"THIS TIME AROUND"
By: gb
Chapter 20
"You want to what?!"Scott Chandler looked at Ryan in stunned disbelief. "You want you and me to go and spy on Gillian and Mateo at dinner tonight? Ryan, are you still not feeling ok? Maybe you're having a relapse of being delerious."
"There's nothing wrong with me," assured Ryan. "I just want to keep an eye on Gillian. She's vulnerable."
"She doesn't look vulnerable to me. I think she and Mateo are just talking about mutual problems. Let's face it, Ryan. You and Hayley haven't exactly given them the easiest time. Sometimes, I feel really sorry for them. They keep getting hurt because you two don't know any better. Maybe you should be glad she's trying to understand you-it'll help you hold on to her. I know lots of people who would've left you on the side of the road a long time ago!"
Ryan frowned in agreement briefly and then went back to his subject at hand. "Look, Scott. I want Gillian back- in every way. Will you help me?"
"What do you want me to do?"
"Just come with me to that restaurant tonight."
"And what if they see us? What are you going to tell them- that you think spying on them is just recreation?" asked Scott.
"I've thought of that. They'll never see us. We'll sit in my car on the opposite side of the street- Gillian usually likes tables by the window."
"And we won't see them, either on the opposite side of the street." insisted Scott.
"We will with these." Ryan held up a pair of binoculars he had brought with him.
Scott had noticed this with Ryan when had walked in, but now shook his head.
"No way." he said.
"Why not? They work."
"Because I'm pretty sure it's illegal. Ryan, have you flipped?! Do you know what you're starting to sound like?! I can't believe you- if Gillian ever finds out, she'll hate us forever and she might press charges!! No way am I going along with this!"
Ryan thought a moment." Look, Scott. You don't have to tell me how I'm behaving- I have a pretty good idea and lots of other people have said it first. But, I don't know- I just get crazy when it comes to Gillian!"
"Well, you can't go through with this- I won't let you!"
"I thought you might feel that way. So, I have another plan- a better one. That's why we need Becca's help. Can you have her meet us at our apartment?"
"Yeah," Scott replied suspiciously. "Why?"
"I'll explain on the way. Comon. Everything is fine. Just trust me."
"You know, I think Danny Glover said it best when he told Mel Gibson in LETHAL WEAPON ,'That's usually my first mistake.'" Scott said as he and Ryan left Liza's office.
An hour and a half later, Scott, Ryan and Becca stood in the apartment the two men shared and Becca was putting the finishing touches on her latest project. She stood back and waited for their response.
"Well, what do you think?" Ryan asked doubtfully.
Scott was standing with his mouth open and then stated frankly. "I think you're the ugliest date I've ever had, Ryan. I mean that."
Ryan was dressed up in a woman's blue wrap pantsuit and had full face makeup and a blond Dolly Parton like wig and he held his arms out and turned around teetering on his high heels.
Becca giggled. "I think I did ok for my first makeover. You look cute, Ryan."
"This is never going to work." persisted Scott. "I can't go through with this. I can't let people think that I would actually date someone like this. Ryan, I think it's not too late to get some therapy. You've really flipped, man."
"Shut up,Scott." Ryan said,embarrased. "Now we can go into the restaurant and sit near them and Gillian and Mateo won't even recognize me."
"I won't do it." said Scott stubbornly. "I'm not gonna date you, Ryan. Becca, stop laughing."
"I think you two make a cute couple!" she laughed louder now. "Maybe I should be jealous!"
Ryan grinned. Becca and Scott were perfect for each other somehow. He felt sad that he and Gillian never had an innocent courtship like this. How much fun they would've had just getting to know each other.
"Comon, let's get going," Ryan said and walked toward the door,not at all confident with his heels.
"Ryan, don't forget your purse!" Becca called and ran over to him with it.
Scott looked upwards and sighed. "The things a guy does for a buddy! Do me a favor- don't lose Gillian anymore when you get her back!"
Mateo and Gillian were in deep discussion at their table at the restaurant.
"These meetings are great!" Gillian said. "Thanks for telling me about them. What does Hayley think?"
Mateo shrugged. "I don't know. She says she's fine with it. But she doesn't have a choice you know. If she objects, then I guess I have to say no to AA. We all have to do what we gotta do."
"How does she feel about our spending all this time together?"
"It's not the same thing as her and Ryan, Gillian. I'm not going to home tonight and tell Hayley that I had to have dinner with you to save me from doing something stupid." Mateo answered somewhat bitterly.
"Ryan's not taking this too well." Gillian confided.
"He didn't leave you much choice, did he?" answered Mateo. "He didn't have any problems trying to help my wife- but now you can't get help?! No way."
"I'm glad we became friends, Mateo. You're a good person. I wish we had done this sooner." Gillian reached out and took his hand.
He smiled and grasped her fingers in friendship.
