From then on they talked more. They didn't converse properly but they were able to stay in one room without needing to leave in awkwardness, but Lyla still thought he could work on talking with less coldness in his voice. But this was still progress, they both knew it.
And Lyla was sure of it when Ryerson came up and congratulated her for getting the Canadian license for medicine. He had even given her a smile, which she considered a whole other achievement in itself.
One evening Ryerson slowly opened the door. Lyla was still sleeping on the couch, he was too tongue-tied to ask her to sleep on the bed so he had to be quiet when he came home from work. He gave a slight groan at the headache he could feel coming, it was 3 in the morning and he was exhausted.
"Tired?" came a voice. He jumped. He looked up to see Lyla, looking at him from the other side of the counter. Ryerson's gaze stayed on her, silently asking his question. There was a beat of silence, "today Bella told me that there wasn't a way you get food in the office with someone like a helper being ordered to get it. I didn't know that until now, I thought that you had a maid like person who got your meals in your office as well," where was she going with this? "so, um, did you eat dinner? like outside or somewhere?" he shook his head and concern washed over her face. Was that a concern for him? He couldn't help but feel a bit happy at that, "you shouldn't starve yourself like that." she said.
"You barely eat yourself, you can't speak to me like that," he trailed off as Lyla walked towards him. Since she had been behind the counter he hadn't been able to see her entire outfit but now he could. She was wearing a simple loose shirt but she was wearing some loose, short shorts. He involuntarily swallowed as she walked towards him, her long, curvaceous, creamy legs on display. Ryerson forcefully pulled his gaze to her eyes again. Lyla noticed Ryerson's once over and she couldn't help but feel flattered. She took his briefcase from him, putting it down on the counter.
"I'm always awake when you come back home, even if I don't look like it," she said, "you never eat anything. I assumed you eat at the office." He shrugged, "you should take care of your health. I'm going to give you something to eat now." he shook his head, he was never hungry, "you know, I really don't care what you say." she said, rising an amused eyebrow his way, Ryerson's lips twitched at that.
It made him feel indescribably happy seeing her worried for him. Suddenly she looked a bit shy, which was something he had never seen her, "um, I know that a glass of milk with some almonds can be counted as an entire meal. And an apple. Would-would you like me to get that for you?" she asked hesitantly.
Ryerson raised an eyebrow, she didn't stutter or get flustered when he had her against the wall, without any control over his hands but she was getting shy at the prospect of his reaction to her taking care of him? He wanted to laugh but he simply nodded. Not even two minutes later, there was a glass of milk in front of him and she was holding some almonds.
He sipped the milk awkwardly, it was only slightly warm, just the way he used to like it as a kid, but how did she know that? He hurriedly finished the milk not wanting to keep his wife waiting and popped the almonds in his mouth.
"Do I have to?" he asked her as she held out the apple she just washed. Lyla's lips twitched.
"Yes," she answered, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away."
"But I don't want you away from me," Ryerson spoke without thinking, and he wasn't blind to seeing the surprise across Lyla's face, and a relief washed through him watching her lips twitch into what would almost be a smile his way.
"You know that wasn't what I meant," Lyla said, almost in a playful tone.
"An apple a day keeps everyone away if you throw it hard enough." Lyla bit her lip to stop herself from laughing as she turned away. She cleaned up slightly as he chewed silently on his food. She couldn't remember the last time she felt shy, but in her defense, she had never done something like this before! Though she was a doctor, it was different for her to take care of her husband.
Wait, since when did she accept that term for him?
The thought made her ears burn, something that didn't go unnoticed by Ryerson.
"Got something to say?" he asked emotionlessly, he didn't know why he was talking like this. Why couldn't he talk like a normal person? Without using a chill in his voice. He was lucky Lyla didn't seem to be bothered by it too much. She shook his head.
"Nothing," she assured. That was the awkward end for the night. Or morning they should say. As Ryerson thought on the bed, the girl was actually taking care of him. Maybe it was time he returned the favor?
______
Not going to lie, that meal part was a bit awkward and slow to write, even though this was the shortest chapter yet.
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Unwanted Wedlock
Romance''Let me help you, ma'am,'' a man who was probably the flight attendant said. Damn. Ryerson Reeds even had handsome flight attendants. The man stooped a bit, leaning close to her and taking the seatbelt from her hands. He was holding eye contact and...
