1 comments/ 4642 views/ 6 favorites Love Goes Old School By: komrad1156 "Ryleigh, honey, I am so proud of you! I only wish your father could have seen you today. Valedictorian of your class and on your way to Yale this September!" "Mom, please don't cry. If you do, I'll start crying and I don't want to feel sad today. It's hard enough to talk about Dad let alone think about him. I know he'd proud and I know you are, too. So no tears, okay?" Margaret Porter promised her daughter she wouldn't cry as long as she could give her one more hug. "Deal," her daughter said. "So what are your plans for tonight, Miss Valedictorian? Did I mention how proud I am of you, sweetheart?" "Mo-oom!" she said. "Enough already. I'm just gonna hang out with Jason. I'll be home early, I promise." "You're an adult now Ryleigh, so I'm going to have to learn to trust your judgment," her mother said with some reservation in her voice. "It's just hard letting go, you know? You're all I have and well, I know Justin's a nice boy but...." "I know you don't care for Jason all that much, but he really is a good guy, Mom. And I really like him," she said pleading her case. Ryleigh was not only the smartest girl in school, she was also the most beautiful by far. Were she not so focused on her studies and her future, she could have pursued a career in modeling, but that held no interest for her. Microbiology was her first love just as it had been her late father's. Her dad had been a doctor and played a leading role in researching infectious diseases. He was highly respected in his field, the love of her mother's life, and his daughter's hero. His death from a rare disease he contracted in West Africa was almost more than either of them could bear. They'd not even been allowed to see him except via a video monitor where he lay dying in a quarantined room inside a hospital somewhere in the DC area. There'd been a memorial but no funeral. The disease was so contagious and so deadly no exposure could be permitted. Ryleigh's dream was to find a cure for the disease and others like it and truth be told to find a man like him. Marriage was a long way off, but that didn't stop Ryleigh Porter from dreaming about meeting a man like her dad who was handsome, caring, kind, and above all else, romantic. She had no interest in boys who wanted to hook up and then leave. Maybe she was old fashioned, but that's what she wanted. That said, she was no prude and she'd given herself to Jason, who was arguably the most handsome boy in school, the night of her 18th birthday. He was also smart and very popular. But Jason had other plans and other dreams and both of them knew it was only a matter of time until they went their separate ways. But for now, she just wanted to be with him and if they could find some time alone, she would very much like to make love with him. They'd only done it four times, but the last time had been magical. Jason had learned how to hold off coming too quickly and Ryleigh had had not only her first vaginal orgasm but two of them back to back. She loved seeing his handsome face while feeling him inside her—filling her up. Just the thought of those two things was enough to cause her to generate large amounts of wetness between her legs and right now she was very wet. The only thought she enjoyed more was imagining one day being with the most handsome, most romantic man on earth on her wedding night when he would make love to her that way after having dated her long enough to make her feel certain she was the most important girl in the world to him. He would have 'courted' her the way she dreamed of being courted. Flowers, poems, little love notes, small gifts, sweet words, tons of hugs and soft kisses, and those...looks. Those 'I love you so much it hurts' looks. The kind her dad had always given her mom that were set off with a perfect smile and those gorgeous eyes. She knew it was a dream, but she also knew sometimes dreams came true. She had to look long enough and be patient enough and most importantly, be the kind of girl to attract that kind of love. If she could, then she knew in her heart of hearts her dreams could come true. She and Jason did make love that night but within a week, the inevitable happened. He hemmed and hawed and told her it wasn't her, it was him and what not. She stopped him and told him she understood because she'd reached the same conclusion. They hugged and kissed goodbye and she managed not to cry until he left. The tears came yet she knew the right guy was out there somewhere. Her dad taught her that luck was were opportunity and preparation met. She was well prepared so with a little luck, opportunity would come her way. She had to watch and wait and remain prepared. The