Finding Forever

Chapter 4

He straightens up a bit. "Yeah, right. I bet you ticked off every day on your calendar." He clinks my glass with the lip of his beer. I can't help but laugh. A silent pause falls between us before Ryan changes the subject and asks, "How's your mom doing?"

"Remember when I told you she wasn't doing so well," he nods and I continue. "She isn't doing any better. She's quite a bit worse. I'm worried about her and wish she could snap out of it, you know? But of course, I know she can't. I don't want to have her admitted back to the hospital. Especially now that I heard rumours that my dad and his fiancé, Heidi, may have secured a wedding date. I don't need the extra stress right now."

"Shit, Ella, I'm sorry to hear that." He says, then he leans forward and hugs me, holding me close in one of his tight embraces. If Ryan does one thing well, it's give a good hug. The side of his face nuzzles against my hair, and he exhales deeply. "If you need to talk, call me or stop by anytime."

"I know."

He holds me for a few more comforting beats of silence.

"Hey, I've got something that may cheer you up." He wiggles his eyebrows and digs around in the back pocket of his jeans. "How about tickets to an Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros concert next weekend?"

My first response is to rip the tickets from his hand and ensure they are accurate and he's not messing with me. My second post-inspection response is to jump up and down a few times, shrieking with delight, and then wrap myself around him, legs on the waist, arms on the neck. I love folk music. And Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are my favourite band. Ryan loves folk music and the band just as much as I do. When I heard they would be playing in San Francisco, I wanted to get tickets so badly, but I couldn't afford them. I could kiss Ryan (in an unromantic way) for getting us these tickets.

"I'm going to take your excitement as a thank you."

"Yes, thank you. How did you secure four tickets? They were so expensive, and they sold out instantly."

He ruffles my hair with a smile. "I have my ways."

"Who are the other two tickets for?"

He shrugs. "I thought Maisie and Jayce might want to come."

"You are the best." I couldn't resist giving him another hug, so I did.

"Hey, you two need to get in here," Kale shouts from the living room. "Liam just went All-In against Jayce. This could be a game-ender for this week's poker champion."

Ryan looks down at me with disgust. "Looks like Thor may get to raise his mighty hammer after all."

I rolled my eyes and returned to the living room, finding an empty sofa cushion behind Liam. Jayce sits on the opposite side of the poker table with Maisie on his right. She is focused on the hand Jayce is holding, biting her fingernails. Kale is sitting at the head of the table as the designated card dealer. He discards a card and then gives a fifth card flip just as Ryan perches himself on the arm of the sofa. Liam beams triumphantly as he turns his cards over, a massive smile on his face. He has a straight. Jayce tosses his cards on the table and mutters a curse word. Although he has a solid pair of Aces, it isn't good enough to beat Liam.

Liam collects his winnings and turns to me with a smile.

"Did you see that, Ella?" he says, leaning back in his chair.

"Oh, I saw." I hold my hand for a high-five, which he reciprocates with a firm smack.

"Way to go, Liam," Ryan says. "You're in charge of buying a case of beer for the next poker game with your winnings. Too bad they don't import garbage Australian beer to America."