Chapter 40: One Last Shot-Ricky

Laura set about the work of making technological space for love. She cleared her voicemail so that she could hear from her other two suitors: Ricky and Alex. If Don was any indication, the guys would not be quite so easily appeased this time.

As if by clockwork right after the door closed on Don, her phone rang; it was Ricky.

“Hello Laura. Or should I say ‘Hello Stranger’,” Ricky teased.

She wondered if Ricky was going to reclaim his diamond and his affections.

“Ha, ha,” she said full of sarcasm.

“Do you have time to chat? It’s late, but I thought I’d try anyway in hopes that you were done with the day’s distractions.”

“Ricky, you made me smile for the first time today, so you have my ear for as long as I can stay awake,” she replied sheepishly.

“Oh no. Well, I’ll see if I can keep that up until we both are too sleepy to talk.”

“Why did you want to speak with me, anyway?” she said, still somewhat disheartened by her 15 minutes with Don.

“Well, last time I checked you were my girlfriend and, bonus, I also saw a story about your quartet on the local news. Since then, I haven’t heard from you. You also sound a little down.” Ricky was concerned, yes, but he decided to play his cards close to his chest. He guessed it had to do with one of his competitors. He would let her take the lead in telling him however much or however little she wanted to. That way, he could showcase what a good boyfriend he could be by being a man she could lean on with consistency, stability, and for emotional support.

“Yeah. You’re right. I apologize. Guess I’m not that good at being your girlfriend, huh?”

“Oh my, you are depressed,” he commented. He was almost certain that one of the guys had left her in this state, but he would park his anger and focus on his feelings for her. He thought over his options and decided the best thing he could do is just see if he could get over there tonight to show her what she’d be getting if she chose him: Ricky, boyfriend material par excellence.

“How about if I come over to give you some TLC and cheer you up? That’s part of the boyfriend job description. That is, if you’re game. We’ll just focus on the friend part, okay?”

“Really? You would do that for me, Ricky?” she asked hopefully and already feeling more cheered up.

“Really. I’m at Tate & Tate, just a hop, skip, and a jump away. See you in 15 minutes.”

Just hearing that time span moments after it had taken on such a negative connotation with Don reminded Laura how fresh that wound from her meeting with him still was. “Okay, thanks, Ricky.”

After she got off the phone with Ricky, she weighed her options. Maybe all three were aware that she had said yes to each of them when they asked her to commit and be their girlfriend. Without trying any further, she felt like she could count Don out, but Ricky and Alex were still in the running. When Ricky arrived she would try to salvage and cement things with him.

Being his partner and enjoying the witty conversations that the chemistry between them facilitated would not be so bad. Right now it was any port in a storm and he would be here in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 minute(s). With that she walked over to buzz him in, making sure that the classic diamond pendant necklace was exposed for him to see her wearing his commitment gift.

“Laura,” he said hugging her, “my world famous girlfriend.”

“Ricky, please come in.”

True to form he came bringing food, well dessert; he had her favorite: chunky monkey ice cream.

“You remembered that I had that flavor of ice cream in my freezer? You’re the best. How are you so good at making me fall in love with you all over again?”

With that glowing declaration, he kissed her on the mouth and led her to her kitchen to get spoons but no bowls. If this was therapeutic, as he thought it would be, it would be more romantic and supportive to informally eat from the pint together instead of being proper with individual bowls and separate scoops.

He listened to her talk first about the whirlwind of fame then the heady experience of dating and liking three guys at the same time. He had never thought about any of this from her point of view. The whole time they were PG platonic on the sofa where just several days ago they had an adult slumber party. Now it was just him and her, with him soothing her soul, and letting her know that everything would work out; that he was supportive of all of her choices.


Although he said that, he was sure after a night like tonight, that he would win. He had given her a diamond. He had made a house call, bearing ice cream and listened to her pour her heart out. Where some men might feel put upon and out of their comfort zone in such a role, he enjoyed being there for her. “This is what a partner would do,” he rationalized to himself as he petted, squeezed, and loved on her in an agape way. “Best friends make the best boyfriends,” he whispered under his breath to her. And all he had to do was actively listen and continuously comfort her.

Ricky tried to bring up the topic of her agreeing to be each bachelor’s exclusive boyfriend, but once they got on the topic, she tabled it for “later”. Later came and went. By the time both of their spoons reached the bottom of the pint, Laura was fast asleep with her head leaning against his well-defined chest. They needed to have a serious conversation, but as usual she escaped having a conversation about something real, not wanting to confront the topic that was on both of their minds.

He eased his way from under her and covered her with a blanket, feeling secure and victorious simultaneously. Then he scooped her up and put her on her bed, kissing her goodnight on the forehead; he slept on the sofa so there would be no question as to whether or not he respected her or used her fragile emotional state to take advantage of her. One thing was certain, he thought he was the best option and had proven himself to be the total package, the ideal mate for Laura tonight and for a lifetime.