3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

MIA

R yan moving to New York was the final straw of our relationship. I get it, he grew bigger than his fishbowl, but Detroit is my home. I've built my life here, and it's where I want to eventually raise a family. It's also where I envision growing old alongside the love of my life, which wasn't him.

However, this part now is tougher than I thought it would be. The big cardboard box carries everything Ryan left behind, including clothes, shoes, a bicycle helmet, books, a cell phone charger, and a handheld gaming device.

I take a good look at it. I made sure to pick up my stuff when he wasn't home a few months ago before he moved to New York.

And I had to pack all his stuff and take it on the flight over from Detroit and bring it to his hotel room here in St. Louis and it doesn't seem fair.

At least he's staying at the same hotel. Being the CEO of a company sponsoring the team has its perks and he's staying in the penthouse suite.

Pulling determination from God knows where, I grab the box and head out of my hotel room and into the elevator.

The elevator dings open, and I step out onto the top floor. The penthouse occupies the entire floor. I head for the door, place the box at my feet, and ring the doorbell.

Ryan answers promptly, his face flushed. "Was waiting for you," he nods, leaning down to grab the box. "Thank you for bringing these things over on your flight and dropping them off. I know it's a pain, but even though it's Saturday, I've been stuck in calls all day. I appreciate it. Come on in."

I furrow my brows but oblige. As I head inside, I find Ethan and Senna tossing a football around.

"Um, aren't you guys afraid you'll break something?" I ask it jokingly, trying to disguise my real worry.

"The room is in Ryan's name," Ethan shrugs, tossing me the ball.

For a second, I have no idea what to do with it. Then Senna calls out, "To me, Aunt Mia! Over here!" I carefully toss the ball to him.

Meanwhile, Ryan is going through the items I brought, taking them out one by one and placing them on the bed.

"How did so much of my stuff end up with you?" he asks, puzzled. I'm focused on throwing the ball and find it difficult to pay attention to him.

"It must have gotten mixed with my stuff. I grabbed everything in a hurry and didn't notice at the time," I reply after a moment.

I toss the ball to Ethan with surprising strength. It hits him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him and making him let out a loud, "Oof!"

"Oh my God, are you okay?" I rush over to check on him as he falls back onto the sofa.

"I'm okay!" His voice is comically breathless, and I can't tell if he's faking it. "You have a good arm, huh?"

I smile and help him up. He tucks the football under his arm, ready to continue the game, but Senna is now more interested in the items his uncle is unpacking.

"What are these things, Uncle Ryan?" Senna asks, climbing onto the bed to inspect the contents.

"Just some of my things that ended up with Aunt Mia," Ryan explains.

"Did you and Aunt Mia get divorced like mom and dad?" Senna asks smartly.

"No, Senna…" I sit on the bed beside him. "Your Uncle Ryan and I were never married. We were boyfriend and girlfriend, so we just broke up."

"What's the difference between boyfriend and girlfriend and married?" Senna demands to know.

"First you start dating someone," Ethan explains, kneeling in front of his son. "Then you ask her to be your girlfriend. After a while, if you're sure of what you want, you buy her a ring and ask her to marry you."

Senna looks deeply into his father's eyes, then turns to me and Ryan. "So, Uncle Ryan never bought you a ring, Aunt Mia?"

I choke on my own laughter, while Ryan goes as red as an heirloom tomato.

"No, Senna…" I ruffle his hair. "He never did."

Senna immediately turns to Ryan. "Why not, Uncle Ryan?"

Ethan and I exchange amused looks, trying to hold back our laughter as Ryan turns away, struggling to answer.

This should be good.

"The right time never came," he finally mumbles with a shrug. I pretend to shake it off, but it leaves a lingering ache.

Sensing the awkwardness, Ethan stands and suggests, "How about we go down to the hotel restaurant and have some ice cream, huh?"

"Can Aunt Mia and Uncle Ryan come?" Senna asks eagerly.

Ethan shakes his head. "Uncle Ryan needs to finish unpacking, but Aunt Mia can come."

"Gladly," I mutter under my breath. I'm not that comfortable around Ethan, but I love Senna.

We leave the room and head for the restaurant, with Senna holding his father's hand. After a moment, he reaches out his other hand to me, and I take it with a surprised smile.

Upon arriving, Senna eagerly starts placing orders with the waiter. It's April, and warmer here in St. Louis than in Detroit, so I'm looking forward to the ice cream.

"Mint chocolate chip and chocolate chip cookie dough with sprinkles for me!" Senna exclaims, knowing exactly what he wants.

He turns to Ethan with pursed lips. "And rocky road ice cream for you dad?"

Ethan chuckles, "You got it, kiddo."

With a grin, Senna turns to me. "What about you, Aunt Mia?"

I place a finger over my lips, considering. "I will take salted caramel and strawberry."

The waiter leaves with our orders and a deep silence falls over the table. Senna notices that I'm not feeling okay. He gives me a thumbs up and an infectious smile, and I can't help but grin back at him.

"I missed you, Aunt Mia," Senna says, his big eyes full of concern. "Why don't you visit anymore?"

I sigh, my shoulders slumping. "It's complicated, Senna. When a boyfriend and girlfriend break up, they don't have a reason to keep seeing each other or their families."

"But mom and dad still see each other," he immediately protests.

"Yeah, and your mom and dad have you as a reason to stay connected," I explain. "The best thing Ryan and I had was a house plant that died."

Senna laughs, and I join in. Ethan, watching us tenderly, surprises me by reaching across the table and touching my hand.

"I didn't lie that day after the game," he says, catching me off guard. "You do look happier now. Just don't tell Ryan I said that, okay?"

He places a finger over his lips, directing the gesture at Senna, whose eyes are wide with awe and amusement.

"Dad? Can you get married with someone else after you get divorced?" Senna asks, his forehead creasing.

I startle, suddenly feeling awkward.

"Yes." Ethan, usually confident, grows awkward as well. "But it doesn't happen right away. You need to start over… dating, becoming boyfriend and girlfriend, then marriage. Does that make sense?"

"I think so," Senna says.

At that moment, the waiter returns with our ice cream. We thank him and the conversation pauses as we dig in.

Every so often, Senna looks up from his ice cream to me. Before long, he asks another question. "Can you be boyfriend and girlfriend again with someone else after you break up, Aunt Mia?"

"Absolutely." I don't bat an eye, but inside, I'm shaking with nerves. "It just takes a while to start dating again."

"Because it hurts, Senna," Ethan explains quietly.

"Did it hurt with you and mom?" Senna asks, taking another spoonful of ice cream.

Ethan takes a moment to think. Finally, he replies calmly, "Not really. Your mom and I are better as friends than as husband and wife. In the end, it was a relief."

"Really?" I ask, intrigued, my ice cream melting as I mix the flavors together. "You two seemed like the perfect couple."

He shrugs, savoring some of his ice cream, then replies with his usual calm, "We had learned to play a role. It wasn't fair to either of us to continue it."

He looks at his watch then turns to Senna. "Hey kiddo, go ahead and finish up your ice cream. In a few minutes I have to drop you off at the hotel with your mom then head to practice. I've got to get ready for the big game tomorrow."

I'm humbled as I sit there, lost in thought. How often had I complained about Ryan and myself, unaware that the seemingly perfect couple before me had been grappling with their own inner turmoil?

Quietly, I finish my ice cream, say goodbye to Ethan and Senna, and head back to my hotel room to enjoy the rest of my Saturday before the big game tomorrow.