summer passed and Ryleigh found herself in her dorm room with her mother waiting so say goodbye. "I'm gonna miss you so much, honey," she told her daughter. "I'm so proud of you." She hugged her daughter then told her, "Listen, the first semester is fully paid for. I'm working on the second semester but that's not your problem, okay? I promise you I'll find a way to pay for your education. Your work is too important to be held up by holding part-time jobs, Ryleigh. You need to graduate and get out there and find a cure. Finances are my problem not yours, okay?" Ryleigh said 'okay' but knew there was no way her mother could afford room and board at Yale on what she earned. She'd used the rest of her father's meager life insurance policy to fund her first semester, but there was no nest egg and no goose—okay, no gander—in her life laying golden eggs. She had no idea how she'd get through it but if she had to take out $100k in student loans, then that's what she'd do. The work came first no matter how much it cost. And as badly as her heart longed for true love and real romance, she would still have to keep her nose to the proverbial grindstone. Chivalry couldn't be dead is what she often told herself. It seemed to be on life support in this day and age, but as long as it still had a pulse then she had hope and hope sprang eternal. Six weeks into the first semester Ryleigh realized that while her course load wasn't overwhelming, it was really all she could handle. In spite of the constant strain of worrying about money, there was just no way she could work even a part-time job and keep her grades up. So far, she'd aced every assignment and test in her classes which included organic chemistry, calculus, and introductory microbiology. And that didn't include the humanities requirement she was also taking. As she left her dorm room, she'd counted her change carefully and knew she had just under five dollars which had to last her until Friday when her mom would deposit her next check. One of the best-kept secrets in New Haven was a little hole-in-the-wall coffee shop called Lucianos. She thought it sounded more like a pizza place but it served the best coffee in town. Even better was the price. At a buck a cup, she could afford to go there the next three days if she was very careful. There was a co-ed ordering a latte and a guy who looked like he might be homeless in front of her. The girl paid for her latte and the man ordered a cup of plain, black coffee. Ryleigh always looked for things she had in common with people rather than focusing on differences and she smiled when she noticed he was ordering the same thing she was. The only thing that bothered her was who was working behind the counter. It was her least favorite barista, a fellow Yalie, a senior named Lloyd, who was always hitting on her. He was cute as hell and a nice enough guy, but the one time she'd talked to him he made it clear he was only interested in hooking up. When Ryleigh politely told him that wasn't her thing, he'd mocked for being some kind of prude. Since then, she did her best to avoid him, but she wanted a cup of coffee so badly that she didn't care. The man in front of her placed his order and Lloyd told him it would be a $1.08 with tax. The man fished around in his pockets for his wallet or maybe for loose bills then said, "It appears I forgot my wallet. I'm really sorry." He turned around and apologized to Ryleigh just as Lloyd said, "We don't do charity here, dude. You need to get a job or maybe go do some panhandling for a few bucks." He smiled at Ryleigh thinking she'd find his comments humorous. She pulled out her wallet and said, "I'll pay for it." She turned to the guy in the tattered jacket and said, "I apologize for him," nodding toward Lloyd. "He thinks he's God's gift but he's really just a first-rate pompous ass." Lloyd glowered at her as he poured her a cup then asked for $2.16. Ryleigh gave him $2.25 and said, "Keep the change. You earned every penny of it." "Why do you have to be such a bitch, Ryleigh?" he said as he handed her the two cups. She handed one to the guy with no money and he thanked her sincerely. "That was very nice of you," he said. "It's not often you find someone with a big heart any more." "Thank you," she said with a smile. "That comes from my late father who taught me to look beyond a person's outward appearance. You seem like a very nice man so it was my pleasure." As she picked up her own cup, her purse swung around and hit the man's cup sending droplets flying into the air. Several of them spattered all over the front of her favorite sweater. The man apologized profusely but Ryleigh said, "No, that was my fault. I have a lot on my mind with school and