“No!” Joe Salah had been an attractive man, but no. Absolutely no. “Their son. Fabian.”
“Ohhhh. And that’s who you ran into in Toronto?”
Ryan nodded. “Yeah. And we were catching up a bit. You know.”
“Catching up like...”
“Just talking. We’re friends. We’re not...” Ryan shifted so he was sitting more upright against the headboard. “He’s way out of my league.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Way out of your league how? You are literally a star athlete and a millionaire.”
“Yeah, but he’s beautiful. And charming. And has a ton of friends who all do interesting things. And he plays music that’s, like, the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Okay, so this charming, beautiful man has been hanging out with you?”
“We haven’t really been hanging out. I went to his show last night, though, and I...walked him home after.”
Colleen’s face lit up. “Ryan! That’s adorable! Did you carry his books?”
Ryan flushed. “I carried his gear.”
“Aw. Did he kiss you good night?”
“Let’s change the subject.”
“Comeon. The last date I went on was with Andy Hart, and it turned out we’re distant cousins. I need some big city romance stories.”
Ryan laughed. “Isn’t he Mom’s cousin’s son?”
“I don’t know. Something like that.”
“Yeah, that’s not that distant.”
“Oh, look at you, Toronto. So fancy just because you aren’t dating your cousins.”
They both cracked up. Ryan loved his sister, and he hated thinking that she was lonely back in Ross Harbour. She deserved to be loved by someone wonderful.
“Have you bought furniture yet?” she asked when they’d stopped laughing.
“Not really. Still just in the bedroom, basically.”
She looked dismayed. “That’s sad. Please order some furniture. I know there’s an IKEA in Toronto.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“What if youdidmeet a guy? You can’t bring him back to a weird empty apartment!”
“Iknow, I said.”
“They can probably do next-day delivery in Toronto!”
“There’s no point in buying furniture if I’m just gonna be traded again!”
Ryan thought that outburst would end the argument, but Colleen persisted. “Yeah, that’s no way to live, buddy. Buy a sofa.”
“I have to go.”
“Don’t be mad at me. I’m just—”
