I pointed out the hospital of which I was born in Evanston. Then I showed him some other buildings. I ended up with checking on the hours of visiting the observation deck of the Sears Tower/Willis Tower. We were able to get 2 sky deck plus skylight audio tour for the tower. Ryan had never been in the building but I had so I told him some things quietly as they were giving the information. Ryan "I bet this city looks nice at night with all the lights shining off the Lake."
I said "Yes it does. When it's hockey championship season they make the tower Red/Black for the Blackhawks."
After taking the tour & noticing the skyline from the 103rd floor, we rode back down to the lobby & out of the building.
I asked "Want to go sit by the lake? They haven't closed it off yet."
Ryan "Sure. Let's get something to drink first."
I said "Well, there's a Walgreens right down the road."
Ryan "Okay."
We both picked out something to drink to stay hydrated and I chose a berry flavored Gatorade & he got a big bottle of water. I grabbed a snack too though, Twizzlers.
Ryan "How did you know I like to snack on those?"
I said "Well I have a friend on twitter who said she shared some with you back in February at the hockey & heels event."
Ryan "Emma?"
I said "Yep." Ryan "Yeah she's nice."
I said "She is, so what next?"
Ryan "Let's go to the lakefront."
I walked him down to the shore of Lake Michigan & we sat down on the pier.
After visiting all the important places to me & some just for fun Ryan parted ways with me & I said "Bye Ryan."
Ryan "Bye Nikki."
Right before leaving I said "After all those months I still don't have your phone number."
Ryan typed into my phone & saved it as a cute name. Later on after I left on the bus to go back home, it buzzed that I was getting a message. It had a picture of a gorgeous half naked man under the name "Paradise Lover" & it read "I miss you already. I hope you're doing okay on your way home."
I replied "I miss you too. I am doing fine. I hope you're doing okay on the way to Cleveland."
Ryan "Yeah, I'm already there looking at all those photos I took of you months ago."
I said "What are you using them for?"
Ryan "Personal use."
I said "So basically you're using them for aid in feeling lonely?"
Ryan "That is what I meant by personal use."
I said "Well, I honestly have some pictures of you that I use for the same thing."
Ryan "Well that's not weird. Since we both do the same thing."
After I finally arrived in Wisconsin I messaged him "I'm home. I miss you more now that I'm further away."
Ryan "I miss you too. I'm going to have to call you tomorrow or tonight before I go to sleep."
1 hour later my phone had the ringtone "I've got you" from Marc Anthony. I answered the phone call "Hi Ryan. Just wondering why you picked a Latin song for your ringtone?"
Ryan "I felt like it."
I said "I have probably 25 other songs that would make me think of you better than that."
Ryan "Well if you want to change it then change it."
I said "I'm going to. Once I can narrow down the songs I have in mind."
Ryan "Can I know what some of those options are?"
I said "Well one of them is 'Ain't no mountain high enough' because we do live so far apart."
Ryan "That's a good choice."
I said "So what did you call me for?"
Ryan "I wanted to say goodnight since I'm going to sleep in a minute."
I said "Goodnight. I miss you."
Ryan "Goodnight. I miss you too."
The next day I texted him "I can't stop thinking about roaming around Chicago yesterday. That was so fun."
Ryan replied at a free moment "Yeah it was. I can't stop thinking about it either."
A week later I got an email that read "Check in within 24 hours of 10/15/15 for your 12:30 pm flight leaving Austin Strauble Airport on United Airlines."
I thought "What? I didn't buy a plane ticket."
I looked to see how long I was going to be gone & it was 1 week and 4 days so I informed the school district I was unable to be a sub for the kitchens at that time. They appreciated me telling them about my vacation to California that was unplanned. 10/14/15 I checked in at about 5 pm & then texted Ryan "I am so excited to get there tomorrow. I need some more sun."
Ryan replied back minutes later "I am excited to see you too. Brandon will pick you up since I'll be busy."
I said "Oh, well that's okay."
Ryan "Hey you'll get to meet Laura though."
I said "Sweet. I can't wait."
Ryan "Bye."
I said "Bye."
The next morning I checked and double checked my list. I left for the airport & by the time I got to the airport in Chicago I realized I didn't have a toothbrush. I bought a cheap one at the airport but it was like $5 almost. It really wasn't cheap but hey I needed one. I finally landed in Los Angeles & a man asked if I was Nikki.
I said "Yes. You must be Brandon."
Brandon "Yes. I'll take you to Ryan's house. By the time we get there he should be home."
I said "Thanks."
We talked for the whole ride & then he stopped at Ryan's house. It wasn't huge but it was still nice. I got my bags & walked to his door. I knocked on the door & someone answered it in a towel. I said "So that's now the third time you've answered a door in only a towel. Is this going to be a regular occurrence?"
Ryan "I don't know."
In the towel he closed the door behind me & pulled me in for a kiss.