my mom and other stuff. I just wasn't paying attention. I'm the one who's sorry." That didn't mean she wasn't upset. She had clothes but not a lot of nice things and this sweater was one of them. It was a baby blue color and it was not only soft and pretty but warm, as well. It went perfectly with jeans and she was sure the stains wouldn't come out. "No use crying over spilt...coffee," she told herself. The man thanked her again and left as she found a seat and opened her laptop and started working on her latest assignment in chemistry. She knew she wouldn't be getting a refill today so she nursed the cup for over an hour before leaving. She went back to the dorm, changed, and took her sweater to the nearest dry cleaner. The small Asian lady looked it and said, "No come out! No can fix!" She was shaking her head as she handed the cashmere garment back to Ryleigh. The following day, she headed back to the coffee shop at almost exactly the same time. She was thrilled to see Barista Butthead wasn't working and hoped she might be able to get a free refill from the girl who was behind the counter. After she sat down, a woman about her mother's age, who had been sitting at a corner table, picked up several things that included a bouquet of roses then came over to her table and asked, "Hi, is your name Ryleigh?" She looked up, didn't recognize the woman, but noticed she was very nicely dressed. Her hair, nails, and makeup were perfect, her clothes were top of the line, and her jewelry was clearly expensive. "Yes, that's me," she said. "Can I help you?" "Oh, no," the woman told her. "Actually, I have something for you." Ryleigh was both confused and suspicious when the woman sat down a white box with a red ribbon on it next to her and set the flowers on top. There was a card attached with her name on it. "May I ask who this is from?" Ryleigh asked. "I believe the card will answer your question to some degree, but the person who sent you these things wants to remain anonymous. Have a good day," the woman told her as she turned and walked out. Intrigued, Ryleigh opened the card and found a handwritten poem: "You were there for me in my time of need, no judgment, no harsh words, no hint of greed. The joy of giving is a seeming lost art, but you looked at me and opened your heart. There were many things I wanted to say, but needed to save them for a better day. These things I give expecting nothing in return, just to say thank you for helping and for shunning to spurn." It was signed: Grayson Ryleigh read it a second time and then a third. It was then she remembered the box. She set the dozen, beautiful red roses aside after taking a deep whiff of their lovely fragrance then removed the ribbon. She opened the box and pulled back the white paper and saw a light blue, cashmere sweater. Her heart was beating fast as she saw another note which said, "I'm hoping this the right size. I'm very sorry about the coffee." It was signed, "G, a hopeless romantic." She checked the size and it was indeed perfect. Ryleigh was lost in thought when the co-ed from behind the counter came around and said, "There was a man in here earlier today and he asked me to give you this. It's a gift card good for free coffee for a year." Ryleigh didn't say anything as the girl set it next to her. She went back behind the counter and started wiping down the espresso machine when Ryleigh got up and walked over to her. "Could you describe the man who talked to you?" she said. "Um, sure. He was about six feet tall, well built, really nice hair, great smile, and very nicely dressed. He's a little too old for my taste, but I thought maybe he was your dad or an uncle or something. Why? Don't you know him?" "Did he have a dimple in his chin by any chance?" Ryleigh asked. "Oh, definitely! That was the first thing I noticed. If I was into older guys, he'd be at the top of my list." "When you say nicely dressed what exactly do you mean?" Ryleigh wanted to know. "Well, let's see. Gray button-down shirt, dark blue sweaters, black pants, black shoes, and a really nice watch. Sorry, I always notice stuff like that." "I see," Ryleigh said absent-mindedly. "So, um...okay. Well, thanks. I just wasn't sure who did this." "So do you know him?" the girl asked. "No, not really." She thought about their brief exchange from the previous day and she realized she'd been so annoyed by Lloyd and then by the coffee stains that she hadn't really looked at the man. But she had noticed the dimple. But that guy's hair was matted down, he hadn't shaved for several days, and he looked, well, like a bum. It just didn't make any sense to her. She looked back at the girl and said, "Well, maybe. I mean, I'm not sure, but I may have met him in here