Shane
He always thought that one day, if it came right down to it and he made a grand, romantic gesture, that it wouldn’t go ignored. Or at least, that it would make a difference. He’d been thinking about it for days, that card that he wrote Rayvn, the flowers, everything. He finally got his shit together after his talk with Nina and had actually acted on his feelings.
He’d dropped off the flowers and the card at two that afternoon. The girl working there who took them assured him that Rayvn would get them. She wasn’t due back until five. It was now early eight and he was pacing the house like a trapped wild animal.
I have to see her. I can’t just sit here and do nothing.
He realized he was wearing a hole in his living room floor. He knew that he should wait at the house and let Rayvn come to him if she was going to come. She’d call or text if she wanted to. He kept telling himself to leave her alone. Just because he brought flowers and wrote a ridiculous card didn’t mean she’d change her mind. She probably needed time to process everything, at the very least.
Patience never had been his strong suit.
Shane finally stopped pacing. He glanced out the window, out at his truck in the driveway. “Fuck it,” he ground out. His words echoed in the silent room.
He stalked to the front door, grabbed his keys off the peg by the door, slammed into his still dirty work boots and stormed down the driveway. He got into his truck and didn’t hesitate before he started it. He roared out and continued on down the street. He wasn’t driving like a lunatic, just aggressive. He wanted to get where he was going and he wanted to get there fast.
Unfortunately, he hit every single red light in the history of red lights. He’d never seen so many damn lights in his life. It took over an hour to reach Rayvn’s condo.
The lights were all off. It looked like she wasn’t home. Or maybe she just shut the blinds and turned them off to give that impression. Maybe she’s in bed since it’s already late. Maybe she didn’t even see the card because she didn’t stop back at work. Maybe I’m acting like a crazy person.
Crazy or not, Shane couldn’t help but pull his truck into the visitor spot right in front of Rayvn’s condo. He noticed that her car wasn’t in the spot beside where he parked. She probably wasn’t home. He got out of his truck anyway. He left it running as he flew up the three steps and over the small porch. He raised his hand and banged on the door.
Because he couldn’t help himself, he also rang the bell. Three times. And knocked again. And once more for good measure.
When there was no answer, he had to admit that Rayvn truly wasn’t home. He was about to give up, get back in his truck, drive home where he belonged, and stay there, when his phone went off. It vibrated in his back pocket and it took him a few seconds to register what the heck was going on.
He finally pulled it out and blew out a hard sigh when he saw Rayvn’s name on the screen. His hand started shaking, hard tremors that threatened to send his phone tumbling to the sidewalk. He glanced around, really hoping that the neighbors weren’t watching him through their blinds.
His phone continued to vibrate, and it finally registered in his addled mind that he should answer it.
“Hey,” he said softly, trying to keep his voice level. Play it cool. Not at all like you just stood there banging her door down like a psycho.
“Shane.” Rayvn’s soft silky voice saying his name… lord, it was heaven.
“Hey,” he said again and winced. “I- uh- how are you?”
“Good… good…” There was a long, uncomfortable pause then she blew out a breath straight into the phone. “Look, do you want to talk? I think we should talk.”
“Absolutely. Yes. Now?”
“Yeah. Yeah, now works for me.”
If they weren’t having the world’s most awkward conversation… he’d hate to see worse. He felt like someone had taken his tongue out of his mouth, tied it in a hundred knots, and stuffed it right back in. His brain was foggy and thick and all of his earlier wit and the speech he’d prepared, the apology and his fight to get Rayvn back, evaporated like early morning mist under the hot sun.
“Where exactly are you?” Rayvn finally asked.
“Oh… uh…” he ran a hand through his hair, finger combing out a few snarls from earlier that afternoon.
“I’m in front of your house. You could meet me here if you want.”
“Wait, you’re in front of my house?” He barked out a laugh that was nearly hysterical sounding.
“Yeah- why?”
“Because I’m actually in front of yours.”
The phone was silent for a long while. So long that he thought maybe she’d hung up or the call had dropped or something. And then her laughter, soft and melodic and so fucking beautiful, drifted over the phone.
“Oh my god. Look at us. Anyone who has the same idea at the exact same time, trying to find each other, must be meant to be together. It must be a sign.”
“A sign that you’re a dork maybe. Or that we’re both pathetic.”
“A dork?” Oddly enough, it’s what Nina often called him. He grinned. “Maybe I am. Maybe I don’t mind being a dork at all.”
“Should I wait here then?” Rayvn asked. He could hear the humor in her tone.
“Yeah. I’ll be right there. Well, maybe half hour. As long as I don’t hit any red lights again. I had to stop at every single one on the way here.”
“Take your time. I’ll wait. Right on your front step.”
“The house is open. I forgot to lock it on my way out. Just go on in. Make yourself at home.”
“Really? You’re okay with that.”
Not just okay. I want her to be my home. “For sure. There might even be a few cold beers in the fridge.”
“Aren’t you forgetting I’m more of a wine person?”
“Oh. Right. There may still be a bottle in there from before. If there is, go ahead and open that too.”
“Should I raid your pantry for snacks while I’m at it?’
“If you want to.”
“Use your shower?”
“Not unless I’m there with you.” He winced. Too far and way too soon.
Rayvn, mercifully, ignored him. “I just have one more question. Where did you get those flowers?”
“I- why?”
“Well I know you don’t believe in supporting the floral industry because you think it’s stupid and you think profiting off of love and holidays and all that is just ridiculous.”
“Yeah. You’re right. I didn’t buy them.”
“You picked them then?”
“No. There might have been a client who had a yard full and a boulevard growing in front of the house that was equally as full…”
“I knew it.” Rayvn giggled. “I fucking knew it.” She hung up and the line went dead.
Shane blinked at the black screen. He realized he was grinning like a fool as he slid the phone back into his jeans. He would have done a skip, hop, jump combo or maybe a fist pump or hell, a heel click, if he could. Instead, he managed to contain himself. He did run to his truck and throw himself in. Hopefully it was all green lights on the way home. Hopefully Rayvn was another.