Fallen Elements (8 page)

Ryan usually steered clear of talking about
Nicole with Greg. She didn’t want to be in the middle of a
melodrama literally happening in her own house. Today was different
though. She was happy for the distraction from her own dramas, and
could afford to indulge Greg in his.

“You know Greg, I love Nicole dearly and I
can see the attraction, but she has said repeatedly that she isn’t
interested.” Seeing the slump in her friend’s shoulders, and not
wanting to start a pity party for two, Ryan went on. “So, what do
you want to do about that?”

Greg fidgeted with his beer glass, his brows
furrowed. “I have to be me, and she’ll either get that and like it,
or -” He took a drink of beer. “We’ll just be friends.” He nodded
firmly to himself, and emptied his pint.

“That’s the spirit.” Ryan playfully punched
Greg in the shoulder.

“But do you think she might come by today?”
Greg looked hopefully at Ryan.

“Oh, friend.” Ryan squeezed the man’s hand.
“You’ve got it bad.”

“Yeah.” Greg looked down at his empty pint
glass.

Not wanting the conversation to spiral
downward any more than it already had, Ryan forced enthusiasm as
she waved the bartender over. “Let’s order some wings, and hope for
some blood on the ice in today’s game.”

Greg sighed. “Yep. Love me the violence.”

Ryan couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re the
least violent person I know.”

Greg looked up at one of five televisions
that lined the back of the bar. “I’m living vicariously.”

It was a little after three when Ryan walked
into the house to find Jenny sitting on the sofa watching an
episode of
The Big Bang Theory
. Ryan had forgotten how
beautiful she was. Jenny was sitting cross legged on the sofa, her
hair pulled back in a loose bun. She was wearing a pair of Levis
jeans and a navy blue tight fitting cable knit sweater. Ryan felt a
rush of heat to her stomach.

“Hi.” Ryan closed the door behind her.

Jenny hopped up, a broad smile having found
her perfect lips. “Hi yourself.” She rushed toward Ryan, and pulled
her into a tight embrace.

Ryan’s head spun as the scent of citrus and
lavender washed over her, the warmth of Jenny’s body sending sparks
of electricity through her. Leaning back, Ryan kissed Jenny and
pulled her closer. “Did I forget a date?”

Jenny stepped back, pulling Ryan toward the
sofa. “No. I called and texted you several times, and finally
thought I would make a complete pest of myself and just show up.”
She glanced up toward the ceiling. “Much to your roommate’s
delight, I’m sure.”

Ryan sat down next to Jenny on the sofa. “Did
she immediately bolt upstairs?”

Jenny laid her head on Ryan’s shoulder. “I
did manage to get an abrupt
hello
out of her first.”

Ryan winced. “Yeah, the two of you - not so
much.”

Nuzzling closer to Ryan, Jenny’s lips found
the side of her neck. “You didn’t return my calls.”

Goose bumps rose on Ryan’s arms as the heat
of Jenny’s breath brushed against the side of her neck. “I must
have forgotten to turn the volume back on after I tried to nap.”
Ryan leaned into Jenny’s kissing.

“I missed you.” Reaching up, Jenny turned
Ryan’s head toward her, placing a series of light kisses along her
jaw, slowly working her way toward Ryan’s mouth.

“You’re back. Good.” Nicole’s voice came from
the bottom of the stairs.

The near euphoria Ryan had been experiencing
at Jenny’s hands was quickly doused as her roommate unceremoniously
walked into the living room, and sat in the recliner next to the
sofa.

Sitting up, Ryan managed to smile at Nicole
instead of punching her in the face like she wanted to. “I just got
back.”

“Who won?” Nicole never asked about the
outcome of a hockey game. To the best of Ryan’s knowledge, the
woman didn’t know a puck from a golf ball.

“Ah, the Capitals. Two, zero.” Ryan narrowed
her eyes as she watched Nicole pick up the television remote.

“Is anyone watching this?” Before either Ryan
or Jenny could answer, Nicole began scrolling through the list of
recorded programs.

Jenny looked at her gold Rolex watch, and
then slid to the edge of the couch. “I need to get going anyway.”
She looked annoyed as she glared at Nicole. “It was nice to see you
again, Nicole.”

