Can You Fix The Broken?

“Hey, welcome back! I cheered, seeing Felix walk in through the front door.

“Oh Mia, it smells fucking amazing.” He moaned, coming into the kitchen.

“Thank you, everything’s almost ready, I just have to make drinks and then get everything to the table for you guys. How was your day?” She asked.

“It was a lot of fun, the water was perfect for the boat and we even were able to use the jet skis for a bit. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, you missed out Mia. I wish you would have been there.” Felix replied.

“Today is just one day of many, I’ll get the chance again.” I chuckled.

“Hey, hey!” Dylan excitedly announced, seeing me.

“Oh no, you’re so sunburned!” I gasped, seeing the painfully red tint of his chest and back.

“Yeah, that was a stupid mistake.” He said, shaking his head.

“Ok, drinks can wait a tiny bit. Let me help you.” I told him, grabbing the bottle of aloe infused lotion I kept in the fridge to keep it nice and cold.

“Do you need any help?” Ryan asked, coming into the house now with Chris and the others.

“No, I can do it when I get back down.” I assured him.

“I insist, let me give you a little help.” He cooed.

“Um...ok. I guess if you don’t mind cutting up a couple of limes and crushing ice that would be awesome.” I said.

“I’m on it.” He smiled at me, charming as ever.

I turned back to Dylan, and made my way back to him as we walked back towards his bedroom.

I instructed him to sit down on his bed, facing away from me, and he did just that.

“Son of a bitch.” He hissed, as the lotion first hit his skin.

“Hey, this is why we wear sunscreen.” I said, trying not to chuckle.

Our roles were reversed right now for once, and I was enjoying the irony of it.

I gently massaged it into his skin, wanting to hopefully prevent the awful burn that I knew came along with sunburns. I was just as pasty white as he was, I knew this from experience.

“Thank you, Mia.” He said.

“Of course, this is seriously the least I could do for you.” I told him.

“Can I ask you a question?” Dylan wondered.

“Yes.”

“Would you ever date again?” He asked.

I stopped what I was doing, as that question stopped me in my tracks. That wasn’t what I was expecting in the slightest.

“Uh, I don’t know. I guess I never really thought of that. I suppose one day in life I’d want to share my life with someone in that way.” I answered him.

“Sorry to pry, I was just curious.” Dylan said.

“You’re too easy to read, Dylan. I know that is a question you would never ask me unless it got brought up.” I called him out.

He turned around, and grabbed both of my wrists, looking me in the eye.

“It may have been brought up by someone while we were out on the boat.” He admitted.

“It was that Ryan, wasn’t it?” I asked.

“How did you know?” He wondered.

“He seemed very nice.” I shrugged.

“Felix and I are always nice to you, but you don’t think we’re crushing on you. You don’t right?” He asked, worried.

I laughed.

“No, you’re good. As far as guessing it was him...I don’t really know. I mean they’ve all been very nice to me, but there was something about him. He just seemed to be extra nice, and even caring. Plus, don’t tell anyone I said this, but he’s kind of cute.” I whispered.

“You haven’t thought of someone in that way for a long time, right?” Dylan asked.

“Absolutely not. Who knows though, maybe I need that. A guy to bring me back to reality, and realize not every man is going to turn out to be a horrid monster.” I said, pondering the thought.

“All I will say is that Ryan’s a good guy. From there, you do what you need to.” Dylan told me.

“Ok, but promise that no matter what I do, you’ll stay out of it? I don’t mean to sound like a bitch or be ungrateful, but both you and Felix have a history of getting a little too worried about me. Just...maybe let me spread my wings if this even goes anywhere. I will eventually get hurt, and you won’t be able to save me from that forever. I’ll be ok.” I whispered, gently placing my hands on his cheeks.

“Oh Mia, don’t say that. That makes me crazy.” He groaned.

“I know, trust me I know.” I sighed, sitting down next to him.

I made sure to be extra gentle as to not rub his sore skin as I did that. I’d give anything to be able to give him and Felix peace of mind that I would be ok eventually. For now, I knew they feared that I’d get hurt again, and they’d do anything to prevent that. However, I still had to live life, and I knew that included getting hurt.

“We really don’t need to be discussing this right now, you know. I could find out he hates dogs and then I’d never talk to him again.” I said, trying to lighten his mood.

“You’re right. I shouldn’t be getting worked up over nothing.” He grumbled.

“Hey, I made a beer margarita especially for you, go down and enjoy it, and don’t worry about me. I’m just going to change tops and then I’ll be down, ok?” I told him.

“Fine.” He caved in.

“Thank you.” I said kindly, giving him a polite kiss on the cheek.

Thankfully Dylan left right away, which allowed me to change shirts very quickly, and then I dug through his desk trying to find a pen and a piece of paper. Once I found them I wrote a quick little message on it, then ran down to where Chris and his friends were staying.

Writing Ryan’s name on top of it, I slipped it under the door, and ran back to the kitchen.

“Mia, this is absolutely amazing!” Felix cheered, sipping in the drink that I had made him.

“Thanks.” I smiled, checking on the food in the oven to make sure it was almost done.

“Do you need help with anything else?” Dylan asked.

“I just need you to put the forks on the table, that would be perfect.” I told him.

“On it!” They announced.

As they left the room, a knock on the door frame caught my attention. Looking over at it, I saw Ryan standing in the door frame.

“Hi.” I said, surprised to see him so quickly.

“Hello.” He replied sweetly.

“So...um...did you, I mean do you want to..you know?” I sputtered, trying to get my sentence out.

“You’re ok.” He chuckled, noticing my nerves that came from out of nowhere.

“Sorry.” I whispered.

“Don’t be. Oh, and as for your question, the answer would be yes. I’d love to go out tonight with you.” Ryan told me.

“Awesome! I’ll meet you outside then.” I planned.

“That sounds perfect.” He said.

He absolutely wasn’t wrong.

Notes