yesterday. Have you seen him in here before?" "Nope. I'd definitely have remembered that guy." Ryleigh thanked her and went back to her seat. Her mind was racing trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. It had to be the same guy, didn't it? She desperately wanted to know who he was when she remembered the card. Grayson. That wasn't much help as it could be either a first or a last name. For that matter, it could be a nickname. What she did know was that the handful of dates she'd had so far had all been disasters. Without exception, every guy she'd met or been set up with had only one thing in mind and as horny as she was, she wasn't rolling over for some guy just because he was cute or because his daddy had money. She smiled wistfully as she thought to herself that if any one of those guys had written a poem like this—or even something totally cheesy—she'd have been theirs. Well, at least for that night. But hearing things like, "You're smoking hot, baby. Want to do it?" didn't do it. Not for her anyway. A single rose or any pretty flower would have opened her flower and gained access. A small but sincere gift would have been returned with a hot, steamy hour in bed with her. And here this unknown man had written her a beautiful poem, sent her a dozen roses, and bought her a very expensive cashmere sweater. Oh, and free coffee for a year. All because she spent a buck-ten to help him out. Ryleigh ached as she thought about it. She ached...down there. She ached in her heart. She ached for her father. She ached...to be loved. And she had no idea who this man was. He was clearly too old to date, but she very much wanted to thank him and tell her how much these things meant to her. That's when she also realized she'd noticed a ring on his left hand. That thought deflated whatever wind had been in her romantic sails knowing she would never, ever date a married man. Regardless, she did want to thank him and she would keep an eye out for him in the future just in case they ever crossed paths again. Six weeks later, Ryleigh hadn't forgotten about the mysterious man named Grayson, but she'd stopped looking for him. Whoever he might be, it was pretty clear he wasn't interested in meeting her. He was just a guy who wanted to do something nice for a young college girl who'd sloshed coffee on her clothes. There wasn't anything more to it than that. She'd dated several other guys and even had a second date with one of them named Jeff. Like her, he was majoring in microbiology and he shared her passion for research although he was more inclined toward practicing medicine than doing full-time research. He was also cute and he'd brought her flowers on the second date. After watching a movie together, they'd gone back to his place where she unleashed months of pent-up sexual energy in a three-peat performance. She very much wanted to see him again until he started taking about money and his family. They had a ton of it and everything he mentioned was connected to it. Ryleigh had nothing against money. Lord knows she needed more of it than she had, but money didn't motivate her. Love and compassion lit her fire in terms of her life's ambitions and in the bedroom. A guy she thought was a potential keeper turned out to be the kind of corporate, money-loving toady she couldn't stand. But she had to admit the sex had been amazing. Good thing because another month went by when she realized how long it had been again since she'd been with a guy. And that was the day she saw him. At least she thought it was him. He was ahead of her in line and she felt her heart pound when she saw him. She stood right behind him and waited. When he went to pay she said nervously, "Mind if I get that for you?" as she plunked her card down on the counter. The man turned around and smiled when he saw her. "Well, well. The sweater girl. Ryleigh, right?" She smiled back and said, "Yes. I can't believe you remembered." "I never forget a source of inspiration," he said as he picked up his cup of coffee. "Especially not one so fair as thee." He bowed slightly and smiled as he said it. Ryleigh's heart was thumping inside her chest as she grabbed her own cup and said, "I never had the chance to thank you. You know, for the flowers and the sweater." She looked down as she stepped aside to let the next person move up then said, "The poem you wrote. It...it was the most romantic thing I've ever...." She looked down and saw his wedding ring and stopped in mid-sentence. "Oh, my gosh. I am so sorry. You're married and I just said your poem was romantic and...." He smiled and told her, "It's okay. I can't help myself. Like I said, I'm a hopeless romantic." Ryleigh blanched when she thought this married man who