The evening was settling in, and Ryan sat at his kitchen table, his phone in front of him, staring at the last message he had sent to Kimberly. It had been days since he had last heard from her, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. His thoughts kept going back to their lunch, how she had seemed distant and closed off, despite their attempts at getting to know each other. He was convinced there was more to it, something deeper she wasn't sharing.
Unable to shake his concern, Ryan grabbed his phone and dialed Laura's number. She had been his close friend for years. He also told her about his mysterious Lady but still hadn't told her it was Kimberly.
The phone rang twice before Laura picked up.
"Hey, Ryan," Laura's voice was warm but laced with curiosity. "What's up?"
"Hey, Laura," Ryan started, his voice sounding a bit uncertain. "I need to talk to you about something. It's... about Kimberly."
Laura's interest peaked at the mention of Kimberly. "Kimberly?" she asked, her tone now more serious.
"Well," Ryan began, taking a deep breath, "I met this amazing woman a few weeks ago at the bookstore. The one I told you about over lunch the other day. I didn't expect it, but I feel this connection with her, and I think she feels it too. But after our last lunch together, she's been distant. I've been texting her, but she hasn't replied. I'm starting to feel like I've done something wrong, and I'm really worried."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Ryan could almost hear Laura processing what he was saying.
"Wait... Which Kimberly? What's her surname?" Laura's voice held an edge of surprise.
Ryan froze. "Kimberly Anderson, why? You know her?"
Laura let out a soft chuckle, her tone a mixture of disbelief and amusement. "Oh, wow. I can't believe it. Yes, I know her. She's one of my close friends. I've known her for a while now."
Ryan blinked, taken aback. "No way. I had no idea she was your friend. That explains a lot, actually." He laughed softly, though there was still concern in his voice. "I had no idea I was talking about someone you know so well. But, Laura, can you talk to her? Please? I don't want to pressure her, but I'm really worried. She's been avoiding me, and I just... I don't know what to do."
Laura was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "Ryan, I get that you care about her, but Kimberly's been through some things. She's not one to open up easily. If she's pulling away, it's not because of you. She has a lot going on inside that she hasn't shared with anyone."
Ryan's heart tightened at Laura's words, but he could also hear the understanding in her voice. "I just want her to be honest with me," he said softly. "I don't want her to feel like she has to carry everything alone. Can you talk to her? Maybe try and help her see that she doesn't have to shut me out?"
"I'll try, Ryan," Laura replied, her voice filled with empathy. "I'll talk to her, and I'll let you know what she says."
"Thanks, Laura," Ryan said gratefully. "I really appreciate it."
Later that evening, Laura knocked on Kimberly's door. She had made the decision to go see her friend in person after her conversation with Ryan. She had known Kimberly for years, and although she had always been protective of her, she also knew how difficult it could be for Kimberly to open up.
Kimberly was surprised to see Laura standing at her door. "Hey, what's up?" she asked, trying to keep her tone casual as she opened the door wider to let her in.
"I brought you some chocolates," Laura said with a small smile, holding up a box. "And I wanted to check on you. How are you doing?"
Kimberly hesitated but took the box of chocolates, offering a faint smile in return. "I'm fine. Just busy with work."
Laura followed her into the living room, sitting down on the couch. She gave Kimberly a pointed look, her gaze soft but serious. "Are you sure? I talked to Ryan earlier today, and he told me about you."
Kimberly froze, her chest tightening at the mention of Ryan's name. "What did he say?" she asked, trying to sound indifferent. "Wait a minute, you know Ryan?"
"Yes, I know Ryan. We are childhood friends. As a matter of fact, we both found out today that you, my friend are his mystery lady" Laura chuckled lightly and immediately became serious.
"He's worried about you, Kim," she said gently. "He's been texting you, but you haven't been replying. He doesn't know what's going on, and he just wants to talk."
Laura studied her carefully, noticing the subtle shift in Kimberly's demeanor.
Kimberly looked away, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her sweater. "I know," she muttered. "I've just... been busy. It's nothing personal."
"Kim," Laura's voice was soft but firm. "I know you, and I know something's bothering you. I'm not going to push you, but don't shut him out. If you're scared, you can talk to me about it. You don't have to carry this alone."
Kimberly's throat tightened, and she bit her lip, fighting the urge to push Laura away. She had been avoiding Ryan for so long because she wasn't ready to let anyone in. Letting Ryan close meant exposing parts of herself she wasn't ready to share.
Laura reached out, placing a comforting hand on her friend's. "You don't have to explain everything right now. But don't shut Ryan out. He cares about you, Kim."
Kimberly's heart pounded as she met Laura's gaze. She knew Laura was right. She couldn't keep running away from Ryan. But she wasn't sure she was ready to let him in.
After a long silence, Kimberly sighed. "Okay... I'll text him."
Laura smiled softly. "That's all I ask."
Later that night, as Kimberly sat at her desk, her phone screen lit up with the message from Ryan. She hadn't intended to reply, but hearing Laura's words echo in her mind made her realize that maybe it was time. She had been avoiding the truth for so long. Maybe now was the time to stop running.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the message.
Ryan:"Hey Kim, I've been waiting for you to get back to me. I hope you're okay. Let me know when you're free. I'd love to talk."
Kimberly's fingers hovered over the keyboard, and after a moment, she typed a simple reply.
Kim:"I'm sorry for not replying your previous texts. I've just had a lot on my plate. But I'd like to talk too. Let's meet up soon."
She hit send before she could second-guess herself. Her heart raced as she waited for his reply.
It didn't take long.
Ryan:"I'm really glad to hear from you, Kim. I've missed our talks. Let's meet tomorrow."
Kimberly smiled softly, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. This was the first step. She had let down her walls, even if just a little bit.