"THIS TIME AROUND"
By: gb
Chapter 23
Becca was waiting nervously in the living room at Wildwind for Gillian to come downstairs. A minute later, she started pacing. She had been trying to avoid her friend ever since their meeting in the park. Gillian, however, was not taking no for an answer today and dismissed every one of the excuses that Becca had given her.
Just then, Gillian came quickly downstairs and into the room.
"Gosh, I'm sorry, Becca!" she exclaimed. "I was just on the phone with Mateo- have you been here long?" she asked, smiling.
"No-no." Becca replied. "What did you want to see me about, Gillian?" she asked. "You sounded so urgent on the phone."
Gillian walked away from Becca and around the long, green couch and then faced her. Looking at her right in the eyes, she asked, "What do you know about Ryan going around town dressed up really badly in women's clothes with Scott?"
Becca's heart sank and she knew that her reaction alone would give Gillian the proof that she had been involved up to her neck in this stuff!
"Becca..." Gillian asked again, waiting. "It'll be a lot easier on you if you talk."
"Ok, don't me mad at me, Gillian." she said in a rush. " He asked Scott and me to help. He looked so desperate. He thinks you like Mateo and what harm did it do?! So he dressed up in dresses and wore makeup and a wig and followed you all over town. That's not so bad when you look at the crime in the world, is it?....I know I shouldn't have helped him, I know, but...what can I say? I'm a sucker for true love and he has it BAD for you, Gillian! I mean he dressed up like a girl in heels and eyeliner and everything- if that isn't the real thing,then I don't know what is!!!"
Becca slowed down for a breath and Gillian sighed heavily. She was affected by her plea on Ryan's behalf, but he still had to be taught a lesson for his silliness!
"Why would he do this?!" she asked Becca.
"You don't know?" Becca responded. "Because...because he just loves you and you mean everything to him."
Gillian felt tears prick her eyes as she looked at Becca's honest face. God, why couldn't she stay mad at Ryan for anything?! Well, this time was gonna be different!
"Becca, I have to pay Ryan- and Scott- back for this! Don't worry, I've decided not to kill them! That's too good! But Mateo and I have put together a little something that they're not going to forget anytime soon!! Will you help me? You helped Ryan."
"Why do I get the feeling I'm walking into the middle of a lion's den, here?" Becca asked, telling Gillian she would help her with her plan...
Ryan was sitting on one of the chairs on the patio later that afternoon when Gillian and Becca came out there with a fashion magazine and took two of the other chairs and then proceeded to thumb through the periodical together, talking cheerfully about this style and that and what hairdos were "in" right now with celebrities.
Ryan looked lazily at them, but focused now solely on Gillian.
His breath caught in his throat as he watched her turn pages and pull her hair back with her fingers in an careless fashion. God, she was just so beautiful to him! He would never get tired of looking!
She looked up just then and saw that Ryan was staring. The two exchanged smiles and it took every ounce of Ryan's strength to not reach out and touch what his eyes were so obviously enjoying!
She, for her part, was imagining herself running her hands over his smooth, muscled arms and chest the way she uesed to when they made love together! The first time she touched him like that had been before they had married and then on their honeymoon, she had known such pleasure in her thorough exploration of his body! Looking at him now in his short sleeved t-shirt and jeans, she felt her heart race at the thought of letting her hands wander over him, rediscovering him all over again! God, how did she mangage to sleep next to him now without accosting him?!
Gillian cleared her throat in embarrassment and she blushed! Time to put her plan into action before she forgot herself completely!
"You know, Becca, Mateo and I saw Scott with his friend Buffy again the other night at the Valley Inn." she said casually.
"Oh," Becca responded. "Yeah, I know. They've been spending alot of time together. I'm not sure how I feel about that..." Becca looked at Ryan who had now been totally into their conversation now that Buffy was mentioned. Outwardly, he pretended to be mesmerized by a book he had with him although he could no longer remember what he had been reading!
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," Gillian assured her turning another page of the magazine. "She' really no match for you. Too tall, ugly clothes- you should've seen that skirt thing she had on!- and if that hair is not a bad dye job- well then I don't know women!"
Ryan put down the book and looked at them.
Becca laughed, forgetting about Ryan and really starting to enjoy trashing her "rival" for Scott's affections." Do you really think she's all that bad?" she asked Gillian.
"Becca, the woman is obviously DESPERATE for male companionship- and can you blame her?! Scott probabablly feels sorry for her! Probabally hasn't had a date in so long, she doesn't even realize no one wears the 80's big hair look anymore! Scott is probablly the only man nice enough to give her some time! Ryan wouldn't ever do it, would you, Baby?"
Gillian turned the conversation on him so fast, he didn't have time to cover.
"Huh?" he asked quickly. "I don't know. She doesn't sound so bad..."
Gillian looked at him pretending to be shocked. "Ryan, she was 40 if she was a day! Please, tell me you're not that desperate! You could use that skirt she had on for a table cloth! You should've seen her!"
"I have seen her- she's me!" Ryan wanted to scream! "And I've never been so insulted in my life! God you women are so competitive! Are you ALL like this?! Do you know how long it takes me to look like that?! Hair, makeup, nails- god, I hate those fake nails! They stick on everything!! And my shoes hurt and my wig itches- God, I'm pathetic to put up with all this!"
Instead, he jerked up out of his chair and angrily started stalking away, muttering he had something to take care of at the club, as Gillian and Becca smiled in confidance at their ability to send Ryan over the edge!
That'll teach him! Gillian told herself determinedly looking after him.
Ryan was almost away when he ran smack into Mateo who had heard the voices coming from out here and came to ask Gillian to go to dinner with him again at the Valley Inn that evening.
"I have to get to the club, but I just wanted to stop by and ask you," he said, winking at Gillian.
Ryan, who was already enraged now stopped and turned to look back at Mateo. He had seen the wink that was supposed to be for Gillian alone and his blood boiled in response.
"Do you have to go to dinner with her every night?!" he growled.
"Well, we don't have to- we want to go." Mateo responded calmly.
"Well, she can't."Ryan replied. "She's busy- with me. Why don't you go by yourself if you're so hot to eat at the Valley Inn?!"
"I can answer for myself, Ryan." Gillian said. "And I'd love to go with you, Mateo."
"Gillian, you two don't even have one of your meetings tonight!" Ryan reminded her.
"We're friends. We don't need a meeting to spend time together." Gillian told him stubbornly.
"Well, fine then. Do what you want."
"I will." Gillian replied sweetly. She turned back to Mateo. "Mateo, pick me up at the usual time?" she asked.
"You got it." he answered and a few minutes later, left with a grin on his face. Boy, he thought to himself, was Ryan in for a show tonight!
Becca,too left as she and Ryan exchanged a look between them and then he and Gillian were left alone on the patio.
"So, now you two have an "usual time"," he sneered at her,jealousy all over his words.
"Oh, grow up, Ryan." Gillian said walking out of the room. "Jealous twit!"she added for measure.
"Airheaded spoiled brat!" Ryan returned.
Eugenia had wandered out on the patio just then and smiled them as she heard their passionate argument.
"It's nice to see you two back to normal," she sighed happily at them. "I had so missed you both for so long..."
end of part 23
(to be continued...)
Next time: Come see what transpires at the Valley Inn for our favorite couple