Too Much

Pocketing his phone again, Tal's smile fades just a little. Closing his locker, he puts his baseball cap on and slings his jacket over his shoulder, limping on this way out of the shop. 

"Hey - you still coming over tonight?" 

Tal stops and turns to look at Eli, who still had to work a couple hours yet. "Hmm? Oh. Sorry, no. Ryan just called - we're gonna go out."

"Well you don't look very happy about it." 

Tal shrugs. "She wants to talk about something. I guess with the way she's been lately..."

Eli quirks an eyebrow. "Don't worry 'til you have to. Quit moping and go have a good time. I'll have me a nice steak...with the dog."

Tal manages a smile and he shakes his head. "I think I'm gonna be more glad when Scarlet gets home tomorrow than you, so I don't have to listen to you whining anymore." Heading on out to his car, he figured he could run a couple errands, go home and get cleaned up and still have time to meet Ryan at the restaurant for dinner.

Answering his phone, Alec was rather surprised to hear Ryan's voice. They'd parted on good terms today and she wanted to see him again, but he hadn't expected a call. Smiling, he leans back against the kitchen counter after having just put a few things away for Misty. "Hey..." 

The good feelings he'd had though, start to fade quickly with the word, "but." And as his heart starts to sink, his smile dissolves. What was she saying? He could hear the emotion in her voice and detected tears. But why was she saying she loved him and telling him to leave her be at the same time? He didn't understand. If she couldn't let go of what he'd done, why had she said she forgave him? Why had she smiled at him the way she had? Why had she said she still loved him? 

Confusion riddles Alec's mind and heart, and quite suddenly he realizes that Ryan had stopped speaking. "Okay." His voice was quiet...defeated. He did love Ryan. And if this was what she wanted... he didn't have much of a choice. Eli was on the warpath... Ryan herself didn't want to see him... there wasn't much left. And all hope that had risen earlier was all at once gone, leaving a dark, empty hole once more. 

Swallowing hard, he stares at the kitchen floor. He'd been foolish. To think he even had any kind of chance at all with Ryan had been so stupid. She said she wanted to be friends... but he had his doubts it was true. And even if it was, she didn't want it now anyway. 

Feeling the tears sting his eyes, he clears his throat. "I'm sorry... I asked too much of you. I won't bother you anymore." There was more he wanted to say. More about his feelings. More about his love. But this time... he knew it was pointless. "Take care of yourself, Ryan." 

Taking the phone from his ear, he flips it shut, not wanting to prolong the conversation. He'd pushed, and this was the result. It was his own fault. But it still hurt.