“Jordan, it’s Jennifer…..Christin’s friend.”

“Hey, Jen…….I know who are are……what’s up?”

“Well……so…….here’s the thing. Everything is okay but…..”

“What’s wrong?”

“Okay, everything is okay, but Christin was robbed tonight. Physically she is okay, just a few scrapes on her knees, but she is pretty upset, and asked me to call you….the police are on…”

“I’m on my way.”
……

Thirty minutes later  the police were gone, assuring us that they would keep us updated. Jordan found his place safely beside Christin on our sofa. Alphonso, believe it or not, was actually helpful. I told him I would burn his Vogue magazines in a bonfire if he even had a thought of offering the police officers a drink.

I went into “Fix it” mode. I am a fixer. Always have been, always will be. As I am listening to Christin repeat the story to Jordan, I took a step back, this was their moment, their time, I was thinking ahead. Writing down a mental list…….She needs a new social security card, we have to report this to our landlord, we need new locks, the DMV. Christin will need to get to the DMV as soon as possible. I can make phone calls for her, I am a fixer, this is something I am actually good at. Hell, maybe now she would agree to letting me get a dog…..a guard dog!

Jordan stayed over that night. Both him and Christin crashed in the living room while Vinnie and I took Christin’s room. I do not believe anyone (aside from Alphonso and Vinnie) had any sleep that night.

……

Two weeks later. Sunday afternoon. Jordan and Ryan were over. Alphonso, passed out on the sofa, with an excited Vinnie crawling all over him. The four of us were enjoying a mimosa and bagels with cream cheese. Ryan and I had eased into a comfortable relationship. It was good. Dare I say we had established a safe connection. Both of us fully aware of the reality. The phone rang.

“This is officer Hamilton, may I speak with Christin Crider.”

They had found her purse. Everything was accounted for, except the $800.00 in cash from her paycheck. Christin had already canceled her debit card while putting in a new request for a social security card. Everyone was able to relax a little bit. We were struggling financially, but we were all okay.

Jordan wanted to take Christin out to celebrate. I kinda think he just wanted some one on one time with her, which is totally understandable. They were going to head down to Redondo, while Ryan and I stayed back and had a movie day……with Alphonso still passed out.

As soon as Vinnie went down for his nap, I put in one of my favorite movies of all time. “Goodfellas.” I honestly do not understand how no one has ever seen this movie, yet here I was with Ryan, who had never seen it. I can seriously recite the entire movie word for word.

I made the popcorn. I threw a blanket over Alphonso while making myself comfortable on the sofa. I LOVE this movie, and I love it more watching it with people who have never seen it. If you know the movie, you know the scene. Joe Pesci asking Ray Liotta

“Funny how? I mean, funny like I’m a clown? I amuse you? I make you laugh? I’m here to fuckin’ amuse you? How da fuck am I funny? What da fuck is so funny about me? Tell me. Tell me what’s funny.”

I was dying. Love that scene. I kept looking over at Ryan, just waiting for him to laugh. Waiting for him to find the same amusement as I did in only the best movie ever.

I got nothing.

“Seriously, why aren’t you laughing right now?”

I gave him a playful slap on his arm.

“Hey Jen……can I talk to you for a second?”

“Yeah….sure……do you want me to rewind it?”

“Maybe we can pause it for a minute?”

“Okay but you will miss it, see, Tommy is giving Henry shit, it’s all in fun, but he is kinda testing him and seriously this is one of the best scenes ever.”

I looked over at Ryan and well, I could already tell he was not into it.

“I like you, I think we have a good thing here…….without being overly dramatic, have you ever thought about…..you know.”

And now I am lost. Is he talking about the movie, because this was not in there.

“Yeah, you annoy the hell out of me, but we work together, you know like Henry and Karen….excpet I would never marry you, because, well, because I know how you are.”

I do not know what it was. Maybe it went over my head, maybe he did not know Henry and Karen, but Ryan had this blank look on his face.

Out of no where, he reached his hand behind my head, gently playing with my hair, slowly he leaned in. I had no idea what was happening. Somehow he scooted me closer, not too slow but not too fast. Softly, gently, his lips met mine. His hand still playing with my hair while the other was safely on the back of the sofa. I was caught by surprise, yet caught by feeling right. This was somehow okay…in the moment.

Only in the moment.

Before I knew it, I was caught up in the embrace. I don’t know why, I was taken off guard. My defenses were down. I was watching my favorite movie ever…….and then, Alphonso wakes up. Slowly, he gets up from his spot on the floor. He caught Ryan and I during the kiss. We jumped back, caught off guard.

Alphonso looks around.

“I need a smoke….also, Christin owes me twenty bucks. I knew it was only a matter of time before you bitches would suck face.”