"Out of Season"
Part 16
By Sister Rose
Standard disclaimers apply.
------------------------------------------------
Ryan Atwood dragged out of the construction site at quitting time with heavy boots and a slow tread through the dust. His mouth was dry, but it wasn't just the heat and the dust. It had been a long week and a long day with at least one more ordeal in front of him.
Mr. Saunders had taken his dumping with the gracious poise of a 2-year-old denied a toy. And he blamed Ryan for it. By Monday afternoon, he had arranged for Ryan to join the concrete team permanently. Mr. Saunders spent Tuesday and Wednesday making snide little digs that the other workers found funny.
"So, Atwood, taking another break?" he said every time Ryan stretched his back or got a drink of water. "So, Atwood, not finished with that little job yet?"
Today Mr.Saunders had moved straight on to harassment that was probably illegal, if Ryan had been willing to complain about it.
"So, Atwood, need a little rest after a long night with your boyfriend?"
After ignoring those comments all day, Ryan now had to face Seth. He drove to Nina's,thinking about ways to sugarcoat unpalatable words.
He opened the restaurant door to the usual clattering chaos and brisk air conditioning. He scanned for dark curls. Seth already had a corner booth staked out.
"Hey," Seth said, looking up as Ryan arrived.
"Hey," Ryan said, sitting.
"Coffee?"
"Sure," Ryan said. "Do you need to see a menu?"
"Just coffee, thanks," Seth said. "I've got dinner at home later. Big powwow with Gramps and Mom."
Ryan signaled Margie to bring two cups of coffee. He wished they had a hand signal that meant "and make mine with Jack." He had a feeling he was going to need it before this conversation was over. He decided to start slow.
"So, how did the paper go?"
"Paper?"
"Yeah, we talked about a paper you were writing."
"It sang, Ryan, it sang. The professor was weeping by the end of the theme paragraph. He was sobbing by the end of the first page. And by the end of the paper, he was so worked up that he could barely scribble a B."
"He hated it?"
"Pretty much."
There went that conversational topic. Ryan waited until Margie had delivered the coffee with an extra hip swish and wink for Seth's benefit.
"She likes me," Seth said.
"She likes tips, but you can be on her list, too, if you leave her one."
"How far down the list?"
"Her current live-in is named Cindy.'"
"I think I was happier when I was dreaming, Ryan."
"Sorry, but it's sorta what I need to talk to you about."
Seth took an exploratory sip of the coffee.
"Hey, they've changed the filters this week. Kinda disappointing, really. I was building up some manly chest hair. What did you want to talk to me about?" Seth said.
"Perceptions and sexuality and how sometimes what people think isn't the same as what is, and how sometimes ....."
Ryan trailed off.
"OK," he said. "I'm not going to be able to say this the easy way, so it'll have to be straight-up."
Seth was wrinkling his nose. "Please. I dislike being confused. I far prefer being the confuser to the confusee."
"Everyone at work thinks I'm gay," Ryan said. "I can't tell them anything different for a bunch of reasons I won't go into."
"Are those reasons named Summer Roberts?"
Ryan gawked. Seth smirked over his coffee cup.
"Yeah," Seth said. "I saw her sitting on your truck a few weeks ago. Figured she wasn't here for the coffee. And I remembered some not-so-casual questions about her. Were you making sure we hadn't dated? Because I have to tell you, Ryan, as big as the crush I had on her was, and despite the fact that I still know her birthday, I'm not sure she ever knew my name. She ran with the in-crowd and I ran -- well, I didn't run with the in-crowd."
"Um, yeah," Ryan said, his train of thought derailed as he tried to remember whether Summer had ever told him when her birthday was. They had been together a year. Surely in that time she had celebrated a birthday. He looked at Seth and tried to rebuild his conversational course.
"So. The point is that because you're talking to me, all the guys at work think you're gay, too. Which wouldn't matter if it was just some construction guys yapping, but it's not."
"It's not Summer, is it?" Seth said. "She doesn't think I'm gay, does she?"
Ryan looked at Seth. Talking to Seth was like strolling through the funhouse mirror room. He only ever really knew for sure where the floor was, not which direction the conversation was going.
"Um," he said again, "it hasn't come up."
"That's a relief," Seth said, "so what's your point?"
"The point," Ryan said, "is that Chip Saunders is working on the construction crew now, and he thinks you're gay. Because of me. So if you want, this can be the last time we talk."
Ryan finished in a rush and stirred his coffee, which didn't need it, with intense concentration.
"Let me summarize in my own words, if I may," Seth said. "Chip Saunders has been spreading the rumor I'm gay since we were in high school. That's not news. But he sees me talking to you and starts telling all your co-workers in typical frat-boy fashion, which he is, by the way, that you're gay, too.
