Flashback

"That's the third date in nearly two weeks. Busted!" Rhea's friend, Gabriel, screeched as she turned the light on.

"Yep." Rhea muttered to herself.

"So..." Gabriel jumped on to the sofa. "How was it?"

Rhea glared at her friend. "Wonderful." She finally sighed.

"Is that all I'm getting? Give me some details! I've been single for so long now." Gabriel sighed.

Rhea grinned as she caved in. "Well," She started as she made herself comfortable on the couch next to her room mate. "He is such a gentleman. Opening and closing doors for me, pulling out my seat. He is so attentive. He said all the right stuff." Rhea dreamed on about her night.

"Wait..." Gabriel looked confused at her friend. "Who are you talking about because this don't sound like Keegan."

Rhea frowned. "Keegan? Oh right. You've been busy lately. Keegan and I didn't work out."

"I know that. But I thought you were patching things up."

"No." Rhea shook her head. "At first, I thought that too, but than I met Ryder."

Gabriel stared blankly at Rhea.

"The man from the bookshop. I told you this on the phone."

Gabriel's face redden. "I was a bit busy." Then she gave me some action movements that told me what she was doing.

Rhea scrunched her face up. "Ew. And you let me keep talking to you!" She picked up a cushion and flung it at Gabriel. "I'm going to bed, sicko."

"Wait!" Gabriel cried out. "Details."

Rhea paused in her movements as her hand went to her lips. "I want to keep that to myself." She whispered more to herself than Gabriel.

Now

"What do you mean?" Gabriel shrieked over the phone. I had to hold it away from my ear.

"Exactly as I said." I told her. "When are you coming to visit us?" I didn't like that Gabriel went to New York for a job. We studied philosophy together but now she is a teacher for seven year olds.

"Don't change the subject missy."

I sighed as I wedged the phone between my ear and shoulder, chewing on a pen as I read a letter. "I'm not. I miss you."

"I miss you too. How is Rowan? Has Ryder met him?"

"No." I groaned. I wasn't sure if that would be a good or bad thing.

"Well, why not?"

"What would you tell a person who believes themselves to be agoraphobic?" I asked her.

"Tell them to buy a tarantula. Conquer their fear."

I giggled. "Not arachnophobia."

"Whatever. Either way, they will leave the house."

I smiled. Trust Gabriel to be blunt like that.

"So why haven't you told Ryder?" Gabriel poked back to the subject.

"I don't know. I'm scared." I told her. It was the truth. "In so many ways. I haven't really thought about it till a few weeks ago."

"Why? Because you're afraid to take him for a ride?"

I sat back and groaned. "Ryder kicked me out. I didn't know about Rowan until eight weeks later."

"But you were seeing someone else."

"No, not really. That was a one of thing that happened just before I found out about Rowan. It's physically impossible that Rowan is that persons child." I always claimed I couldn't remember his name but I knew it. Ben.

Ben found me at a bar, drinking my sorrows away and one thing led to another. I found out I was pregnant only a week later and after some check ups, I did the math.

Rowan is Ryder's son.

"Hold on. Are you saying you haven't had sex since then?" Gabriel shrieked again.

Trust her to read between the lines. "Oh goodness, Gabriel! I'm at work!" I gushed as I stared at my closed office door.

"So. It's only eight at night here."

"Exactly." I laughed at her. "You ain't at work surrounded by children, talking to me. I'm at work!"

"Fine." She sighed out.

"So, when will I see your face next?" I asked her.

"My holidays for the term only started. You're gonna have to wait a bit longer."

I blew out a raspberry with my tongue. "You suck!" I loved talking to Gabriel, she brought out me, the real me. "Fine. I'm off, love ya."

"Okay, I'll talk to you another time. Love ya too."

I hang up and placed my phone on the table. I had to get this letter finished, but my mind kept wondering to other thoughts I didn't want.

Flashback

Rhea sat on the stool at the end of the bar, cradling her vodka. Seven weeks ago, Ryder kicked her out. She was staying in a hotel for the time being, trying to find a place to live and just like every other night, she would end up at a bar or on her bed with a bottle of vodka.

She still couldn't believe that Ryder kicked her out for having an affair. But she didn't have an affair. She loved Ryder and couldn't believe that he thought she did.

She was wild about him and couldn't find a way to heal herself without numbing down the pain.

Rhea had become what's known as a local at the pub as she threw back the last of the vodka in her glass before ordering another.

"Sorry miss, but no more." The bartender told her. "You've had more than enough. I can give you water or call someone for you."

Rhea shrugged as she opened her wallet. "Nah. I've used all my funds for the night. I'll walk back." She muttered as she tried standing up before swaying.

She felt a strong grip on her as she looked at her arm, she could feel someone's hand on her waist and another grip her arm.

"Hey, careful there." He said gently.

Rhea looked at the person and smiled. "I'm fine." She told him.

"Ben, help the poor girl home." The bartender said.

"Hi, I'm Ben." He smiled to Rhea as they started walking to the door.

