Rhythm and the Blue Line Ch. 07

"That's okay."

Brody found a movie and they watched as they ate. Ryan couldn't concentrate on the movie. She wondered if she should bring up meeting her parents, or if she should wait. The problem with waiting was that she knew if she didn't do it now, she'd continue putting it off and then the waiting would become as bad or worse than the actual event.

She ate the last of her cookie and glanced at Brody. He was staring at the television but she could tell he wasn't seeing it. It was too bad about his brother, she thought. She remembered when Lara's parents had divorced, and it had been pretty ugly, with Lara in the middle. She hoped that Brody's nephews made out okay; she didn't know if it was better or worse that they were younger than Lara had been.

Once more she debated asking Brody about meeting her parents. It's not like he has to go tonight, she thought. I'm just asking if he'd be willing at some point in the near future. That's not so bad. I hope.

"Hey." She nudged his arm. When he didn't respond, she did it again.

"Hmmm? Sorry, what?"

"I had a favor to ask, if you don't mind. Nothing that has to happen immediately or anything."

"Sure. Shoot."

"Would you be okay with meeting my parents? Sometime?"

He gave her a half-smile. "Sure, no problem."

Ryan felt panic rise despite his positive response. "I'm not trying to pressure you, just so you know. And I'm not trying to, I don't know, look for more of anything. I just thought it's been a little while and Evan said something to them and so Mom's asked a few questions and it'd just be easier if you met them." She was out of breath when she finished.

"Ryan, it's fine." He patted her arm. "I don't mind, really. Just let me check the schedule and we'll work something out."

"Okay. Thanks." She was relieved asking him was over; now she could focus on worrying about the event.

"You met my family, so it's only fair."

"I guess. Let's talk about something else."

He squeezed her arm and they went back to watching the movie. Ryan tried to remember what they were watching, but there was nothing too distinctive. Cars sped along roads, sometimes against traffic, and various things exploded in beautifully choreographed sequences. She couldn't have cared less, and every time she glanced at Brody, it was obvious he didn't either.

"We can turn this off," she said.

"What?"

"The movie." She turned towards him. "Neither of us is watching, so we might as well turn it off."

"Sorry. I guess you're right. I just can't focus."

"It's okay. As far as I can tell, there's not much worth focusing on."

Brody turned the set off. "I am sorry, Ryan. Rick's phone call really threw me."

"It's okay. I was just thinking I should cheer you up. You're usually the cheering me up, though, so it's a little weird."

Brody chuckled. "I hadn't thought about it that way."

"Well, let's see what I can come up with." Ryan made a show of thinking of what to do, which made him smile, and then she climbed onto his lap. He put his hands on her hips to steady her as she straddled him.

"That's not a bad start," he said.

"Good to know." She braced her hands on his shoulders and leaned down to kiss him. His fingers dug into her skin, but she didn't care; she liked to feel him respond to her. When he tried to take control of the kiss, she drew back and pressed her lips to his neck. He groaned in approval and she smiled to herself. She decided to up the stakes and rocked her hips against him.

"I think I'm feeling a little better." His voice was rough.

"Good. That's the idea." Ryan pressed her lips to his again and worked on unbuttoning his shirt.

Brody wasn't willing to be passive; he kissed her jaw, and then moved to her neck. After a moment he stopped, much to her disappointment.

"Wait. Why are you wearing this?" Brody reached up and put a finger in her collar and tugged. "This is totally in the way."

Ryan laughed. "It's a mock turtleneck, and in case you've forgotten, it's the middle of January. Even you have to admit it's cold out."

"Maybe. It's still in the way."

"Sorry." She pulled the shirt off. "Better?"

He shrugged out of his own shirt. "Much."

They both laughed as Brody lay back on the couch and pulled her on top of him. She combed her fingers through his hair as she kissed him again. He tangled his fingers in her hair and deepened the kiss. She jumped when he nipped a path down her neck, and couldn't help but rock her body against his when he cupped her breast. He rubbed his thumb over the soft material, drawing a soft moan from her as he went back and forth over the hard nub underneath.

Ryan decided it was time to advance things again, so she reached back and unclasped her bra. She laughed as she tried to slide it off without breaking their kiss. Once she'd managed, she sighed in approval as she lay back on top of him. She loved how he felt against her, warm and strong.

