where is she?" I need to find out where her head is.
"At my-our-apartment. She'll still be awake because she's hungry. I'm bringing back food later. And ice cream." He's babbling and I can practically see the gratitude etched into his face. I'm disgusted with him. Making a mess like this and having to crawl to me for help. I pull my coat of its hanger and grab my keys. "So you can talk to her and I'll be there in a couple hours."
"Why? Where are you going right now?" Of course I know where he's going. I knew before the question even finished leaving my mouth. Leaving his new wife at home the day they get back from their honeymoon in order to visit his ex. How classy.
I slam the door shut behind me, leaving Ryan standing motionless. And Krystal in the bedroom behind him, sleeping her life away.