Without turning her attention away from the
television, Nicole feigned a smile. “Pleasure, Jen.”

Sensing the mood in the room was darkening
quickly, Ryan got up from the sofa. “I’ll walk you to the
door.”

“Did you get the flowers?” Jenny asked as
Ryan helped her on with her coat.

“I did. They’re in my room.” Ryan took
Jenny’s hand in hers. “It was a nice surprise after a crappy
week.”

Frowning, Jenny buttoned her black, high
collar winter coat. “We can have dinner tomorrow night and talk
about it.”

Ryan nodded. “I’d like that. How’s seven at
the Laughing Pint sound?”

Jenny leaned in and quickly kissed Ryan.
“Sounds good.” She looked over Ryan’s shoulder toward the living
room. “Sleep over at my place after?”

Ryan blushed. “Perfect.”

Ryan closed the door behind Jenny, and turned
her attentions back to her meddling roommate. “Could you have been
ruder?”

“Is that a challenge?” Nicole had settled on
an episode of
Last Week Tonight
with John Oliver, and had
fully reclined in the chair.

“Why can’t you just get along? God knows I
haven’t always been a fan of the men you’ve dated.” Ryan flopped
down on the sofa.

“I don’t trust her.” Nicole paused the
program and turned her attention to Ryan.

“But you’ve never really
talked
to her
to even know that.” Ryan laid her head back on the sofa, exhausted.
The early morning, travel, alcohol, and snippy roommate were
catching up to her.

“I can sense these things.” Nicole
insisted.

Ryan wanted so badly to point out how
horrific Nicole was at
sensing
shortcomings in the men she
dated, and what made her think she was any more astute once
removed?

“I know I don’t always have the best
intuition with the men I date.” Nicole began, and Ryan quickly
lifted her head up, wondering if she had inadvertently spoken out
loud.

“Go on.” Ryan cautiously encouraged.

Nicole scrunched her face up a bit before
continuing. “Calm down. This isn’t a Doctor Phil moment. I’m just
saying sometimes perspective is best achieved from a distance.”

Ryan shook her head. “I know exactly who
Jenny is.” She stood up and walked toward the stairs. “And for the
record, I’m not going to
marry
her. We have fun together,
and -” Ryan stopped before she said too much.

“And the sex is good.” Nicole offered.

“I wasn’t going to say that.” Ryan stood with
her hand on the banister.

“Sure. Whatever gets your head on your pillow
at night, friend.” Nicole teased.

“No, really. I was going to say the sex is
great
.” Before Nicole could counter, Ryan dashed up the
stairs, satisfied she had defended her position admirably.

Chapter 5

Ryan had spent nearly an hour getting ready
for her interview. She was wearing a pair of dark gray boot cut
slacks with low, black patent leather heels Jenny had talked her
into buying several months ago. She had also bought a slim fit dark
purple button up dress shirt, and wore it now as she exited
Nicole’s borrowed Subaru. Taking deep breaths to calm her nerves,
Ryan walked across the parking lot toward the administration
building of Howard County.

Though the county had several facilities,
Ryan was meeting Donnie Hammond, the Senior Community Liaison
Director, at the main location in Columbia, Maryland. Howard County
was located southwest of Baltimore, and Columbia was between
Baltimore and Washington, D.C., making it a commuter community for
both metropolitan areas.

The office complex itself was a non-descript
six story building with an expansive lobby area and atrium. Ryan
made her way to the third floor, and checked in with a woman in her
late thirties who offered Ryan a cup of coffee. Anxious her nerves
would get the better of her and cause a spill, she politely
declined.

“Ryan Myers?” A wiry man in his late fifties
stood in front of Ryan. He was over six feet tall, wearing a pair
of black slacks and a light blue dress shirt.

Ryan stood up, and extended her hand. “Mr.
Hammond?”

The gray hair man smiled warmly. “Donnie,
please. May I call you Ryan?”

The man had managed with his casual manner to
put Ryan at ease immediately. “Of course.” Ryan smiled.

“I’ve booked us a conference room. If you’ll
follow me.” Donnie led Ryan down a series of halls, past several
offices and cubicles into a small conference room that overlooked
the parking lot.

“Would you like some water?” Donnie had bent
down, and was retrieving himself a bottle of water from the small
fridge under a side bureau.

