The extra traveller

Now that Marissa had some direction in her life, she was a new person. She was excited about the plans they had made, although she wasn't excited about all the time that Ryan was spending at work. But she knew it was for a good reason.

The morning after their 'TALK' she had called her manager Kate to sort out her commitments and now, only a few days later, everything was falling into place. The jobs that she was committed to were all lined up. It was hard to imagine that only a few days ago the thought of returning to Paris had been something she was dreading but now … knowing that Ryan would be with her … she couldn't wait. She would be able to show him around, introduce him to her friends and if everything went according to plan and she did finish her work in 2 weeks, then they would have a whole week all to themselves … in one of the most romantic cities on earth. She couldn't wipe the smile off her face.

She had even made an appointment with a career counsellor to have a chat and had spent a considerable amount of time on the internet, researching possible courses that she may be interested in. She was amazed that there was so much to choose from, but excited nonetheless.

She was so excited about this new direction of her life that she even managed to stir up a bit of interest in Seth and Summer's wedding and spent several hours with Summer looking at wedding dresses and shoes and veils. She figured that she would just approach it as research for her own wedding but in truth what Summer was looking at was all a bit much for her. Still, she was happy to spend the time with her best friend and knowing how much it meant to Summer made it all worthwhile.

---

Ryan couldn't believe the change in Marissa. It was hard to imagine that a simple talk could have had such an effect on her. He was just happy that they had finally managed to sort things out. Although now he was concerned about how he would manage to get everything done before they went away. Maybe he had opened his mouth too soon by saying that he would go with her. He had been working 15 hour days, and he felt guilty that he had needed Annabel to work them as well. He knew he would have to give her a big bonus to make up for it.

One evening, after asking her to stay back yet again, he had apologised yet again. "I really am sorry about this. But I just have to get all this finished before I go away."

"Don't worry about it. I told you, it's fine. I'll have a few days off while you're in Paris." She replied.

"But I'm sure that Skip must be giving you a hard time about it. Actually, it's surprising that he hasn't given me a hard time about it." Ryan suggested knowing his friend was never backward in coming forward.

"He wouldn't want to." Annabel warned.

Ryan was surprised by her comment. He had thought that everything was still going well between the two of them but maybe that wasn't so. "But you can't have seen anymore of him in the last week than I have of Marissa ... and that's not much at all." Ryan replied.

"Well it wouldn't have mattered if I had been home the last couple of nights because he's been away anyhow. " Annabel assured him. "And as for tonight … well … it won't hurt for him to get a taste of his own medicine for a change." She stated.

Ryan frowned. He didn't like the thought of Annabel using work as an excuse to get back at Skip because he'd been busy. But the fact was that he needed her help right now, if he was to have any chance of getting things under control. But it didn't sound like things were all peachy between Skip and Annabel at the moment. Ryan decided that tomorrow he give Skip a call anyhow, just to apologise for keeping Annabel at work so much. He just hoped that his friend would understand.

---

The next day, as soon as he'd cleared the urgent matters on his desk, Ryan called Skip.

The phone was picked up on the first ring. "How's it hanging Atwood?" Skip answered.

Ryan couldn't help but smile at his friends comment. "None of your business, Taylor." Ryan replied.

"So ... are you still getting some?" Skip asked.

"Again. None of your business. " Ryan replied.

"I'll take that as a yes." Skip said.

"Why?" Ryan asked.

"Because I know you, you'd complain if you weren't." Skip suggested.

"No I wouldn't." Ryan retorted not liking the way this conversation was going.

"So you're saying you're not getting any?" Skip asked.

"No" Ryan replied.

"See … I told you … I knew you were. You two can't keep your hands off one another. Although what Marissa sees in you when she could have a fine specimen like me … " he started shaking his head in bewilderment. "Even if you have been at work till all hours, I bet you've been managing to slip one in every now and then."

"Skip !" Ryan stressed.

"What?" Skip asked, feigning innocence. "Are you telling me you've been slipping it in more often than every now and then?" he laughed.

"SKIP ! Enough. I didn't call you to talk about MY love life." Ryan stated.

Skip laughed. "Okay. So then why did you call?"

"I was more interested in yours." Ryan explained.

"Ahhhh! That's not very interesting." Skip replied.

"What does that mean?" Ryan asked.

"Exactly, Ryan. What does it all mean?" Skip asked trying his hardest to pretend to be serious.

Ryan by now was completely perplexed. "Are you and Annabel still an item?"

"Do you mean like an item on a menu?" Skip asked.

Ryan sighed. He knew that when Skip was in one of these moods he could be worse than Seth and that was saying something. The only way to get any answers was to be blatantly straightforward. "Are you still fucking her?"

Skip laughed knowing that he was getting to Ryan. "I see what you're getting at. And I guess I'd have to say that … if we actually manage to be in the same bed at the same time … then yes." Skip replied.

"But you're not spending much time together I gather?" Ryan asked.

"Let's just say … between her work commitments and my work commitments … things have been a bit light on of late." Skip replied.

"Maybe I can help." Ryan suggested.

"What? Are you turning into her pimp? Or are you not going to have her working back anymore?" Skip asked.

"Definitely no to the first and sorry, but no can do to the second, at least at the moment." Ryan replied. "I need her if I am to have any chance of getting everything finished before I go away. What I was going to suggest was that when you fly Marissa, Keith and I to Las Vegas next weekend, why don't you bring Annabel along? You can have 3 days in Vegas … my treat. You never know … you might win a fortune." Ryan suggested.

"Or maybe we won't leave our room. We've got a bit of lost time to make up for." Skip replied.

Ryan smiled. "Well that's completely up to you. But the offer's there. You decide if you'd like to bring her along."

"You don't have to do that." Skip commented.

"I know I don't have to. But I thought it might help to make up for some of the overtime that I've been demanding from her. I'd hate to think that you're having problems because of me." Ryan added.

"Don't worry. It's not because of you." Skip answered. "I don't know. The sex is great but other than that, I'm not sure that we have a lot in common. But I guess three days of sex can't be that bad. Can it?"

"I'm not going there. " Ryan replied. "Any thought of sex and you is enough to turn my stomach." He laughed.

"Let me think about it. I'll talk to her and get back to you."

R/R Thanks - And you'll be pleased to know that the caller is revealed in the next post.