***
“And to think I thought your place was swanky. This place puts your digs to shame!” Susan plunked down on an overstuffed sofa piled high with matching throw pillows. “This bedroom is almost as big as your entire apartment. And it has a private bathroom! I could get used to this lifestyle. Maybe I’ll go after Mr. Stanley, myself.”
Rachel laughed. “At this point, you’d probably have better luck than me.”
Sitting up, Susan pulled out her semi-serious face, which just happened to be the most serious face she owned. “I’ve just gotta ask you something, Rach. Please don’t get mad, but it’s driving me nuts.”
“Shoot.” Rachel had heard just about everything under the sun come out of her mouth at one point or another, so nothing that passed Susan’s lips could shock her.
“It’s about Mr. Stanley – Ryan.”
Rachel waited for the rest, but it didn’t come. “What about him?” she said at length.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but…what is it that you see in him?” With the words now out, Susan felt the need to spew out a flow of fresh lava. “I mean, he’s not that good looking. Not that he’s ugly,” she added quickly, “but you’ve got to admit, he’s no male model. And he seems to have a personality that could give cardboard a run for its money, not to mention his horrible temper. Help me out here, Rach. At least make me understand before you kill me and throw me in a ditch.”
“Are you serious? Have you seen him? I mean really seen him? His teeth are perfect, his eyes are gorgeous, and when you pair that with his hair and biceps.” She stopped. Susan was looking at her with a stupid grin on her face. “What did I say?”
“You’re in love. That’s why he looks so perfect, but that doesn’t tell me why you love him.”
Rachel furrowed her brows. “You know, Sue, I’ve never really thought about that, but I know the answer. It’s because he’s dependable, truthful, and has principles. That’s why even though he wants nothing to do with me because he thinks you and I are in a relationship, at least he was truthful about it. He’s everything jerk boy wasn’t.”
“You’ve gotta let that go, Rach. It’s been an entire year. If you keep this up, you’ll still be pissed at him when you’re eighty.”
Rachel knew she was right, but when someone hurts you that bad, it’s hard to just move on. Every single date she’d been on since she finally dumped him could have been a board room meeting complete with white board. On one side we have the similarities and the other the differences. Usually when the similarities were too numerous, she ignored the calls for a second date. Childish, maybe, but necessary for self-preservation. With her heart cocooned in multiple layers of bubble wrap, no one could get to it without her permission, and she’d torn an enormous hole to allow Ryan in. Too bad his heart was wrapped in steel.