She drew back for a breath but Brody kissed her again and pressed his body against hers. Ryan dragged her nails over his chest as he moved his hips; she felt him hard and ready under his jeans. She reached down to undo his pants.

He hissed out a breath as her hand reached in and she stroked him with a steady rhythm. He stopped for a moment with his forehead on her shoulder and breathing hard, and she felt his heart racing like hers. He murmured something and hooked his fingers in the waistband of her skirt.

"What?" Ryan was still breathless.

"I said, thank God for skirts." He pushed down and stopped. "What the—what is this?"

"What is it this time?"

"This. Wait." He pushed at her shoulders and she raised up. He frowned. "You're wearing stockings?"

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Let me repeat: it's cold outside."

"Jesus. Here I thought this was going to be easy with the skirt." He curled his fingers into the elastic waistband and began pushing the leggings down, working them over her hips as laughed. He got them off one leg and said that was enough before pulling her back to him.

Ryan repaid the favor by pushing his jeans down, and he lowered his hands to help, then slid one hand between her legs and let his fingers slide into her. She gasped and dug her nails into his shoulders as he teased her, bringing her close but not letting her come.

She was about to protest when he moved his free hand; he dug around to find his wallet and dropped it to the floor when he had the condom in hand. She sat up as he ripped the packet open and put the condom on, then moved so that she was over him. They both groaned as he slid inside. Ryan leaned down to kiss him once more.

His lips met hers, rough and urgent, and she let him lead this time. He began to move faster, and Ryan felt her body tighten and then she came almost before she was ready for it. She gripped him tighter, searching for his lips again as he grasped her hips and kept moving. Ryan tried to take a breath and managed a quick one before a second orgasm washed through her. This time she felt Brody tense as well, and then he dropped his head back as he came as well, holding her to him and breathing hard.

Ryan closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest. His heart beat slowed after a bit and the rhythmic sound lulled her almost to sleep.

"I, um, I guess we should get up," she said.

Brody's arms tightened around her. "Why?"

"I was thinking maybe I should go back to my place."

He shifted so he could look at her. "You don't want to stay here?"

"I do. I just didn't know if you wanted me to."

He laid back on the couch. "Yeah, I do."

x-x-x-x

It was almost two weeks later before Ryan could find a night clear of hockey and basketball games, not to mention a time where she had no rehearsal scheduled.

As they rode out to Chantilly in his car, and the weather was gray and damp, typical of early February. Brody glanced over at Ryan as she stared out the window and fidgeted, tapping her foot on the floor.

"You're not one of those people that steps on imaginary brakes, are you?" he asked.

"What?" She looked over at him, confused.

He smiled and shook his head. "I was just trying to see if you were nervous about my driving."

"Oh, no. Sorry." She fiddled with the fringe on her purple scarf. "Just nervous."

"I'll be on my best behavior, I promise."

"No, that's not it. I've told you that before."

"It'll be fine." Brody couldn't understand why she was so nervous about this. He could accept some general anxiety, but Ryan had been antsy about this for days.

"Yeah, fine. It'll be fine. Just don't say anything about the band, and it'll be fine."

"Ryan, come on. I get that you're not doing what they expected, but they'll come around."

She gave a short laugh. "Yeah, right. I just haven't been patient enough for the past four or five years."

"Well, you know, in my family, when Eileen said she wanted to go in the Peace Corps, that didn't exactly go down easy for some of us."

"Brody, you don't get it." Ryan huffed in frustration and threw her head back against the seat. "My parents are not like yours. They aren't waiting for me to finish going through a phase. They think I'm being stupid, and that I'm wasting my time and my education, not that they thought much of that, either."

"Okay, I'm sorry." He reached over and patted her leg. "Let's forget about it. I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm sorry." She took a deep breath. "Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying I was neglected or abused or anything like that. Not at all. My parents are decent people. But at the risk of sounding like a melodramatic teenager, they don't understand me. They never did. If it isn't sports, Dad's not interested. Mom's happy to be the fifties-era housewife and just goes along with him."

Brody nodded and dropped the subject. They pulled up in the driveway and Ryan stared at the house for a minute before undoing her seatbelt. Brody came around to open her door and she smiled at him.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more," she murmured. At his puzzled look, she explained. "Shakespeare, Henry V, Act Three. I was an English major. See, it comes in handy."