“That would be great. Thank you.” Ryan laid
her pea coat across the back of one of the high-back leather
chairs, and sat her black, leather portfolio on the lacquer
finished maple table.

Donnie handed Ryan the water, and sat in the
chair across the narrow table from her. “I thought we might start
by having me tell you a little about myself, and then we can talk
about the position and your education and work history. Does that
sound good?” The man took a sip of water.

This was Ryan’s fourth interview since
beginning her job hunt several months ago, and though Donnie’s
predecessors had all been professional and courteous, it had always
fallen to her to ask probing questions regarding their backgrounds
and the positions they were offering. It was refreshing to meet
someone willing to volunteer information as opposed to having it
pulled out of them.

“That sounds perfect.” Ryan retrieved a legal
pad of paper and a ballpoint pen from her portfolio so she could
take notes.

For the next ten minutes, Donnie spoke about
his career in public policy and social work. He spent several
minutes performing what Ryan thought sounded like a sales’ pitch
about Howard County and the numerous services it offered its
residents.

“And that’s me in a nutshell. Plus or minus a
few sordid details.” Donnie chuckled at his own joke, and Ryan
found the nerd-like quality endearing. “So, I’ve read through your
resume, and I must confess I popped online and read your
dissertation.”

“Dealing with a bout of insomnia?” Ryan
joked, her and Donnie chuckling in unison.

“Not at all. Your assessment on the necessity
to address, even at a local level, the role of globalization in
social policy, and the interplay between governments and private
sector - is exactly the kind of thinking we’re looking for.”

Seeing the opportunity to bring the
conversation around to her primary reason for being there, Ryan
cleared her throat. “I do have some questions about the Community
Liaison position.”

Donnie reached for the bottle of water.
“Absolutely. Shoot.”

Ryan went through several of her prepared
questions, pleased with Donnie’s thorough answers. She had several
follow-up questions for him specific to his group; otherwise, the
job was exactly what Ryan was looking for.

“To be frank, Donnie, this position - more
specifically your organization, is exactly what I’ve imagined for
myself. The opportunity to assist with policy formulation and
planning, coordinating with external partners and agencies to
ensure resources are routed to where they are needed most...” Ryan
smiled. “It’s what I’ve spent the past seven years preparing
for.”

Donnie grinned and nodded. “I’ve been very
pleased with our conversation today too. I have three more
candidates I’m considering, and may opt to send two of my preferred
folks over to my boss, Cindy Tylor for second interviews next
week.” He twisted the cap back on the now empty bottle of
water.

Sensing the interview was drawing to a close,
Ryan slid her notepad and pen back into her portfolio. “Next week
sounds perfect.” Standing, Ryan extended her hand. “I appreciate
your time.”

Taking Ryan’s hand, Donnie smiled broadly.
“It was a pleasure.” He stepped toward the door. “Let me show you
the way back to reception. It can be a bit of a maze until you get
your bearings.” He opened the door. “I won’t tell you how many
times I got turned around after we moved to this building.”

Ryan laughed, relieved the interview was
over, and feeling she had put in a good showing. “Thank you.”

She followed Donnie back to the reception
area where they said their goodbyes. Walking back through the main
lobby area, Ryan spotted a Starbucks kiosk. She couldn’t care less
about stains post-interview, so she decided to get a cup of
tea.

Ryan placed her order, and was waiting to get
her tall Earl Grey tea when she took a double take at the blonde
woman who had just stepped into the register line less than three
feet from her.

Leah was on her phone, a large brown folder
tucked under her arm. Ryan’s eyes wandered in admiration of the
woman who was dressed in a form fitting hunter green knee-length
dress with long sleeves, and dark brown patent leather heels. She
was stunning.

“Miss? Your drink.” The barista held out the
signature white cup with the green siren scrawled across it toward
a perplexed Ryan. The woman was in her early thirties with
straight, shoulder length blonde hair and dark blue eyes.
Jeanne
was scrawled across the small, black name tag that
hung from her green apron.

“Sorry?” Ryan suddenly felt feverish, and
wasn’t sure what the woman was saying.

“Your Earl Grey.” The woman managed a smile
though she was clearly annoyed with Ryan.