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RYAN
“That’s a franchise wrap on Dr. Harris Rutledge,” yelled the assistant director.
I picked myself off from the ground where I just did my final Rutledge death scene. I was still getting used to the idea that my time on this franchise is over, but thanks to Tinsley, I’m confident about what the future has in store.
As I made my way off the stage the cast circled around me giving me hugs and high fives and there amongst them was Tinsley. She looked radiant and is holding a cake that has a picture of my most previous Rutledge death scene along with a caption in icing that reads, “you make dying look good.”
The crew joined in and sang a few rounds of “he’s a jolly good fellow.” After the cake had been dispersed, Tinsley corralled all the leads together.
“Okay, I have to admit, I had an ulterior motive for bringing cake today. Yes, I wanted to celebrate Ryan’s last day on set but I also needed to butter you guys up,” she said sheepishly.
“Butter us up for what?” I asked.
“For the Silver Hawk Movie Festival,” she replied. “The what?” Adrienne asked, looking puzzled.
“If you’ve never heard of it, that’s because you’ve probably never heard of it,” Tinsley said jokingly. “It’s a lesser known festival. Lots of smaller studio projects and indie films. The studio needs help promoting one of their artsy films called San Pedro.”
“Okay, but what does that have to do with you bribing us with cake?” asked Michael.
“Well, I’m bribing you because we all have to go,” Tinsley said succinctly. “Next week. The studio feels like having the Falconi crew will draw some much-needed attention to San Pedro and hopefully help it to fare better at the festival.”
“Wait, what now?” demanded Adrienne.
“I know, it’s super short notice,” Tinsley apologized. “I just found out about it this morning. Apparently, the order about it sat on someone’s desk for a week before he bothered to read it and give me the info.”
“Let me guess, Lee,” I said.
“So, let’s get this straight. I have to leave my Addie at home on a moment’s notice because Lee can’t pull his nose out of a bottle of booze long enough to read a freaking memo.” Adrienne raged.
“I know and I’m very sorry. If it helps, I’ve already made arrangements for my mom to fly in to help with Lucas. She would be more than happy to fill in and assist with Addie too,” Tinsley said in an attempt to calm her down.
“I’m sorry Tinsley, I know it’s not on you. It just sucks. I’ll have to leave her and the guys behind. They just took on a new client and won’t be able to get away,” she said softly. “And I hate traveling alone.”
“Hey now, you won’t be completely alone. You will have all of us,” Kai chimed in.
“Right, that makes me a, hold on, I have to count a minute. Sixth wheel,” she teased.
“You won’t be intruding at all,” assured Tinsley. “Think of it as a fun, mommy vacay. I’ll be sure the studio feels super bad and schedules you lots of time at the resort’s spa.”
“Okay,” Adreinne finally agreed. “Let’s do it.”
The group disperses and Tinsley promises to send all the important details later that day. I started to head back to my trailer and was feeling a bit downtrodden. For years I’d been Dr. Harris Rutledge and now I would be just Ryan. I knew the transition would be uncomfortable, I just didn’t expect it to hit quite that hard.
“Hey there,” said a friendly voice as I arrived back at my trailer.
Tinsley, my heart skips a beat.
“Hey yourself,” I said, trying to sound cheerful.
“You can’t fool me buddy. I know you’re having a tough day. Got change, I’ve got a surprise for you and then I’m taking you to lunch.”
Thank goodness for Tinsley, if anything could pull me from this funk, it’s her.
–
She won’t tell me where we’re going but she has a grin on her face the size of Texas. I honestly could care less where she’s taking me, I’m grateful for the time alone with her.
“Okay Tins, the suspense is killing me. Where the heck are we?” I asked when we finally arrived at what looked like a storage or warehouse facility.
“I don’t mean to sound presumptive,” she said cautiously. “But I thought you might want to let off a little steam and process some of the feelings you’re going through.”
“Okay,” I said hesitantly.
“My therapist told me about this place,” she said. “It’s the perfect spot for when you’re feeling out of sorts, angry or just need to really burn some energy.” She pushed through the glass doors on the side of one of the warehouses.
“Break Room?” I asked, reading the sign on the door.
“Yup, it’s the coolest ever. You get all suited up in protective gear and then you go into a room with a metal bat and get to smash to pulverines whatever you see,” she said excitedly. “I signed us up to destroy a car.”
