Off Sides(38)

My eyebrows raise and now she has my complete attention. "That's wonderful," I say with excitement.

"Yes, I suppose it is," she says dryly. "But I'm not going to waste my money on this deal if Ryan is still with you. If you want me to bail Ryan out of this mess, you will break up with him and get out of his life for good."

My heart sinks to my stomach and turns into a lead weight. The solution to Ryan's criminal charges lie with this woman, and the price is steep. She wants me to give up the one thing in my life that represents a lifetime of love and happiness.

I try to call her bluff. "You wouldn't abandon Ryan like that."

She arches a perfectly plucked eyebrow at me. "Wouldn't I? He's already turned his back on our family, why wouldn't I do the same thing?

I suck in my breath. How could the woman that birthed such a wonderful man as Ryan do this to him? Having had the most loving and wonderful mother in the world, it’s just beyond my comprehension.

I bite at my lip and glance out the window at the darkened street. It was only ten short days ago that Ryan walked into my life...right here in this very diner. And now, I am being asked to make a decision to give it all up. I've sadly come full circle.

Mrs. Burnham leans across the table. "Look...I can see you're a nice enough girl. But you could be his downfall. If he gets convicted, he can kiss a hockey career goodbye. Without my support in getting these charges dropped, Ryan could end up in prison. Do you want that to be on your head?"

My shoulders slump in defeat. What she is offering is the only sure way to get Ryan out of trouble. Trouble he would not have been in had he never even met me.

Celia leans forward and her look is coldly masterful. “Let me also make this clear. If you see Ryan or talk to him after the charges are dropped, I will personally see to it that he doesn’t get into the NHL. My husband has enough contacts that can kill any chances of him having this hockey career that he so very much desires.”

This woman is a monster but I do nothing more than give a small nod of my head in agreement to her demands.

"Excellent. I expect you to break things off with him immediately."

She stands from the booth and Emily crawls out behind her. I keep my eyes down on the Formica table until they leave. Then I let the tears flow.

***

Ryan is due at my apartment any minute and I'm trying to compose myself in a way that will make this breakup believable. I've asked Paula to make herself scarce tonight. She wants to know what is going on and I tell her I'll fill her in later. I'm sure her shoulders will be soggy by the time she gets me under control.

There's a knock at my door and my heart feels shredded already. I probably have less than five minutes left of having Ryan in my life. This is the same pain I felt when I lost my mother and I never thought I would feel this way again.

I open the door and Ryan steps in. He wraps his arms around me and buries his nose in my hair. I cling to him tightly for a moment and then step away. Staying in his arms any longer could be disastrous for what I need to do.

Ryan starts jabbering about practice but I'm only catching about every fourth word. I'm too preoccupied with how to launch into my speech.

"Are you okay, Danny? Have you heard a word I've said?"

He's looking at me with a soft smile on his face and his head is angled in curiosity.

"I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"I said the school is letting me stay on the team until we have resolution on the criminal charges. Even better, the entire team voted to have me remain as Captain. They're really rallying around us."

He takes me in his arms again and kisses me. His enthusiasm is infectious and I let it sweep me away for a few minutes. I want to have more memories of him so I will take these kisses as payment for the evil job I’m getting ready to do.

My body is eagerly responding to Ryan and I know if I don't back away, we are going to end up in bed together. And I most certainly cannot let that happen. There's no way I'll survive a goodbye f*ck with the man I love.

I step back from Ryan and walk over to the couch.

"Ry...can we talk for a few minutes?"

I'm wringing my hands as I take a seat and the look on Ryan's face is cautious. He sits beside me and leans back, placing one arm on the back of the couch. I turn sideways so I can look him in the face.

I owe it to him to look him in the face when I break his heart.

Ryan skims my hair with gentle fingertips and tucks it behind my ear. I relish his touch. "What's wrong, baby? You're starting to worry me."

I reach out and grasp his hand and squeeze it tightly in mine. The tears pool in my eyes and I take a steadying breath.

"Ryan...I can't see you anymore." I look at him and I can tell he doesn't comprehend. "I can't be with you anymore. I want to break up."

Ryan pushes forward on the couch and frames my face with his hands so I'm focused on him. "Tell me this is a joke."

I shake my head, lowering my eyes. I can’t stand the sorrow on his face. "It's not."

"Why?" he demands.

I start crying in earnest. How do I say words that aren't true but are guaranteed to slice deeply into his heart?

"I can't handle any of this..." I say vaguely.

"You'll have to be more specific, Danny," he grits out.