Patient

5

Ryanne

As I make my last and winning shot, I know I have accomplished two things. One, have left him with a sore ego. Two, a serious case blue balls.

I squeal. "See, that's why you should never underestimate a woman's power."

"You only won cause when my lower head gets hot my upper one goes numb."

I laugh, loud enough our friends can hear us at or table near by. "Sure, you should really practice some self control, meditation maybe even some yoga might help you with your heads."

He chuckles. "I still can't believe you beat me, I'm fucking invincible."

"You were, baby. You were. Come on spell it out for me W-E-R-E, were."

"Oh come on don't be a bad winner."

"Okay, fine. I'll compose myself and just because I'm being extra nice today, I'll buy you a drink."

"How can I say no to that?" He asks mockingly before we start walking towards the bar.

"What's your poison?" I ask him.

"A beer will do."

I give the bartender now in front of us our order and soon, we are both sipping from our poisons.

"So, where did you learn to play?" Kellan asks.

"Well, when I moved to Chicago at age 14 I lived with my mother and her best friend and she just happened to have four lil' devils."

"That's just a recipe for disaster."

I giggle. "Trust me it was. We almost burn the house."

"No shit!"

"Yes, shit. We had upset Sylvain and my mother earlier so we thought it was a brilliant idea to bake a cake while they were asleep and falling asleep as well. We all woke up as the fire alarm went off. Punished for a whole month."

He laughs. "But you had good intentions."

"I know!" I say a humphing. " It was the thought that counted, I don't fathom why they didn't see it that way."

"I bet your mothers must still be scared you might burn your own houses now."

That lump I recognize so well, starts forming in my throat. "My mother's..."

I am gladly cut off by Dean's approach. "We're going up. Any requests?"

"Play the one you recently wrote."

"Tangled?"

"That one."

"Oookay."

He and the rest start making their way up stage.

"Since when are you friends with Dean?" I ask Kellan.

"All my life. We met in a hospital when we were both six. I had broken his arm, he had broken my leg."

I chuckle. "Great way of bonding."

He chuckles with me, and as I peer at his beautiful silver eyes I can catch the deepness of his kindness, his sweetness, charisma, his undeniable charm. And just as well, hidden behind well carved walls, pain. I know it's crazy to think so considering I barely know the guy, but I have always been quite the observer and I notice how his smiles, albeit genuine, they don't reach his eyes, or make them sparkle.

My peering is interrupted by Dom's capture of my elbow. "Come on! Let's go to the front."

I trail behind her, stealing one last glance to Kellan. The front stage is already packed, luckily Ash and Carson are there already so we're able to be there front and center.