Ryan stepped off the plane and was relieved that the long trip was over. He hadn't freaked out but he had sat, tensed, for the entire flight.
He was exhausted. Besides the time zones and connecting flights, he'd been traveling for about sixteen hours.
It was cold when he walked out of the terminal onto the busy sidewalk.
"Ryan! I can't believe you actually came! It's been so long!" He heard her voice before he saw her. He embraced her genuinely.
"You look so sad…well, kid, we're going to get you cheered up in no time!"
"You're picking me up in a limo," Ryan smiled when he turned to see their ride.
"Hey, you know me, I always travel in style," Gabrielle smiled.
She was as beautiful as the first time he saw her in the Cohen's backyard. She held open the door for Ryan and he climbed inside as the driver took his bags from him.
"So, kid. What's on your mind?"
"I'm so fucking tired from that trip, I don't understand how you can hop around the world all the time," He remarked. She was considered a 'supermodel' now. But they'd been friends for so long that it didn't matter to him.
"Well, you get used to it. But New York's home now. You get any sleep? Did they feed you on the plane?"
"Stop nagging…" He groaned as she pulled at his shirt to examine him.
"I'm just getting started, kid. I'm going to keep you so busy that you don't have time to be depressed. We're headed to my place…"
"You live in a hotel, Gaby," He teased.
"The penthouse, Ryan, there's a difference. Anyway, after that, I'm introducing you to your counselor and then I'm taking you shopping…"
"Shopping? I'm exhausted, Gaby…"
"But you need a tux."
"A tux?"
"Yes. I have to make an appearance at a premiere tonight and you didn't think I'd leave you all alone your first day in New York, did you?"
----
"Kirsten?"
"Hey. You called."
"I promised."
"You made it there okay?"
He was sitting on his bed in Gaby's penthouse. He'd called Kirsten before he left LAX but this was his first call today.
"Yeah. Airports suck. How's Newport?"
"I'm in a lot of trouble."
"Sorry. I'm fine. It's nice here." Ryan glanced up and saw Gaby cleaning out the minibar and refilling it with juice and milk.
"What are you doing?"
"My friend is making me drink these gross protein drinks. She thinks I'm thin."
"Where are you?"
"Kirsten…"
"Because your friend sounds like someone I'd like to meet."
Gaby stood in front of him and tapped her watch. "The doctor's on her way up."
"Did she say doctor? Are you okay?"
"The shrink. This isn't a vacation…"
"I need to know where you are. I'm having second thoughts."
"I thought…you said that you wouldn't ask…"
"Who is she?" Kirsten asked. Gaby was standing beside him.
"You didn't tell them you were coming? Oh, Ryan, give me the phone…" Gaby demanded, startled.
"Hang on, Kirsten," Ryan sighed. He handed the phone to Gaby and sprawled out on the bed.
"I can't believe he didn't tell you," Gaby said into the phone.
"He said he had to leave. This is Kirsten…"
"I'm Gabrielle. We've actually met…"
"Really?"
"It's not important," Gaby said quickly. "But he's in New York staying with me in my penthouse."
"And you got him a doctor?"
"The best I could find. And I'm going to keep close tabs on him."
"How close? He's not…"
"I know what happened. He told me. He's not here because we're lovers or anything, he's here because…"
"He needs space."
"I'll take good care of him. Let me give you my numbers…"
"Gaby, don't. Please," Ryan said quietly.
"Kirsten, Ryan's worried."
"I won't give them out, he has his phone with him. It's just for emergencies."
"Okay." Gaby gives her some phone numbers.
"Thank you. Can I talk to Ryan?"
"Sure."
"Yeah?" Ryan retrieved the phone.
"I love you."
"Me, too."
"Call me tomorrow."
"Okay."
-----
Ryan met the doctor and was impressed by her ability to get him to talk. She didn't have his file or his family's introductions, he was simply a patient. He was actually her only patient. She was a highly paid and exclusive psychologist and Gabrielle had found her on sabbatical in New York and convinced her to take on Ryan.
After their initial meeting, Ryan felt slightly better. The doctor hadn't tried to shove pills at him or make him go to AA, she'd just listened. Gaby hadn't given him a chance to recover before taking him shopping and then to the premiere.
Ryan enjoyed the party. He didn't know anyone there, not even the celebrities, and was satisfied to be Gaby's escort for the evening, as decoration.
By the time they got back, he was exhausted. He fell into his bed and barely registered his phone buzzing. He put it to his ear.
"Yeah?"
"Hey."
