Sweet Caroline {Ryan Blaney} ✔️

twenty-six

Ryan glanced around. "She let me in, I have no idea where she went though."

Before Lydia could call for Caroline, little feet bounded down the stairs. "Ryan!" She squealed. "I made something for you."

"You did?" The uncertainty was gone from Ryan's voice -- replaced by genuine enthusiasm. "Can I see it?"

Caroline waved a piece of construction paper at Ryan as she scurried towards him. Lydia watched Ryan's face light up as he studied the picture. "That's you driving a race car and Mommy and me cheering you on."

Ryan pressed the picture to his chest, his eyes filling up with tears. "Thank you, Caroline. It's perfect. I love it." Caroline launched herself into a hug and they stayed like that for a moment.

Lydia's heart swelled at the sight of them — the bond they were building. Never in a million years had she dreamed Ryan and Caroline would be like this but she was glad, it eased the guilt.

After a moment, Caroline broke the hug, wandering back over towards her play area. Ryan's gaze met Lydia's, her mind flashing back to the dream, the lust in his eyes as she rode him.

Lydia pulled her eyes away, her cheeks flushed and an uncomfortable heat growing in between her legs. This was embarrassing, she hated that she couldn't shake those memories right now.

"Are you sure everything is okay?" Ryan moved closer to Lydia.

Lydia glanced up at Ryan for a moment before looking away, "I'm sure. Really, Ryan it's nothing."

"Wait. Are you blushing?" Lydia could almost hear the smirk that was surely on Ryan's face.

Lydia couldn't help but bury her face in her hands and laugh. This situation was ridiculous and she felt childish but all she could think about was Ryan inside of her and the way he touched her, the way he made her body feel.

Lydia needed to get laid and quick.

Ryan laughed alongside Lydia for a moment but it was an uncertain laugh because he had no idea what was going on.

"You're scaring me a little," He finally whispered, a sincerity in his voice that made Lydia nervous.

"It's dumb and incredibly embarrassing." Lydia tried to reassure Ryan.

"I want to know." He insisted.

Lydia let out a shaky breath. She wasn't sure how to even begin to tell Ryan about the dream. "It was just the dream I had."

"Was I in the dream?" Ryan prompted.

Lydia nodded, her eyes studying the ceiling. "You were." Her face flushed red again, her mind flashing a replay of the dream.

"You're blushing again." Ryan teased before pausing. "Was it—"

"Uh huh." Lydia bit on her lip, not letting Ryan finish his sentence.

"Oh." Ryan murmured.

The oven chimed, Lydia's saving grace. "Dinner is done." Lydia couldn't bring herself to look at Ryan. She knew this was going to make everything so awkward and she couldn't help but kick herself for not being able to shake the damn dream off and forget that it happened.

But how could she? It was an important moment of her life and it just so happened to be the best sex she has ever had.

She slid off the couch, into the kitchen. Ryan followed behind her, silently watching her pull the lasagna out of the oven.

"Caroline!" Lydia called as she grabbed a few plates out of the cabinet.

"Can I help?" Ryan stepped forward.

"You're our guest." Lydia waved him off. "It's Caroline's job to set the table, anyway." She handed the stack of plates to her daughter who had appeared beside her.

"I don't want to be a guest," Ryan muttered. "I want to be a part of the family."

"You can carry the lasagna to the dining room." Lydia offered. She felt bad — she hadn't meant to make him feel bad, she was just trying to be polite.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Ryan's face light up as he grabbed two potholders and then the pan of lasagna.

Once the food had been served, Lydia sank into a chair next to Caroline, across from Ryan.

"This is great." Ryan paused from eating for a moment. "You didn't have to make a homemade lasagna for me." His eyes bore into Lydia, just enough lust shining through that he hadn't forgotten about Lydia's dream.

"Oh." She shook her head, starting at her plate. "I learned this trick in law school, the lady down the hall who used to watch Caroline for me taught me to make meals ahead of time and then freeze them. Saves me a lot of time."

"Gotcha." Ryan returned to eating and they all finished their meal in silence.

Lydia was dreading Caroline's bedtime. She had told Ryan they could talk after Caroline went to bed. Lydia had planned on showing Ryan more
videos and pictures from when Caroline was a baby but Lydia had a feeling that was the last thing that Ryan would want to discuss.

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