He chuckled and took her hand as he led her up to the house.

x-x-x-x

Brody sensed Ryan's tension all through dinner. She seemed to be waiting for something bad to happen, but he couldn't figure out what. Her mom was sweet, and insisted he call her Judy. Her father, Jim, was a big man, and it was easy to see the football player he'd been.

Judy made spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread, and after dinner, they moved into the living room before having dessert. Judy brought out coffee for everyone and Brody thanked her as he took his and added some cream.

"So, I hear you've met Evan," Judy said as she sipped at her coffee.

"Yes, I did. He's a tall guy," Brody said, drawing smiles from Ryan's parents. "If he's half as good at basketball as Ryan is at her music, he must be something to watch." He felt compelled to say something complimentary about Ryan. The conversation over dinner had centered around her brothers, and he noticed that her parents hadn't said much to their daughter since they'd arrived. Nor had she said much to them; it was weird.

When he'd brought Ryan to meet his family, chaotic as it had been over the holidays, everyone had talked, sometimes at each other, sometimes over. No one had been ignored.

"Evan's the best guard to come out of his high school in twenty years." Jim thumped his hand on the table for emphasis. "The only problem is the NBA making him stay in school. He could be playing in the pros right now."

"Oh, sweetie, you know he'll be fine." Judy patted her husband's hand.

"College can help," said Brody. "I mean, I wouldn't trade my years at college for anything, really. It was a great time to make friends and learn from the coaches in a much less stressful environment." He didn't know what else he might say to bring Ryan into the conversation.

"But you got drafted, right? Before you graduated?" Jim prompted.

"Um, yes, I did. But I would have finished it out if I hadn't been drafted that year, and tried again the next." Brody felt a little uncomfortable with the questions, but saw no reason not to be honest.

"There, see." Jim gestured towards his wife. "Getting degrees is overrated."

"Now, Jim, you know some kids wait until after college to go pro," Judy admonished. "It doesn't hurt."

"I'd have to agree," Brody said. "College can be a big help. I know a lot of guys who got their degrees. One of my teammates was a history major."

Jim grunted into his coffee and silence fell over the group. It didn't last long before Judy spoke up. "So, Brody, how did you come to play hockey?"

"Good question," said Jim. "I would have thought you'd have gone for football at Michigan State. They're a big draw up there."

"They are, indeed. My younger brother went to Michigan State." Brody was at a loss; he'd never wanted to play football, even when he was little. Once he'd had a hockey stick in his hand, other sports held no appeal. Jim obviously thought football was the only sport that mattered. "I guess football just wasn't my thing. I played some baseball growing up, but hockey was what called to me."

Jim nodded but said nothing. Brody sensed Ryan tense more, and he wasn't even touching her. He tried to change the conversation and looked at Jim. "Ryan tells me you went to University of Maryland."

"I did." Jim nodded. "Had me a football scholarship. I played left tackle, and I was damn good. They put me in as a starter while I was still a freshman, and I was going to the NFL, everyone said so. I came this close." Jim held up a hand with his thumb and index fingers almost touching. "I had three teams interested in me. Then a play went bad, a guy fell on top of me and busted my knee."

"Sorry to hear that."

Jim shrugged. "It happens. I got over it. Had to leave school since I lost my scholarship, but I got a job in construction, worked my way up to site foreman. Good, honest work. You don't need a piece of paper if you're willing to work hard.

"Now, JT—our oldest boy—he's even better than I was. He set the school record for tackles last season and he's entering the draft this year. If he doesn't go in the first round, I'll eat my hat."

"You don't wear hats, dear," Judy said. Her smile and glance at Brody told him they'd had the exchange many times before.

"Figure of speech, hon."

They chatted for a bit more, with Jim recounting the various successes JT and Evan had had with their athletics. Nothing about Ryan, Brody couldn't help but notice. When it was going on eight o'clock, Judy said, "I know, Jim, why don't you show Brody the kids' trophies? Ryan, could you give me a hand with dishes, dear?"

Brody gave Ryan a quick smile before getting up to follow her father out of the room.

x-x-x-x

"Well, Ryan, he seems very nice." Judy nodded in satisfaction as she rinsed the plates and handed them to Ryan to load in the dishwasher.

"Thanks, Mom. I think so, too."

"Now how long have you two been dating?"

Ryan counted to ten to calm herself down; she'd been on edge all night but her mom wasn't asking anything unreasonable. Yet. "I met him in October, I think, but we didn't start dating until just before Thanksgiving. I guess it's about three months now."