"Rhea." She muttered.

Now

I sighed. I can't concentrate. I gathered my things and took them with me as I went to my assistant that was stationed outside of my office.

"I'm gonna work from home." I told her as I rushed past. It might help me if I'm at home, probably with a glass of wine.

It's only eleven in the morning and I need a drink. I went to my car and started it up, pulling out of the car park.

I stopped at the shops and purchased a bottle of wine and went home, setting up my makeshift office on the kitchen bench.

I don't need to pick Rowan up for another four hours and I poured myself a glass as I typed away on the laptop.

I had to type up a reply to someone who believes they are an agoraphobic, someone having religious issues and if I want to push it, someone who is having a hard time coping while their partner is terminally ill.

I held the letter to me as I reread it again. I could feel their fear in it. The poor soul.

I jumped when I heard the house phone ring and I leaned over to answer it.

"Hello?" I asked as I placed it against my ear.

"Good, you're home. We need to talk."

I groaned loudly at Ryder's voice. "No, we don't." I hung up and put the phone down on the bench. It rang again and I wanted to throw it.

I answered it again. "I don't know how you got this number but stop ringing!" I snapped.

"Either we talk on the phone or face to face." Ryder snapped at me.

"Or not at all. I've told you, I have nothing to -"

"But I do!" Ryder cut me off.

"I don't want to hear it, Ryder." I hung up again and slammed the phone on the bench. I barely managed to type up two more words when it rang again.

I wanted to scream. Instead of throwing the phone or answering it, I got up to the charging dock and took the wire, pulling it out off the wall, disconnecting the phone.

The room was filled with silence but it didn't last long. There was banging on the front door and I hung my head in defeat, groaning. He just won't quit.

Stomping my feet, I went to the front door and opened it angrily, one hand on the door, the other on my hip.

"What?" I snarled at him. I should have known he was ringing me from the front of my house.

I forgot to put the chain on since I only do that at night as Ryder pushed past me, inviting himself in to my house.

"I didn't say you could come in!" I growled at him. Ryder brushed off my comment as he turned to face me.

He was as handsome as I remembered him to be. His blonde hair was dark at the roots and the long bits curled at the tips, the five o'clock shadow on his face as his blue eyes pierced to my green ones.

He isn't relenting.

"For goodness sake." I snapped. "Come in. Make yourself at home. Mi casa, su casa." I rolled my eyes as I closed the door and turned back to him. "What the hell do you want? I don't have time for fucking around. I have a pile of work I need to do."

"I want to apologise."

I glared at him, slightly surprised by his statement. "Great, now you have, leave."

The longer he stays, the more things he will see.

"Rhea. I was wrong."

I sighed as I crossed my arms, shifting my weight from one leg to the other.

"I know you were. I tried telling you, but you wouldn't listen." I growled at him.

Ryder took a step towards me and I automatically backed off. "Don't." I warned him. The last time he touched me, I was overwhelmed by emotions that weren't mine. That has never happened to me before. It hasn't since.

"Don't touch me." I said. "You said you're sorry, I heard it, now, please, leave." I begged him.

Ryder just looked at me with a face I remember too well. He isn't going anywhere. "No." He smirked at me.

I closed my eyes and hung my head as I shook it. "I have enough on my plate as it is." I cried out.

"I know."

My eyes widened as I snapped my head to him.

"You work full time at a magazine called Soul."

"Why am I not surprised." He did come in the other week. But Ryder always check his 'clients' before seeing them. How much more does he know?

"You're the advice columnist, R." He grinned.

"Yes." I snapped at him. I looked behind him to the large clock on the wall. "Now you have to leave. I have a meeting to get to." I lied to him.

"No you don't."

"How the hell would you know?" I cried out.

Ryder just stayed there, a small smile on his lips.

"My calendar." I answered myself. "Ha! I rarely use that. I'm old school. Remember that the next time you get someone to hack my computers." I growled at him. "Now get out otherwise I'll be late."

"Fine." Ryder growled in return. "But this ain't over, Rhea."

I stepped away from Ryder as he went to the door.

"Yes, yes it is, Ryder. We've been over for nearly four years. Don't go digging up the past. It's an unhealthy habit!"

Ryder gave me a glare before walking out the door and I slammed it shut behind him, releasing a breath of air.

Why is he here? Does he finally feel guilty for his accusations? I shook the thoughts out off my head as I grabbed my keys and left my house.

There wasn't any other cars around and I couldn't see Ryder, so hopefully he has gone.

I started driving to Rowan's daycare when I pulled over on the side of the road and placed my head into a hand.

What did he mean this ain't over yet? I have moved on from that chapter in my life. I have a new chapter in my life, my son.

I usually get him around four, but today, after Ryder's visit, I needed Rowan near me.

After twenty minutes of sitting in the car on the side off the road, I pulled back out and continued to the day care centre.

I might take him for a drive, get some take out for dinner, something to stay away from my house a bit longer than what was necessary.