7. Ryan

Chapter 7

Ryan

Two Winters Ago / Age Twenty-Six

My weekly calls for Hannah started as a need for proof of life when a break-up sent her spiraling, but now she's the one who chases me.

“Mum and Dad will be so disappointed,” she says.

“I know, and I’ll tell them I’m sorry, OK?”

“You really can’t get away?”

“No, this film is really behind schedule. There’s no shooting over the holidays, but sound mixing can go ahead. I can't be the reason it gets delayed any longer.”

She sighs and sips her tea. “OK, I get it. I’ll probably be the same once I qualify. I’m just sad about it, that’s all. It won’t be the same without you.”

“I’ll be there next year, I promise.”

“What about Kayla?” she says.

“What about her?”

“Ryan!” she scolds, and I feelexactly as ashamed as I should. This is a shitty move on my part, but I know it's the right call.

“Can you tell her I’m sorry and I’ll see her next winter?”

“No way. You can tell her yourself,” Hannah says, hanging up before I can admit I don't even have a way to contact Kayla.