"Why didn't you say anything? Or bring him to meet us sooner?" Judy admonished.

"I don't know. Just waiting for the right time. He had road trips, and you guys were going to JT's games." Ryan shrugged. "It was hard to coordinate a time."

"Oh, well, I guess you're right." Judy put away the leftover meatballs and sauce in the refrigerator, then moved to get the pasta. "So, is it serious? Come on, you can tell me."

"I suppose. We haven't talked about it." Ryan was cautious. Since she wasn't sure herself, she didn't want to give her mother the wrong impression.

"I mean, because he seems so sweet. He's polite, and he's certainly handsome."

"That's true, but it's only been three months, Mom, like I said."

"He feels like a keeper to me, sweetie." Judy gave her a knowing look. "I know a lot of girls wait to get married these days, but I don't think it's always a good idea to wait. Then you're older when you have kids, if you have kids." She made a tsking sound. "I'd like to be a grandmother sooner rather than later."

Ryan felt trapped. "Yeah, I know, Mom. Still, I don't think we're anywhere near that serious."

"Not yet, maybe," Judy said. "Things can happen quickly. And I know, I know, you want to make your music and everything, but you have to be reasonable. Not many people succeed in that business. You can always keep playing just for yourself, as a hobby."

"Right." Ryan wondered just how awful it would be if she left and hotwired Brody's car to go home. Or, since she didn't know how to hotwire anything, maybe she could swipe his keys out of his jacket. Her father would drive him home.

Her mother's voice pulled her out of her escape fantasy. "Oh, look, they're back. Let's get dessert." Judy pulled a cheesecake out of the refrigerator and put slices on dessert plates and set them around the table.

Ryan followed with forks and napkins, still considering escape plans. Then her father came in and gestured for Brody to sit down. He did, and accepted when Judy offered another cup of coffee. Ryan sat next to him, her appetite gone, and poked at her cheesecake.

"So, Ryan hasn't told me yet, but how did you two meet?" Judy sat down and reached for her coffee.

Brody told them how he'd been visiting Mark and met Ryan when he'd gone to leave and she'd dropped her groceries in the hallway.

"Oh, isn't that sweet? Just like you'd read in a book." Judy beamed.

Brody smiled and sipped his coffee. "I was just trying to be helpful. Then one night we caught up again and went out for dinner. Sushi."

Judy wrinkled her nose and Jim rolled his eyes. "Never could stand the stuff. Who in their right mind eats raw fish?" he demanded.

"It's not for everyone," Brody acknowledged, "but still, I like to try new things."

Ryan spoke up. "Brody cooks. He's good, too. You should try his enchiladas, Mom."

"Only if they're not too spicy. I've just never been one for spicy foods. Neither is Jim, are you, dear?"

"That's okay, there's plenty out there to try." Brody took a bite of cheesecake. "This is terrific, Judy."

"Thank you. Best I can get in a box," she said with a smile.

"Anyway," Brody went on, "I had to convince her, you know, to go out with me. It took a lot of work, but she gave in." He glanced over at Ryan, who gave him a half-smile and sipped at her coffee.

"Ryan always was stubborn," Judy said. "More so than either of the boys. I always said she got that from Jim's side of the family."

Jim grunted a non-committal reply as he ate his dessert.

Brody turned to Ryan. "Hey, have you told them about the tour?"

"Tour?" Judy was puzzled. "What do you mean, a tour?"

Ryan put her fork down and sat back. "The band—we've been picked up for a tour. It'll start in April."

"Is this like when you went around before?" Judy asked. "I never did understand that."

"No, this is different." Ryan cleared her throat. "The tour is sponsored, and we've been asked to join it. We'll be paid. This won't be like before, when we organized the dates ourselves."

Her father stared at her. "Will you quit your job like you did before?"

Judy looked dismayed. "Oh, Ryan, that's a big risk right now. Are you sure that's what you'll do?"

"What about your apartment?" her father objected. "How can you afford your rent if you're not working?"

Ryan shrugged and her voice was tight when she replied. "We're still working out details. I have a lot of leave built up, and some credit time, and I might be able to work out some unpaid leave. Lara and I have both been saving, and we could sublet the apartment. Plus, we are getting paid." Her knuckles went white around the handle on the coffee mug.