Chapter 3
Aside from blocking Ryan’s number, there wasn’t much more I could do to avoid him. Every evening when I came home from work that week, I expected to find him camped out in front of my condo, but he didn’t show up, so I optimistically assumed I was finally done with him.
After more than seventy-two consecutive Ryan-free hours, I invited my friend Clay to have dinner with me Friday night to celebrate. I was dying to tell someone about my situation with Ryan and Clay was one of the few people I felt I could trust with the story who wouldn’t judge me for behaving irresponsibly. I didn’t need to hear someone tell me I’d f****d up with Ryan. I fully realized I had. What I wanted (and needed) was a friend with a sympathetic, rather than a critical, ear.
Clayton Teal and I had been fr