was again dressed like some kind of vagrant was hitting on her. Her heart had stopped fluttering and was now pumping hot, angry blood through her veins. "I'm sure your wife appreciates that very much," she said coldly the smile gone from her face. "May we sit down?" he asked kindly. "I don't spend time with married men," she told him. Her eyes had narrowed and her soft, full lips were drawn tight. "I can't bring myself to take it off," he said with some sadness in his voice. "Please, just give me a minute to explain then I'll be off." Confused, Ryleigh followed him to an open table. She was very aware of his helping her with her chair as he seated her. "Thank you," she said tersely. He sat across from her and she said, "Okay, I'm listening." "I'm not asking for sympathy, Ryleigh. I just want to tell you my wife died two years ago." He held out his hand and looked briefly at the gold wedding band then said, "I've never taken it off." He looked up at her and said, "Not since the day she put it on my hand fifteen years ago." Love Goes Old School Ryleigh's anger turned to sadness and then to empathy. "Oh, my goodness. I had no idea. I am so sorry. Not just for your loss but because I assumed...." "It's okay. I'm impressed that you noticed and that it matters to you. Far too many people today don't take marriage seriously and maybe I'm some kind of anachronism, but I think marriage vows are sacred. Not in any spiritual sense but from a moral sense." "Wow. I...I couldn't agree more," she said. She was taking in his face and she really had missed it before. He was a very attractive man. She couldn't be sure but he had to be somewhere between 35 and 45. The way he was dressed made him look older than he was, but he had beautiful eyes, a great smile, thick black...matted...hair, and that gorgeous dimple. None of that fit with his manner of dress. And the way he spoke. This guy was no bum. He might well be an eccentric professor in one of the liberal arts. That was a distinct possibility. "I mentioned you were my inspiration but didn't explain myself. I've had a very tough time since my wife died and I've taken a lot of time off work. I go in whenever I can get up the gumption—how do you like that word?" he joked. "The gumption to go in. Just the brief interaction I had with you...your kindness and your smile...gave me the motivation to go in and spend a few days taking care of a number of things. It turned out to be very beneficial to everyone I work with and I just wanted to thank you. Was the sweater the right size?" he asked as he sipped his coffee. "It was perfect," she told him. "And...well, when I said your poem was romantic...I mean, before I got all self-righteous about you being married...I really meant that. I've read it a hundred times since and the flowers were also amazing." She wasn't able to meet his gaze as she spoke so she looked at his coffee cup when she spoke. "I'm sorry, but I don't even know your name except for Grayson. Is that your first name or your last?" He smiled and said, "It's my first name. I'm the only Grayson my age I know of but the name seems to making a real comeback the last few years." "It is very popular and I really like the name, by the way," she said as she finally looked at him again. "Well, thank you, Ryleigh. I uh, I wanted to tell you that after that brief respite, I've really been struggling again...with work and what not. I have to admit that seeing you again has really lifted my spirits. I think I may even go home and shave and go in to work." "Thank you...I think," she said with a smile. "I know it's none of my business, but I'm dying to know what kind of job allows you to um...what? Come and go? Is that a fair to put it?" Grayson laughed and said, "That's very fair, Ryleigh. I really am a very fortunate man where work is concerned and I probably take way too much advantage of the flexibility I have, but there are times when money is the last thing on earth I care about." He looked away this time and she thought she saw a tear well up in his eye when he looked back at her and said, "I'd give everything I have to bring her back." Ryleigh was unable to speak. She felt choked with emotion and she wanted to somehow take away his pain but knew there was nothing she could be do with the possible exception of listening. "I'm sorry," he said. "That was very selfish of me. You have your own life and your own problems to deal with and I just laid mine on you. Please forgive me, Ryleigh." "It's okay. Really. I can't imagine how hard this has been for you and how helpless you must feel." She debated about sharing it but said, "I lost my father and I miss him every single day. I can't imagine losing the love of my life. I'm really so very