“So are you from the city?” my aunt Carolineasks.
“Um, no. I’m from New Jersey, I moved to thecity a little over a year ago, for a change of pace.”
“What part of New Jersey?” Of course she’scurious; it’s where we’re all from.
“Neptune,” Ryan answers uncomfortably.
“Oh,” my aunt smiles, “that’s where I grewup.”
Ryan is momentarily surprised.
“We moved to Marlboro when I was sixteenthough.”
Marlboro is one of the towns next to ColtsNeck, which is where I grew up. Marlboro isn’t as elite, it hasmore commercial space and the homes aren’t as large, but it is justas beautiful as Colts Neck, with its sprawling farmlands andpristine grounds. Neptune is south east, more towards the ocean.It’s urbanized, with decent sections and not so decentsections.
Ryan grew up in one of the not so decentsections.
“Do you have a big family?” my aunt goes on,and my stomach clenches.
“Um, no,” Ryan answers. “It’s just me and mymom, and my twin brother, Sean.”
“Twin?” she says intrigued, her blue eyestwinkling. “You mean there’s two of you walking around?”
“Yes,” I interject, catching her hint. Ryanis heart-stoppingly hot, there’s no ignoring it. “Theirpersonalities are completely different though.”
Ryan glances at me uncomfortably, maybe Ishouldn’t have brought that up.
“How so?” My aunt’s interest is piqued.Oops.
“I guess you could say I’m the lover andSean’s the fighter,” he flashes a shy smile and I swear my auntCaroline swoons.
“When we were younger he got in plenty offights over me,” Ryan smirks awkwardly.
“You never told me that,” I lean intohim.
He shrugs, “Sometimes, I think Sean was justlooking to pick a fight. I was a good reason to start one.”
“It has more nobility when you do for someoneyou love?”
“Something like that, I guess,” Ryan saysunconvinced.
The waitress comes back over and takes ourdinner orders; everyone goes for a steak except Emily, who orderslobster tails.
The conversation rolls along smoothly aseveryone gets to know each other, and by the time Ryan is done withhis first drink, his anxiety level has dropped and he’s charmingthe pants off everyone at the table. Emily glances at Alex who isplaying on his phone, then leans over to me. “Hey,” she whispers.“How is everything going with Ryan’s ‘side job’?” she says, addingair quotes.
“Fine,” I say truthfully. “He leaves work atwork if you get what I mean.”
Alex gives us a strange look. I guess hedoesn’t know what Ryan’s ‘side job’ is.
Emily smiles, “That’s good to know. You twolook happy.”
“We are,” I smile back at her. I haven’t seenor talked to Emily much over the last few months. With me in lawschool and her married now, the dynamic is different. But I’mhoping over winter break we can spend some time together.
“Can you come spend a night in the city whileI’m off from school?” I ask her. “We can have a girl’s night.”
Emily’s grin widens.
“Yes, please take her,” Alex chimes in.“She’s been going stir crazy in the house.”