“Tinsley this sounds amazing!” I said feeling the anticipation build inside me.
She gave the man our name and we were led into a changing area. They gave us each a jumpsuit, gloves, mask and a big metal bat. Tinsley got dressed quickly and damn did she look hot. Not all women could make a tyvek jumpsuit look sexy like she managed.
I donned my own jumpsuit and pulled her in close for a kiss. “Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to figure out a way to make me feel better. No one has ever really done anything like this for me before. And it feels really good to be taken care of.”
Her mouth was all over mine. I instantly lost myself in her sweet kiss. I felt her moan against my lips and wanted to remove her jumpsuit, lay her down on the counter, and show her how much she meant to me but the sounds of others entering the changing area pulled us away from one another. To be continued, I thought.
We put on our masks and entered the break room. “Let’s do this!” Tinsley shouted through her mask and began beating at the rear-view mirror with her bat. She knocked it loose after a few swings and continued to smash it until there was nothing left.
“Yes ma’am,” I said and started on the car’s windshield. I beat against the glass with several strong hits, and it began to crumble from the bashing. I felt adrenaline coursing through my system and as I crashed through the windshield with one final hit, I felt instantly lighter.
“How do you like it?” Tinsley yelled at me from the other side of the
car. car.
“This is fucking incredible!” I shouted back, taking another swing at the She let out a ferocious growl and pummelled the car’s hood. I followed
suit and roared as I busted out the car’s tail lights. There was something so intoxicating and erotic about begins so destructive. I felt myself begin to stiffen as a primal urge grew inside me.
After about a half hour we had completely annihilated the old beater and I was as turned on as I had been the first day I saw Tinsley. I could tell Tinsley felt it too. The sexual energy being passed between us before being led back into the locker-room where we would shower and change was palpable.
As the door closed behind us, I quickly turned to lock it and before she could say a word I picked her up, wrapped her legs around me and carried her into the bathroom, propping her up on the counter.
We began tearing the jumpsuits off one another, kissing feverishly as we went. Her hands freed my aching hard on and her eyes got as big as saucers. “You’re as hard as a fucking rock,” she said. “Fuck me with that right
now.”
I didn’t waste any time removing her panties, I just moved them to the side, and I drove into her dripping wet pussy with my dick, her back arching as I entered her.
“You like that?” I asked, pulling her hair so I could more easily kiss her neck. I attacked her pussy like a jackhammer, and she whimpered with delight at every thrust.
“Oh fuck, Ryan. Your dick feels so good. I love it when you fuck me hard. Please don’t stop.”
I answered her pleas with increased pumping. I fucked her hard and fast nipping at her neck and suckling at her breasts. I felt the pressure increase inside me as her muscles began to tighten around me.
I pulled her up from the counter gripping her ass in my hands and thrust into her one final time as we came together. The feeling of her heart beating against my chest erased the last ounce of anxiety brought on by today’s filming. I lowered her gently to the floor and kissed her softly on the head.
“That was incredible, you are incredible,” I said. How had I ever let this woman out of my life?
–
“I hope you like fish tacos,” she said, as she pulled her car into a makeshift parking lot along the highway.
“After the smash room and that sex, I could eat roadkill,” I teased.
“This is one of the best kept secrets in LA, Paco’s Tacos,” she said with a smile. “And you should be grateful. I don’t take just anyone here.”
We shuffled out of the car and made our way toward a brightly painted mobile trailer with a long line. I’d heard about food trucks but honestly had never eaten at one. Even with their growing popularity they made me nervous. How good could food really be out of a mobile kitchen?
“Not only are these some of the best tacos you’ll ever put in your mouth, it’s also not a see or be seen kind of place. I figured it would be a great spot to tuck away and have some lunch without worrying that someone is going to come attack you for an autograph,” she said. Just one more way, Tinsley was always so thoughtful.
“I’m really looking forward to the film festival,” I said. “Really?” She looked surprised.
“Really, why do you look so shocked?” I asked.
“Oh, it’s just that I know not everyone was thrilled. I felt so bad for putting Adrienne out. I really like her.”
“She adores you. And I would know,” I said, grabbing her hand. “She’s my fake girlfriend. But seriously, the festival will be great. I think it will give me some good inspiration for this new turn my life is taking.”
“That’s one of the coolest things about today,” Tinsley said. “When you really think about it, today is the first day of your new career. Now you get to call the shots. I’m so happy for you.”
