Ryan’s POV

After a wonderful night spent pleasuring each other, Vivian was fast asleep in Ryan’s arms, until just a few seconds before, Ryan had been fast asleep as well.

Now, he was blinking the sleep out of his eyes, and looking around blurrily.

What had woken him?

Staying silent, he waited to see if something really was out there. Nothing happened for such a long time that Ryan began thinking about going back to sleep. But just as he was about to do that, there came the unmistakable sound of a door opening.

Was there an intruder?

Tensing, Ryan slowly got out of bed. He looked at Vivian, who was still in dreamland, and decided not to wake her. If it truly was an intruder, he would deal with them personally and keep her safe. The fierce wave of protectiveness he felt while looking at her sleeping form startled him, but he decided to focus on the matter at hand rather than on that.

Picking up his jeans from the floor, Ryan put them on. Then he made his way out of the bedroom as quietly as possible.

Whoever the intruder was, they were not trying to be silent at all. Hands balled into fists Ryan crept closer. Hearing a sound in the kitchen, he leapt forward silently, hands raised and ready to start raining down blows on the intruder. But when Ryan saw the third person in the apartment, he stopped, his hands lowering.

There was a woman who was standing by the sink, her back to him as she drank water from a glass.

Even from the back he recognized the woman, he had seen her the night that he and Vivian had met, and Vivian had been dragging the then very drunk woman away.

"Amy," He called softly.

The woman whirled around, beating her chest lightly as she choked on water. She blinked tears out of her eyes, before focusing on him. Her eyes going as wide as saucers when she saw him.

"Oh my goodness! It’s you, you are-" Before she could say anymore, Ryan was bringing a finger up to his lips in the universal sign for silence. She instantly went quiet and nodded. Pleased that Vivian’s sleep would not be cut short, Ryan gestured for her to follow him to the living room.

Amy put the glass in the sink and followed him.

***

"Where is Vivian? We were supposed to go for a walk in the park today. I came a bit earlier to surprise her, but it seems she surprised me instead,"

Seated on one end of the couch, while Ryan took the other. Amy was looking anywhere but at him as she said that, her cheeks pink. Suddenly feeling incredibly self-conscious, Ryan was both glad and embarrassed to realize that his shirt had ended up slung over the back of the couch.

Putting it on, he turned to Vivian’s friend, willing his face not to blush as he answered her.

"Vivian is currently sleeping, she is tired,"

Amy smiled knowingly at that and Ryan resolutely ignored her and carried on.

"Let her get a bit more sleep and I’m certain that when she wakes up, she will be willing to go out with you," 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

To his relief, Vivian’s best friend simply nodded at that, then lacing her fingers together, she leaned forward a bit. The look in her eyes, making him think that if looks could kill, he would already be buried.

He was surprised by the sudden shift in her mood, but he easily hid that from her. Choosing instead to meet the glare head on.

Not breaking eye contact even as her anger amplified, Ryan waited for Amy to say whatever was on her mind.

Finally unable to hold her murderous look the woman broke their staring contest by looking to the side. Blowing out her cheeks, she grabbed a cushion off the couch and pulled it to her chest.

Then she chuckled lightly, the severe expression that had been on her face just a few seconds before completely gone.

"You know, this is usually the part where I would be giving you the shovel talk. But since you and Vivian are two adults who have decided on just having fun with each other, I have no idea what to do,"

Ryan stared at her for a beat, "I did not expect such honesty from someone who works in a law firm," He told her, Amy looked stunned at his words, she saved Ryan from having to ask her why by immediately speaking up.

"Vivian told you where I work? The two of you have spoken about me?"

Ryan nodded, "Of course, did you really think that all we do together is-" Putting her fingers in her ears and humming, Amy only unplugged her ears after Ryan closed his mouth.

"There! Much better, whatever you and Amy get up to, please never ever feel the need to share with me. Some things a woman can live without knowing about her friend,"

With that Amy shuddered like somebody had just walked over her grave and Ryan found himself laughing. The woman really was unintentionally funny. He could see why she was best friends with Vivian.

***

"I would offer to cook, but Vivian has banned me from her kitchen. But I can order the three of us something to eat, what would you like to have?" Not answering him, Amy stared like Ryan had grown a second head.

"What?" He asked looking down at himself. Maybe some of the love bites that Vivian had given him the night before were visible shaking her head, Amy smiled softly at him.

"I did not expect you to care whether she had eaten or not,"

Ryan frowned, "Of course I care. We might not be doing anything serious, but her well-being is a priority to me,"

Giving him a thoughtful look, Amy huffed a light breath. "I did not expect you to be kind," Yet another laugh made its way to Ryan’s throat.

And he let it loose. "I have been called many things, Amy, but never kind and just what makes you think that,"

Vivian’s friend shrugged, "If more people have never called you kind, then they need to get their heads checked. You came rushing in here to get me to lower my voice so that Vivian could get a bit more sleep. Then, even though you did not need to, you have been sitting out here with me entertaining me,"

"Now you are about to order breakfast, not only for the two of you, but you are including me as well.

You are a kind man, Ryan Terrell, and you are good to my friend... thank you,"

The words hit Ryan like a punch to the solar plexus, not knowing what to do.

He pulled out his phone and began making the call to order breakfast.

Why was he suddenly feeling so emotional?