Behind The Scenes

[Chapter Twenty Five]

Chapter 25

The woman looked to be in her early thirties, though she was an unfamiliar face, and seeing her leaving Ryan's house at this time of the evening did nothing but send a skittish shiver down my spine.

She had been laughing when she opened the door, stopping short at the sight of me. Her hair was pulled back from her face, sitting neatly at the top of her head, while her black coat was left unzipped, revealing a sophisticated ensemble of a ruffled blouse and a high waisted skirt. The woman seemed to embody professionalism, though the laughter lines surrounding her mouth gave reason to believe she wasn't as strict as she appeared.

Never the less, her intimidation factor was high as I steadied myself from the shock, taking a few hesitant steps backwards.

"I'm sorry," I stuttered, clearing my throat as I rung my hands behind my back, "I was looking for Ryan..."

There was a moment where she paused, a calculating look on her face before she smiled, moving the strap of her bag higher up on her arm. "Don't worry about it," she said smoothly, her voice calm as she turned her face away from me. "Ryan, someone's here to see you."

"Oh no," I said hastily, second guessing my decision on coming here tonight, "If you guys are busy – "

"Nonsense," she cut me off, shaking her head, "I was just leaving."

I opened my mouth to reply, seconds away from turning and running from my spot altogether, when Ryan rounded the corner. "What do you mean? Who's at the door?" he asked, pausing as his curious gaze landed on me

He stopped short, his green eyes as striking as they'd always been as they widened in surprise. It was apparent that he hadn't expected to see me, especially not today of all days, but when the curiosity and shock faded from his features they were left blank, giving me no clue as to what he was thinking.

I'd almost forgotten that the two of us were not alone at the moment until the woman, whose name I had yet to catch, cleared her throat while flitting her eyes between the two of us in amusement. "Well, I'd best be off then," she said, catching onto the tension between Ryan and I as she stepped out onto the porch. She turned to face Ryan. "Remember to call me when you have everything sorted out."

As Ryan nodded with compliance, she seemed satisfied, lifting her hand in a short wave before heading off towards the car that had been parked across the street.

Her statement did nothing but heighten the feeling of uneasiness, but after voluntarily forcing myself out of Ryan's life the past month, I didn't think I was in any place to question him about it.

When her engine started and she peeled off down the road, I let out a breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Her departure lifted an unpleasant amount of weight from my shoulders, but as I turned back to face Ryan, it was abundantly clear that it was just the two of us.

I was at a loss for words, standing there in front of him. He hadn't changed much in the time we'd spent apart, but his hair had grown longer, now messily coiffed on top of his head, and he hadn't shaved the past couple of days, his stubble growing out in a gruffer look than I was accustomed to.

It felt like we were two strangers meeting for the first time; the air awkward and charged with uncertainty.

"Zoe," he started hoarsely, digging his hands deep into his pockets as his shoulders tensed. Getting rid of the tickle in his throat, he continued, "What are you doing here?"

I gulped, forcing myself to get the words out. "I wanted to talk."

When he didn't responded right away, the weight of my heart became noticeable as it sunk to the pit of my stomach. He reached out with one hand to grab the door, and just as I thought he'd close it, wanting nothing more to do with me, he pulled it open wider, stepping aside to motion me in.