Dinner was filling and Lucy was able to give something back to Ryan. After dropping off Angie in Daly City, Ryan was doubling back to the area between Little Hollywood and Sunnyvale to drop off Lucy. 

"You really don't want money?" asked Lucy, starring at the handsome man next to her. 

"I really don't want money."

"Okay," she said, taking the money out of the envelope before rolling it into a tight roll, rubber-banding it with her pink hair tie. She tucked the money into her jacket pocket before finally dropping the subject.

"You know," she began, scrolling through her emails on her work phone. "It's great that you want to give a lot and be nice to your friends, but you also have to understand friendships are both about taking and giving."

"You bought dinner, didn't you," he said, taking a left turn on the one way street.

Lucy couldn't resist rolling her eyes at his comment. And she sighed as she swiped words into her email, saying to Ryan, "You whipped out your credit card like it was a quick draw between two cowboys..."

He grimaced, and then apologized. "It's a habit."

"You pay for everything? All the time?" asked Lucy curiously. 

"Only with female friends..." admitted Ryan. 

"You need new female friends," teased Lucy. "Ah, it's this one right here."

"Thank you," Lucy said, unbuckling her seat belt. With the gentleness of a butterfly, her manicured fingers pushed opened the door and she was extremely mindful of the distance between the curb and bottom of the door. She closed the door extra gently, and then waved him to roll down the window. "Drive safe!"

His full lips curved upwards and he said, "Sleep well."

"Wait."

He turned his pretty head around, and there was a shine in his eye as he looked at the girl on the curbside. "What?"

She smiled, and then randomly said, "When's the last time you had a hug?"

"What?"

"You heard me."

"You're definitely not drunk."

She smiled brightly and then said, "Gimme a hug." 

He shook his head, but his hand proceeded to park the car then he turned off the engine. 

Lucy stood on the curbside with her arms stretched wide open, and the young man was still shaking his head as he opened his car door and walked around his car. He stood inches away, and Lucy stepped forward, burying her head into his strong chest.

"Thank you." Her words were muffled against his chest and she had one arm wrapped around his back and her hand was lightly patting his back. 

Just as Ryan's arms made to reach around her small back, Lucy had broken off her hold on him and ran up the stairs that led up to her home. Her face looked a little guilty, pleased, and very happy as she waved him goodbye, and wished him a good, safe drive home to Vista del Mar. Ryan stood outside her home stunned momentarily as he took in her actions. Deciding that it was better for his mental health to not delve too deeply into the reasons behind her actions, the handsome man walked to his car and proceeded to the long drive home.

They lived on opposite sides, but he didn't mind the inconvenience. He enjoyed driving. It was therapeutic to drive away from the stress of the day. Ryan lived in a seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, three stories home. On the roof, third floor, and second floor, he had a panoramic view of the city and the Pacific. Perhaps his favorite part of his home was the three car door garage and that he had a front yard, a driveway, and a backyard. The house was made in 1962, and while Ryan upgraded the necessities of the home such as making sure it was in code for earthquakes, fires, and any sort of natural disaster.

He hadn't really renovated the place. Not yet anyways. This home was an investment for his future. He would like his future wife to help him renovate the place. The only real renovations Ryan had made was upgrading the doors so the doors were safe and the only way the doors would unlock was if they had the number lock combination. His garage doors were also swapped out with extra security, heavy duty doors. He switched out all the windows so they were still aesthetic, but thicker than usual. The windows would be able to withstand a smashing or two before it broke.

Other than for code or security reasons, Ryan left almost everything the same beside a brand new coat of paint on the walls. Ryan pulled up the driveway and then pressed the garage door opener. The door rolled up and then the engine revved as he parked inside. The engine was turned off and he made sure to leave nothing behind. Just as he got out of the car and was grabbed the keys, he noticed that there was something in left pocket that wasn't there before.

Locking the garage up, Ryan finally went inside and made his way up the stairs to the master bedroom. The other rooms were mostly vacant for now. He placed his keys on the mounted key rack inside of his room next to two other keys. Taking off his shoes, he removed his outer coat and it was only when he was taking off his coat that he remembered there was something in his pocket.

Curious as to what was inside, his large hand disappear behind the pocket and took out a wad of cash. Unsure on how to feel, Ryan gazed at the perfectly rolled wad of cash and his eyes couldn't help but focus on the pink hair tie. A myriad of emotions flushed through his body, and he couldn't help, but be amused, slightly entertained and perhaps a little happy. 

He already knew how the mysterious cash appeared.

His hand  dived into his front pant pocket and a number he knew by heart was rung. It only rang once before an energetic voice answered him. 

Hello?

"Nosy girl," he said into the receiver. His voice was deep, sweet, and lovely. Lying on his back against his soft bed, he stared at the night sky. You couldn't see the stars here, but the darkness was lovely all the same. His skylight window was clear and wide, and the moon was bright. "You are sneaky. Wicked."

She laughed lightly and then changed the subject.

Guess who Angie slept with.

"Should you really be telling me this?" he asked, raising a brow. There was a smile on his face regardless. 

You don't have anyone to tell. You won't tell anyone even if you did. And I only ever tell you! Lucy protested, and he could already imagine her pouting face and the little frown on her mouth.

"Who?" Ryan humored her.

I can't tell you, Ryan. I'm not that terrible of a person.

Her teasing voice had Ryan smiling ear to ear, and he could careless about who was fucking who unless they were hurting Angela.

Anyways, are you going to the Bay Area Meet up for Destiny Souls?

"What's that?"

I think ChaCha and Ami are arranging a K-bbq and karaoke meet up for the people who live in the Bay Area. 

"I'm going to be out of the country most likely for the rest of the month."

Ohh, fun. 

"Are you going?"

Nope. I don't want to meet people outside the game unless its Angie and you. Well, maybe. Only if Angie goes then I might go for moral support. Dude, I didn't think a game would be the next Tinder, ya know? I heard IW and 420Blaze totallllly hooked up. There are pictures posted all over Discord with hickies on his neck! 

"Hmm, I think he made the wrong choice."

What? She's cute. Her make-up is a little thick for my taste, but overall, cute.

"Mmm," he said. "Well, love is love."

You know there are a lot of Bay Area players! ChaCha, Ami, Mellow, and Woodie are so pretty. Uh, what were we talking about the other days? Ah right! You know how Nayeon looks like a bunny. Rose, ChaCha, Ami, Mellow, and Woodie look like foxes! Cause they're foxes. 

"Lucy, I need a plus one. Wanna come with me?" he asked. His heart was beating nervously while the blood rushing to his ears pounded over and over again. He could only hear the thumping of his heart, or was that just the blood rushing to his head.

There was a pause. A rather long pause. Just as he was about to call out her name once more, the answer surprised him.

Sure. Deets?

Ring, ring, ring!

Another call was on the line. It was his mother.

"Lucy," he said.

You gotta go right? Thanks for today. Don't you dare think about giving me back that money!  Night. Tell me tomorrow about the wedding.

The click of her hanging up without waiting for a reply saddened him a bit, and yet, it was very much like Lucy. She was selfish, but Lucy was also very caring and giving at the same time. Nosy, nosy. He smiled, and then swiped his thumb right, answering his mother.

"Mother," he said.

No hello?

"Hello."

You are coming right?

"Yes," he said, turning to the side.

Come home soon. I miss you. Everyone does.

"I'm bringing a friend as my plus one."

A friend or a girlfriend?

"A friend," he said.