As we inched toward the taco stand, I gazed longingly at the beautiful woman before me. The one I’d almost let get away. She had such a magnetism to her. All of us guys were drawn in by not only her beauty but her charm and caring nature. I felt so grateful just to be a part of her orbit.
“What are you staring at?” she asked, catching me staring. “Do I have something on my face?”
“Just the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen,” I said flirtatiously.
“Stop, stop, you’re going to overinflate my ego,” she teased. Then staring deep into my eyes she grabbed my hand gently and whispered, “Thank you.”
“What’ll you have?” asked the man from the taco truck, bringing the moment to an end.
“Let me order,” Tinsley insisted. “I want to make sure you try all the best stuff.”
“Tins, you always get all my best stuff,” he said to her with a smile.
Looks like I wasn’t the only admirer Tinsley had at this taco truck.
We grabbed our drinks and went and found a picnic table that another couple had just left. “We’re lucky we found a seat,” Tinsley remarked. “Half the time Lucas and I just end up eating over the hood of my car.”
They called our name, and I went and fetched our food. When I got back Tinsley and the shop owner had arranged a plethora of sauces in front of us.
“This is one of the most amazing women you will ever meet. I hope you take good care of her,” he said, winking at me.
“Oh, I plan to,” I said, grabbing her hand across the table. “Ryan, this is Paco. This is his food truck.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” I said, shaking his hand. He shook my hand firmly.
We devoured every ounce of our food. Tinsley had a special sauce concoction for every taco she had me try. Each one was more delicious than the next. She had been absolutely right, this place was amazing. And just when I thought we were done, Paco brought us a giant slice of dulce de leche.
We sat picking at the delicious cake and enjoying the cool afternoon breeze. “So does Lucas like the cake here too?” I asked, trying to find a way to broach the subject of her son.
“He loves it. We order one every time we have a special occasion,” Tinsley said.
“Wait a minute, my cake from this morning wasn’t from here,” I said teasingly.
“No well, I had to make sure you were worth it. And after those locker room antics, you definitely earned it,” she said with a grin.
“So, speaking of Lucas,” I said, steering the conversation back. “Is his dad in the picture?”
“Lucas’ dad?” She asked. “Yeah, his dad?”
“Right, yes, his dad. Of course. It’s just, he, well,” she stammered, it felt odd seeing her so flustered. “He hasn’t been in the picture.”
“Oh, well that’s too bad. He seems like a great kid. Any guy would be lucky to have a son like him,” I replied. It might have just been the wind, but Tinsley seemed to tear up at that moment. Something was up, I just needed to figure out what had her so shaken after our amazing day.
–
Later that day, I drove home from my date with Ryan in a haze. His words had really rocked me. He was right that any guy would be lucky to have a son like Lucas but what if he found out he was “any guy?” Then what would he think?
My cell phone cut through the confusion in my head with the tone that was reserved for Lucas. I smiled to myself. If anyone could brighten my day and pull me out of my head, he could.
“Hey buddy, I can’t wait to see you. I know it’s only been one day apart but,” I was interrupted by sobs coming from my sweet boy.
“Mommy, Tyler says I don’t have a real family because I don’t have a daddy. He says everyone has a daddy and if I don’t, then I don’t have a real family,” he said bawling.
“Oh no honey, that’s so not true. I am so sorry Tyler said such a jerky thing to you, but we’ve been over this, families come in all shapes and sizes. Yours just looks different than his,” I said trying to calm his storm.
“No mommy, he says it’s not real. He says if I don’t have a daddy then I am an orphan.”
Note to self, find this Tyler kid and kick his ass!
“Honey, that’s simply not true. I know Tyler thinks he’s right but remember the people in your class. Some of them have two mommies and no dad. Some of the kids are being raised by their grandparents. Some kids have two daddies. Those are all families,” I said.
“But mommy, do I have a daddy?” he asked in a somber tone.
I took a deep breath and begged for some sort of distraction to save me from this. I needed to talk to Ryan, I couldn’t really give Lucas too much info without knowing what he wanted out of the situation. And just like that, the skies parted and I got my miracle.
“Hey mom, I gotta go, pizza just got here. I promise to save you two slices,” and the phone line went dead.
That was too easy. I needed to make a plan. It was time to come clean with everyone.