Sweet Caroline {Ryan Blaney} ✔️

eleven

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Sunlight streamed onto Ryan's face, forcing his eyes open. Ryan groaned as he rolled over, grabbing his phone.

He was expecting millions of notifications -- some type of fall out from whatever revenge that Stacy had come up with overnight. His eyes widened at the blank notification center. He quickly sat up, unlocking his phone. He couldn't believe that there was nothing there.

Ryan's stomach churned, afraid that if Stacy hadn't taken to social media that she would do something much worse. She wouldn't hurt him, would she? Ryan tried to shove that thought down. Maybe her love was toxic and flawed but he was still pretty sure that she loved him.

Ryan breathed in a savory smell. Bacon? He furrowed his brow, puzzled. A weird feeling settled over him as he made his way out of his bedroom, down toward the kitchen. Ryan felt like he was in the twilight zone or something -- this had been the last thing that he had been expecting to wake up to.

"You're up earlier than I thought." Stacy chirped. The disheveled appearance she had last night had been replaced by her silky blonde hair pulled up into a straight ponytail, her makeup taken off and her natural beauty shining through. She looked normal, more like the Stacy that he had known before they were dating instead of the woman that she had turned into -- the one obsessed with a beautiful Instagram feed over everything else. "I was just making you breakfast."

Ryan chewed his lip, he knew what had happened, this was all a part of the routine. "What is going on, Stacy?" He found himself asking. Part of Ryan had just wanted to just go with it, to not rock the boat to keep the peace.

Stacy's long lashes fluttered over her big blue eyes, "What are you talking about?" She asked, her tone innocent.

Ryan shifted, "I'm talking about last night, you know when you said you were going to expose me as a liar and a cheater?"

"I didn't mean it like that and you know it. Why would I ruin something that we've worked so hard for?" Stacy moved towards Ryan. "That makes no sense and I'm hurt that you'd accuse me of saying something like that."

Ryan opened his mouth to argue but he stopped. He could have sworn that she had said exactly that but now? Now he wasn't so sure. Ryan drooped a little -- feeling guilty that he had accused her of something that she hadn't done. That made him no better than she was.

"Go sit," Stacy motioned to the set table, "I'll serve breakfast in a minute."

Ryan nodded, taking a seat. He couldn't help but watch Stacy as she moved around the kitchen. Ryan couldn't deny it -- she was beautiful. Any man would be all over her but here he was, trying to plot his escape.

He thought back to what his sister had said -- that Stacy was his perfect match. This was a sentiment that had been repeated over and over again to the point that Ryan couldn't help but still wonder if maybe they saw something that he didn't. Maybe he was the problem, not Stacy. Maybe this relationship could be salvaged if he was a better man, a more attentive boyfriend.

A full plate slid in front of Ryan. "I made your favorite." Stacy beamed at Ryan as she waited for his reaction.

Ryan glanced down at his plate to see chocolate chip pancakes. "I..." His voice trailed off. He knew that he was about to sound like an ungrateful asshole. "Stacy, I don't really like chocolate chip pancakes."

Stacy shook her head, "Impossible, Ryan. You have told me more than once that you love chocolate chip pancakes."

Ryan blinked a few times. He had no idea when or why he would've said that but who was he to argue. Ryan flashed a weak smile to Stacy as he picked up the bottle of syrup.

As Ryan shoved his pancakes into his mouth, he felt the self-hate course through his veins. If he couldn't remember that he told Stacy that his favorite pancakes were, how could he manage to be a father, a good one -- to Caroline? Maybe Stacy was right, maybe he was worthless -- not even worthy of Caroline's love. He hated that thought and tried to forget it -- he could be a better man, would be a better man for his daughter. Ryan knew he could rise to the challenge, he had to.

Stacy sat across from him, a proud smile on her face while Ryan's head spun. "Things are just so good." Her smile never wavered, her blue eyes steady on Ryan. "I think we should get married tomorrow"

Ryan nearly choked on the pancake that he had in his mouth. "What?"

"You always said that you wanted something low-key. Elle is already ordained on the internet. We could do something super simple and --" Ryan cut Stacy off.

"Tomorrow?" He choked out. "Stacy, I need more time."

Stacy's blue eyes narrowed into a glare, her smile gone. "We talked about it a month ago and you said you needed a month. It's been a month now so I think we should get married."

Ryan desperately tried to remember the situation. He clearly remembered telling Stacy that he needed at least another year. "I said I needed a year."

"No, I'm positive you said a month. Should I make the phone calls?"

Ryan's head was spinning at his confusion. He had always had a good memory and he knew that he would have remembered saying he only needed a month to be ready to marry Stacy. That was something he would have remembered, Ryan was confident of that.

Or was he?

Ryan groaned inwardly, he had no idea anymore but he knew one thing for sure. "I'm not marrying you tomorrow, Stacy." He stood up from the breakfast table without waiting for Stacy's response.

Ryan stepped out onto the deck, the cool morning air filling his lungs. He ran a hand through his hair as he desperately tried to calm his mind down. How could he have forgotten telling her something like that? A lot had happened in the last day or so, it was entirely possible that he had forgotten. He was so confused -- it really did seem like he was living in a twilight zone and he had no idea what was real anymore.

His hands shook a little as he pulled out his phone, back to the pictures that Lydia had sent him. That familiar feeling of love washed over him as he flipped through them again. Through the confusion, Ryan knew that he needed to do what was best for Caroline, that she was real and so was his deep love for her. As long as he could keep himself focused on that, he knew everything was going to be okay.

Or at least he hoped.

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