"Hey, Summer. How are you?"
"Sad."
"I'm sorry."
"Me, too. I blew it…"
"No, you didn't. The timing's off…"
"But the timing's on with that girl?"
"What?" Ryan asked, rolling over.
"Sorry."
"She's a friend, that's it, Summer," He sighed.
"We're not exclusive…" She started.
"Summer, don't…"
"But…"
"I'm not romantically involved with anyone, Summer. Not even you. I'm not capable right now. I'm sorry. But when I am…you're the only one I'm thinking about…but I cannot do this now. I can't handle it…" He was speaking quietly but Gaby had heard his voice and was standing in the doorway, concerned.
"God, Ryan…"
"Summer, please…"
"I know it's wrong, I know you're not ready but I love you and…"
"I can't talk to you."
"Ryan, wait."
"No. I'm sorry. If you want to talk about anything except this, if you want to accept that all I can give you is friendship right now, then give me a call. If not, I'll see you when I get back." He flipped his phone closed.
"You okay?" Gaby asked. "You're shaking."
"I always shake."
"You didn't shake tonight. You seemed like you relaxed a little…"
"I did. It's cool…"
"Who is she?"
"Can I just go to sleep?" Ryan asked.
"No. Who is she?"
"Summer. The girl I told you about? Came back into town and was one of my best friends…"
"And then she turned on you and said she loved you. Ah. That girl." Gaby sat down beside him on the bed. "She won't give it up?"
"I think I love her, Gaby. But I'm not ready to be what she wants…I can't be with anyone right now…" He whispered.
She gave him a reassuring hug. "Get some sleep, kid. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Thanks."
------
Ryan had been gone 3 days when Jimmy came by to meet Sandy and Kirsten for lunch.
"I need to apologize," Jimmy said as they sat down.
"Why, Jimmy?" Kirsten asked.
He sighed. "Marissa…she's more like her mother than I ever knew. She's…cold. I never realized, I mean, she's my daughter…"
"Jimmy, what are you talking about?" Sandy questioned.
"She's mean. I'm sorry for ever coming to Ryan about her, I know I've said it before, but I always thought…I mean, she's my daughter."
"Ryan loved her. You didn't force him to do anything, I'm sure you're overreacting."
Jimmy shook his head. "No. She slept with Seth and all those boys to hurt him. He'd never admit it to me, but she did. She admitted it."
"She's not the same since the accident," Kirsten offered.
"No. I believe her. She's not a good kid. I'm not giving up on her, but I don't want her to see Ryan. Ever again. How is he?"
"Still AWOL," Sandy said.
"He's in New York," Kirsten nudged Sandy disapprovingly.
"Really? With Anna?"
"Have you ever heard him talk about a 'Gabrielle'?" Sandy asked.
Jimmy choked on his soda.
"Jimmy?"
"Gabrielle. Damn," Jimmy laughed. "You don't remember her?"
"Has he dated her?" Kirsten asked. "Because she said that we've met, but I can't place her."
"Ryan never dated Gaby," Jimmy responded. "But she dated someone else in your family."
"Seth?" Sandy questioned.
"No. Caleb," Jimmy said. "She kept Ryan from hooking up with Marissa for the first time. He told me about it one night when I was with him in the hospital. She was…"
"The model. Are you serious?" Kirsten was pale with realization.
"That little bastard…" Sandy laughed.
"They're…she was with Ryan? Back then?"
"Oh, no, nothing that serious. He's really guilty about it. He never mentioned that they were still friend," Jimmy remarked. "I hope I didn't get him in trouble."
"At least I have a name to go with the face," Kirsten smiled, flushed. "And I knew he was…mature with the ladies."
"I had put my money on Rachel, but Luke said…" Jimmy stopped midsentence. "What?"
"Rachel? Rachel from work?" Sandy gasped.
"I'm not talking anymore…" Jimmy was red with embarrassment.
"It's definitely been an informative lunch," Kirsten laughed.
"I'm going to have to have a talk with him about his choice of partners…and how they shouldn't be older women that he meets through us," Sandy started.
"Or Caleb," Kirsten added.
"Exactly," Sandy agreed.
"But he's okay?" Jimmy asked.
"He likes his doctor there. Gaby…she keeps him busy and he's eating and…he says he feels better."
Sandy sighed. "He sounds more relaxed."
"He's not drinking?"
"He says no. He said Gaby cleaned out the minibars in the hotel and the limo."
Jimmy laughed. "The limo? Yeah, he sounds like he's doing better."
-----