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Dolly leans back in her seat and raises an eyebrow, as if she’s challenging me, and I kind of hate that I know she is.
“You don’t know me as well as you think you do,” I tell her, but she just smiles and jerks her head toward the elevator. Somehow, my feet move on their own. I’m not used to obeying orders from Dolly, but I find myself in the elevator, standing next to Patricia, and riding up to the top floor.
“You ready to have a good day, sir?” Patricia, ever the kindhearted angel, asks.
“I’m ready.”
“Good. You have a good weekend?”
“I just relaxed,” I tell her. This is strange for me. Normally, I’m not big on small talk. When someone speaks to me, they always make sure they have a reason to approach me, but this is different.
Today just feels strange.
“What about you?” I ask Patricia. Her eyes widen a little, and I realize that yeah, I never talk to her or Dolly. No wonder I seemingly have a reputation as being as total dickhole.
“What about me? Well, I visited with my grandkids. Tyler is about to turn five, so we had a little party for him. Early, you know, but that’s how schedules go. Had a bounce house and everything.”
I listen as Patricia tells me about her life, and I realize that she has something wonderful that I’ve been missing.
Family.
People who care.
She’s got people who are passionate about her.
She’s got people who love her.
When was the last time I had that? The closest I have is Alex, and that’s...well, it’s complicated. When I’m not working, it’s not like my brothers and I are having board game nights. We’re all closed off to each other. We’re all reclusive.
I wish we could change, but I don’t know how.
I end up on the top floor of the building, and when the doors open, I see Alex sitting at Damien’s desk. No, I see her sitting at her desk. I don’t move.
“This is your stop,” Patricia says quietly.
“I know.”
“Word of advice?”
“Sure.”
“Don’t screw this up, Ryan.”
Not Mr. Shadowvale.
Just Ryan.
Because when I’m with Alex, I can just be me, and everyone knows it.
“I promise,” I say, and then I step from the doors.