"What's he doing?" Ryan asked Scott. The two of them were sitting at a nearby table with only some tall potted plants to separate them. Ryan had his back to the other couple so that he could remain hidden and had Scott keep him updated.
"They're holding hands." Scott said obviously embarrassed and looking around as if trying to make sure he wasn't recognized.
"I'll kill him!" Ryan vowed in a harsh whisper.
His makeup was feeling too tight on his face and his feet were hurting now. How did women go through this everyday?!!
"Ryan, you don't know that it means anything. They could just be expressing friendship."
"Friendship-hell. He's just pressuring her! I know it! What do you think?" Ryan asked.
"I think you're the ugliest date I ever had." Scott said glumly. "Why didn't you wear a dress? Oh my God, I'm making suggestions on women's fashion to a man! It's finally happened- I've gone over the edge!"
"I COULDN'T wear a dress- then I'd have to shave my legs!! We didn't have that kind of time. I'm lucky the store had this in my size!"
"Oh, yeah!" Scott said sarcastically. "Your luck just runneth over. Can we go home now?"
"No, we're not done here. And will you stop whining?! Are you like this with all your dates?!"
"My dates are usually with women- and I usually want to be with them. Ryan, this is crazy! "
Gillian looked up from her meal and noticed Scott with some woman at the near table.
"Isn't that Scott?" she asked Mateo. "But I don't think that's Becca."
Mateo looked over casually and Gillian gave a little wave. She motioned Scott over to her.
"She's calling me over- she knows!" Scott panicked.
"Don't be an idiot!" Ryan said. "She just wants to say hi. Go on and see if you can find out anything." Ryan urged him.
"No! I can't!"
"She'll be suspicious if you don't." Ryan warned. "And she might come over here!"
Scott didn't want that so he slowly got up and went over to Gillian's and Mateo's table.
"Hi, Gillian- Hi, Mateo," he said wearing a nervous grin. "Nice to see you both."
Gillian smiled and Mateo shook his hand.
"Where's Becca?" Gillian asked looking over at Scott's table.
"Oh, she has other plans tonight," Scott said moving over to block Gillian's view of his table.
"You mean you stepping on Becca with someone else?" Gillian asked concerned.
Mateo smiled. "I think she means 'stepping out' on Becca." he corrected for her.
"Oh, no!" Scott exclaimed quickly- too quickly.
She knows all about this. BUFFY is an old friend from school- just in town for a few days, so Becca thought it might be better for us to get reaquainted alone."
He was wiping his hair in nervousness with his palm now.
"Why don't you bring her over so we can meet her?" Mateo suggested.
"I can't! She's shy!"
Mateo and Gillian looked at each other in confusion.
"Well, I better get back to my table now- can't keep Buffy waiting. "You two enjoy your evening!"
After saying goodbye, Scott almost ran back to his and Ryan's table.
"Did you think Scott was acting a little odd?" Gillian asked.
"How can you tell? He's always been a little high strung. Maybe he's just embarrassed because you saw him without Becca."
"He explained. It's no big deal." Gillian shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, well."
"Buffy?!" Ryan hissed at Scott. "That's the best you could do?!
Scott sat heavily down in his chair. "Ryan, I want to kill you! This is over- we're leaving now! And if 'Buffy' wants to follow Gillian around again,'she's' on her own!! They think I'm cheating on Becca!"
"Did you find out anything?"
"No. He's being the perfect gentleman over there." Scott replied.
"That's just where he thinks he's being clever." Ryan swore. "I bet he's putting the moves on her right now! We have to stop it!"
"How?"
"Go over there and dump soup in his lap! They'll have to go home- evening over!"
"Forget it, Ryan!" Scott informed him. "Look, he's not doing anything. I think they're getting ready to leave. You gotta beat Gillian home anyway. Let's leave before someone else recognizes me!"
Ryan realized that Scott was right-he had to get back to Wildwind before Gillian got back. Nothing was gonna happen here tonight. And anyway, his wig was starting to itch!!!
As he stood up, his ankle turned in his shoe and he almost lost his balance! He righted himself before he ended up face down on his dinner plate!
"You might want to lose a few pounds, Ryan. That pantsuit is NOT you! The things a guy does when he's in love with a girl!" Scott said in wonder as he watched Ryan try to keep a straight face as he almost fell off his shoes.
With as much courage as he could muster, he held his head high and he and Scott walked out of the restaurant looking straight ahead.
Scott looked him over as they got into his car.
"What are you looking at, man?" Ryan asked angrily as he tried to manuver himself into the car in his heels.
"I'm looking at the ugliest date I ever had!" Scott repeated....
End of part 20
(To be continued)
Next time: Ryan beats Gillian home and fishes for details of her evening with Ryan and later...Gillian runs into Becca! Will she be able to keep Ryan's secret from the princess?