"On Saturday at Luau for the Hungry, Summer Roberts gives him his walking papers. Chip somehow -- and this must be considered corroboration of the adage that even a stopped clock is right twice a day -- works out that you and Summer are involved in spite of the gay rumor that he himself is spreading. Logic was never his strong point. I imagine working with him has been hell for you, though I hope he has outgrown shoe-peeing."
Ryan felt the expression on his face grow stupider and stupider.
He blurted out, "So you're not mad?"
"At you, no," Seth said.
"It's my fault," Ryan said. "He saw me talking to Miss Roberts."
"Do you call her Miss Roberts' in bed?" Seth said. Off Ryan's scowl, he added, "Never mind, not my business. It's hardly your fault that Chip's an ass. He has been since high school. I doubt an ass has changed his spots. If asses have spots. Do they? Maybe on their own asses? I don't know. Something to look up. So are we all clear?"
"I, uh," Ryan said. He sighed.
"I need to ask a favor," Ryan said.
At Seth's encouraging nod, he went on. "Because of me, Miss Roberts doesn't have an escort to Newport events. I hoped that you wouldn't mind, since you said you weren't serious with Anna, if you wouldn't mind, that is, if you could ..."
"Be Summer's date?" Seth chortled. "You want me to take Summer Roberts, my heart's desire all through my teenage years, out on a date? Be still, oh, my beating, pounding, dare I say throbbing heart. I thought this day would never come. It's a miracle. It's also pretty damn funny. I wouldn't have pictured you as a yenta."
Ryan had no idea what a yenta was. He wasn't really sure what most of what Seth said meant, though Seth seemed able to pick out Ryan's intentions based on precious few clues. He took another sip of coffee, trying to hide his confusion.
"Yenta too much?" Seth said. "Let me try it slower. You want me to take out Summer Roberts? Is that correct? Do I understand you?"
"Miss Roberts needs an escort to Newport events," Ryan said with determination. He put down his coffee cup and faced Seth head-on. He wasn't going to let his embarrassment get in the way of doing the right thing. "She's nice and you're nice and I think you might get along."
"Ryan, I don't think she even knows who I am," Seth said.
"She said you were in different circles in high school and she didn't know you," Ryan said.
"Ryan," Seth said. "I don't mind doing you a favor, but I don't think this is going to work out."
"If it doesn't, it doesn't," Ryan said. "But I know there's an event this weekend. You could call her and ask her."
Ryan reached behind him and pulled a piece of paper from his back pants pocket with Summer's private cell number on it. He hoped she wouldn't kill him. He had never called the numer himself, but he hadn't been able to throw the piece of paper with her handwriting on it away. He passed it to Seth without blinking.
"I think this number is good," Ryan said.
"Dude, don't think I don't appreciate it, but why are you pimping out your girlfriend this way?" Seth said. "Why don't you take her yourself? She's one caliente mama, and I can't believe you're willing to share."
Ryan's face closed. He had to nip that kind of talk in the bud.
"Miss Roberts has been kind to me. I work for her dad.She's not my girlfriend," Ryan got out through tight teeth. He needed to remember that he wanted Seth to do him a favor and that he didn't want to punch Seth. He really needed to focus on that.
"Wow," Seth said. "Did the temperature just drop 10 degrees in here or is it just me? OK, got it. No talking about Summer as your girlfriend."
Ryan nodded curtly.
"I do have one question, though," Seth said. "Does Summer know you're helping her with her escort problem? Because most of the Newport girls I know think they can handle it on their own."
"I didn't tell Miss Roberts I was going to ask you, but I'll tell her that I did. After that it's her decision," Ryan said.
"Does she always call the shots?" Seth said quietly.
Ryan didn't answer, concentrating on drawing circles on the table top with his spoon.
"OK, I know you're probably already mad, but I want to ask something else: Are you going to be able to work with Chip?"
"It won't be a problem," Ryan said.
Ryan watched Seth swallow his lie.
"So," Seth said. "Are we square on this? I ask Summer out, and you don't punch me for it?"
"Miss Roberts would be lucky to have you as her friend," Ryan said. Now he only had to convince Summer of it. He returned his attention to Seth.
"If you do this for me, I'll owe you," Ryan said. "Whatever favor you want. And I know I still owe you for the weekend I spent with your family. So, whatever you want, I'll do it. Anything."
Seth still hadn't made a pass or asked for sex outright. Ryan hoped his words were plain enough that Seth would understand Ryan was willing to pay in the only coin he had available to him.
"I don't know that you owe me," Seth said. "I've been thinking that I owe you. I guess you've been wanting to punch Chip Saunders for a couple of weeks now. It might make you happy to know you already have."
Ryan tried to rein in his confused expression, but it slipped out again.
"Yeah, I didn't think you remembered," Seth said. "The weekend you stayed at our house, we went to a party. I got in a fight on the beach and you totally came and had my back. One of the losers you hit that night was Chip. I've owed you ever since. I can't believe all you want me to do is take out the most beautiful girl in Newport. I thought payback would be a lot harder, like a blow job or something, and I was going to have to tell you I don't know how."