I Appreciate You Chapter 4
The drive back to Sara's was very quiet. I didn't want her to worry about me any more than she already did. That's why I waited until I was locked safely in the bathroom to start crying. I must have been in there longer than she would have liked because she started knocking on the door.
"Ryan? Hun are you okay in there?" I know if I answer her she'll be able to tell I'm crying so I stay quiet instead. The door knob slowly turns and Sara gently pushes the door open. She sighs when she sees me sitting on the edge of the bathtub trying to stop crying.
I expected her to tell me everything's going to be okay, but instead she walks over to her bed and picks up the phone. "Hey little brother. Could you guys keep the kids with you tonight? Ryan needs me." She listens and then smiles. "Thanks. I love you too." She hangs up and then she turns around to face me. She walks into the bathroom and sits on the floor.
"I called Marisol and told her to tell Alexx that we need to talk. We're going to beat some sense into Eric if it kills us." I look down at her and say, "I don't know if that's such a good idea. It's obvious he wanted me gone. And what are you going to do about Calleigh?" She sternly but softly says, "First of all, Eric loves you and the three of us are going to make sure he remembers that. Second of all, you leave Calleigh to me. Honestly, I don't think she has feelings for Eric. I think she was just trying to be a good friend. But I'm going to make sure that's all it is."
I smile softly at her and whisper, "Thank you. I really do love him and I want things to work out between us, but they can't while I feel like this." She gets on her knees and hugs me. "I know you do and they will."
She lets go of me and stays kneeling in front of me. "Ryan can I ask you something?" I nod and she continues. "It wasn't the kiss that's bothering you is it? It was Eric telling her how much he appreciates her isn't it?" I look at her and nod again. "Okay, let me ask you something else. Why?"
"Because she wasn't the one who was practically living at the hospital waiting for Eric to wake up. She wasn't the one who took care of him while he was recovering. She wasn't the one who held him after he had a nightmare and couldn't go back to sleep. And she wasn't the one who did everything for him, getting two hours of sleep and still going to work in the morning. So how come she does one nice thing for him and he can appreciate her, but after everything I've done for him he can't appreciate me?"
"Did you ever tell this to Eric?" I laugh humorlessly and say, "No. He'd just think I was complaining or being overprotective." Sara gets up and pulls me up with her. She kisses me on the cheek and says, "We're going to make your man see how much you really want him and care about him." I wrap my arm around her as we leave the bathroom and go downstairs.
"You're the best." I tell her. She shrugs and says, "I know." We both start laughing and I'm starting to feel better. But in the back of my mind I can't help wondering what she'll do to Eric.
TBC
Okay everyone. Here's where I'm stuck. Any suggestions?