Page 135 of Forbidden Fruit
It’s still early, and I have no idea where this relationship is going. But for now, I like having Ryan in my life. He’s a weird kind of comfort I didn’t know I needed.
I’m hunched over my laptop, knee-deep in an assignment, when my phone buzzes. It’s my mom, or, well, grandmother, but I still call her ‘Mom.’ Calling her anything else feels too foreign.
I answer quickly. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetheart! Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.” I try to sound upbeat, but emotions crowd my throat. We haven’t talked since the whole truth-bomb situation, but I’ve missed them so much.
“Happy birthday, darling,” my dad’s voice chimes in from the background, and just hearing it nearly undoes me.
“Thank you, Dad,” I say, my voice tighter than I mean it to be.
“What are you planning to do tonight?” Mom asks.
I glance at the clock. I’m finishing up schoolwork before heading out with Dylan. He moved back in last week, because I can’t afford to live here by myself. I’ve tried looking for another roommate but was not lucky, so I asked him to move back since this is our last semester anyway.
“Just hanging out with some friends,” I say casually.
“Alright, well… have fun, and be safe,” Mom says.
“We love you,” Dad adds.
“I love you too,” I whisper, smiling as I end the call.
I barely set my phone down before it buzzes again, a bank notification this time.
I frown, opening the app, expecting to see the two hundred euros I had set aside for tonight’s plans.
Instead, the number staring back at me reads €50,200.
My stomach flips.
This definitely isn’t from my parents. I don’t think it’sAbigail either, and it’s not Calvin; he already handed me his Amex two weeks ago and told me it was mine. I haven’t touched it. Using it still feels like cheating, like wearing someone else’s shoes.
That leaves only one person.
My phone lights up again.
Ryan
Happy birthday, treasure. I’m sorry I missed the last twenty years. I promise I’ll be there for every birthday from now on. I love you.
My heart does this weird, fluttery thing. This isn’t the first time he has sent me money or bought me something, but this is the first time he’s sent methisamount of money.
I text him back.
Did you just send me €50,000?!
Ryan
Yes. Was it not enough? I can send more if you’d like. I didn’t want to overwhelm you.
My jaw drops.
What?! No, it’s more than enough. You know you don’t have to send me money, right?
Ryan
