The Contract Next Door

The First Warning

Sienna’s POV;

“Ryan…who is she?”

He didn’t answer.

The woman standing in the doorway was crying with one hand resting on her stomach.

She looked at me.

“I think you deserve to know.”

Ryan froze. His jaw went tight.

Three days earlier…

I was lying on the bed scrolling through my phone when I heard a message pop up on Ryan’s phone.

Unknown number: We need to talk.

I was confused.

I did not know then but that was the first sign that my life was about to change forever.

It was a normal Friday morning.

At least, that’s what I thought.

I stand infront of the mirror, trying to decide between two outfits while Ryan sits on the edge of the bed scrolling through his phone.

“Which one?” I ask, holding up one black dress in one hand and a red dress in the other.

He barely look up.

“The black one.”

“You didn’t even look.”

“ I did.”

I shoot him a look in the mirror.

“You looked at me for approximately half a second.”

He finally looks up and smiles.

“Okay, turn around.”

I roll my eyes but did as he said.

He studies me for a few seconds then nodded.

“Definitely the black one.”

“See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?

He laughs.

I smile at my reflection.

This was Ryan.

The same Ryan I had known for years.

The same Ryan who knew how I liked my coffee , who hated me taking his hoodies but never actually tries to stop me and who always kissed my forehead before leaving for work.

My phone dings on the dresser.

I pick it up.

Maya; Don’t forget, we’re going out tonight.

I smiled.

Me: I remember.

I put my phone back down and turn to face Ryan again.

He is staring at his own screen again.

“What?” I ask.

He looks up.

“What?”

“You’re smiling at your phone.”

His smile immediately disappears.

“No, I’m not.”

“You literally were.”

He turns off his phone and puts it facing down on the bed.

“It’s nothing.”

I stared at him for a second, then shrug.

“Okay.”

I don’t think much of it.

Not then at least.

Ryan stands, walks towards me and wraps his arms around my waist.

“You’re overthinking again.”

“No, I’m not.”

He raises one eyebrow.

I let out a small laugh.

“Okay, maybe a little.”

He leans down kisses me for a few seconds then pulls away.

Then he kisses my forehead.

“I’ll see you tonight?”

“Of course…after my dinner with Maya.”

He grabs his jacket and heads for the door.

I followed him.

“Ryan?”

He turns.

“Yeah?”

“Remember, we have a date planned for tomorrow”

“I won’t forget.”

He smiles, kisses my forehead for the last time and leaves.

I watch the door close behind him.

I stand at the door a few seconds longer than I needed to.

I have no idea that this would be the last time our relationship would look the same.

At work, I had completely forgotten about Ryan’s somewhat strange behavior that morning.

I have enough to keep me busy anyways.

The morning passed quickly and by lunch, Maya had sent me about three texts reminding me about dinner.

Maya: Don’t even think about cancelling.

I smile.

Me: I won’t.

Maya: Good. I already picked the restaurant.

I shake my head.

Maya always plans everything.

I’m about to put my phone away when I receive another message.

It ‘s from Ryan.

Ryan: Might come home late tonight.

I frown.

Me: Again?

A few seconds pass.

Ryan: Just work.

I stare at the message.

Recently, Ryan has been working late more often.

Although it wasn’t very suspicious, I had noticed.

Me: Alright. Don’t forget about tomorrow. Be safe.

Me: I love you.

Ryan: I love you too.

I put my phone away and get back to work.

By the time evening came, I was sitting across from Maya at the restaurant she had chosen.

“You look distracted.” She said.

I look up from my menu. “What? No I’m not.”

“You have been staring at the same page for over five minutes.”

I look down.

She’s right.

I have been staring at the appetizer menu for the longest time.

I close the menu. “I’m just tired.”

Maya narrows her eyes at me.

“Is everything okay with you and Ryan?”

The question catches me off guard.

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I don’t know, you’re just quiet.”

I smile. “We’re fine.”

“Okay because if that man does anything stupid you know I’m on your side.”

I laugh.

“You’re always on my side.”

“Exactly.”

For the next one hour, we talk about everything but Ryan. Work The restaurant. A ridiculous story Maya heard earlier in the day.

I enjoy it very much till the last minute. It almost made me forget the strange feeling I had that morning.

Almost.

That evening, I get home earlier than Ryan.

I shower, do my night time routine, make popcorn and put on a movie in the living room.

About 30 minutes later, I hear the front door open and Ryan walks in.

“You’re home.” I say.

“Yeah.”

He dropped his keys and phone on the table.

“You look tired.”

“Long day.”

He loosens his tie as he walks over to me.

“How was yours?”

“It was okay.”

He kisses my forehead.

“I’m going to take a shower.”

“Alright.”

He disappears into the hallway.

I continue watching the movie.

I hear the shower turn on.

A few minutes later, I get thirsty and so I get up to get some water.

As I walk past the table, Ryan’s phone buzzes and lights up.

He has received a text.

I glance at the screen.

Natalie: We need to talk.

I frown.

I don’t touch it.

I’m about to continue walking when it buzzes again.

Natalie: You can’t keep lying to her.

I get confused.

Her?

I stare at the screen.

I look toward the hallway and still hear the shower running.

The phone buzzes again.

Natalie: You promised she’d be the first to know.

My stomach twists.

Who is this? And what exactly has Ryan promised her?

I know I shouldn’t touch his phone.

But my hand moves anyway.

I pick it up.

It’s locked.

I stare at it for a few seconds.

Then I hear the shower stop.

I immediately put it down and go back to continue watching the movie.

Ryan walks in a few seconds later rubbing his hair with a towel and with a towel around his waist.

His eyes move around the room.

They land on his phone.

He picks it up.

I watch him from the couch.

Something in his expression changes.

He turns it off and went back into the room.

Something isn’t right. I just can’t figure out what it was.

Later that night, we sit on the couch together.

Ryan has changed into a T- Shirt and sweatpants and I’m curled up beside him watching television.

He seems normal.

He laughs at something on the screen.

I laugh too.

For a moment, I forget about the messages.

Then his phone buzzes.

He picks it up immediately it does.

He reads the message and his jaw tightens.

“Who is it?” I ask.

“No one.”

“No one?”

“It’s a work thing.”

“At this time?”

“Its nothing Sienna.”

“Are you sure?”

He sighs.

“Yes.”

He looks back at the television but I’m watching anymore.

“Ryan?”

“Hmm?”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

He turns to look at me.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’ve just been acting weird lately.”

He cups my face.

“You know I love you right?”

I nod.

“Yeah.”

“Then trust me.”

I look into his eyes.

I really want to.

So I smile.

“Okay.”

He kisses me for a few seconds.

And I let myself believe him.

Ryan falls asleep before me that night.

I lie beside him staring at the ceiling.

My mind keeps replaying the messages.

I turn towards Ryan.

He is sleeping peacefully.

I reach for my phone and check the time.

1:00am.

I sigh and put it down.

Maybe it is really nothing and I’m just overthinking it.

I close my eyes in an attempt to sleep.

Then his phone buzzes. Again.

He shifts beside me and I open my eyes.

The screen lights up in the darkness.

I cn’t read the entire text from where I’m lying.

But I see the first few words

“You can’t hide this forever…”

My heart starts pounding.

Ryan reaches for the phone and turns it to face down.

Then he goes back to sleep.

I stare at the ceiling.

Something is very wrong

Ryan is hiding something from me.

I just don’t know what.

All I know is…

I’m going to find out soon.