sorry, Grayson." "Well, thank you. If you don't mind, I'd like to change the subject." "Of course," she said. Her mood lightened and her smile returned when she saw him smiling. "I was wondering. Is it possible...would you mind...I mean, would you possibly be interested in...I don't know...maybe doing something together sometime?" Before she could reply he added, "Maybe just come here and have coffee or whatever? I'm sorry, I haven't asked anyone out in over ten years—not that I'm asking you out, per se—and now you probably think I'm some kind of a fool." She smiled but he kept right on going. "And as they say, there's no fool like an old fool, right?" Ryleigh covered her mouth as she laughed. "You're not that old, Grayson." She sat there and looked at him and he could sense she was staring. "I'm 42, Ryleigh. So yes, I really am that old. Wow. Saying that out loud sounds pretty bad. It's funny. I still see myself as being 25 and sometimes it's hard to believe I'm over 40." He looked at her, smiled and said, "Well, now that you know my age, I feel a little silly having asked you. I know that's more than enough to scare anyone your age away. It's just that you're so easy to talk to and your kindness really did move me." Ryleigh couldn't believe he hadn't said anything about her looks. She wasn't sure whether to be flattered or offended. "I just turned 19 and that's probably young enough to scare you away," she said with genuine sincerity. "We don't have to call it a date, you know. It's just that I really have enjoyed talking to you and I can't remember the last time that happened with anyone. I'd be happy to just sit and talk. I mean, if you don't mind talking to someone your father's age." His smile immediately faded. "Geez, Ryleigh. I'm so, so sorry. Now I'm the one who doesn't know what to say. I didn't mean it like that. You lost your father and then I say something like that. Please forgive me." "You're very sweet," she told him. "I've never been out with an older man before although I did just recently date a junior." Both of them smiled and he laughed politely at her comment. "Well, if you did go out with me, you could add senior to your list. Senior citizen," he said emphasizing the citizen half of the term. She laughed. "And you're funny. Anyone who can make me laugh is someone I'm willing to risk going out with," she announced. "I see. I'm...a risk." He feigned a scowl and said, "Well, at my age, I suppose that could be considered a compliment." Ryleigh laughed and said, "You understand that makes no sense, right?" Grayson exhaled and said, "Yeah. It was pretty lame. It's just that I don't often talk to women and when I do they're never as interesting...or as pretty...as you." Ryleigh smiled when he finally got around to saying something about her looks. "And I hope you know that was really lame." She tilted her head as though she were the older one correcting him for his faux pax. "Sweet but lame. Very lame." "I can see I have a lot to learn. Well, if you can be patient with me, I really am a fast learner," he told her. "Time isn't exactly on your side, Grayson," she quipped with a big smile, "but I am a very patient person." "So is all that a 'yes' or do I need more remedial training?" "It's a yes," she assured him. "Wow. I have a...I have a... What exactly is it I have?" he asked her. "Let's call it an agreement. An agreement to spend some time together. For now at least," she offered. "Okay, that works me me. An agreement to spend time it is." He paused then tilted his head as though he didn't quite understand something. "Um...that's a lot of words. Could we just call it an 'agreement' to keep it simple?" Ryleigh listened overly intently then said, "Sure. I don't want you to get confused and well, people you age have this um...tendency." "Yeah, good point," he replied. "So, Ryleigh? Do you intend to remind me about my advanced years this often all the time or is this just how you show a guy my age you care?" he asked with feigned extreme curiosity. "What makes you think I care?" she asked with an equal amount of 'deep concern.' "Good point—again. You're pretty sharp for um, well, you know...." "Someone my age?" she said with raised eyebrows and a slight tilt of her head. "Can't get anything past you, can I?" he said continuing the banter. "So...on this...agreement. Or would that be during this agreement?" He weighed the relative merits of each word as he held up his hands pretending to actually weight them before saying, "Okay, so when we hang out together, would you do me a big favor?" "Isn't it kind of early in our agreement-relationship to be asking for favors?" she said with mock seriousness. "Wow, another good point. Okay, rather than ask, maybe I'll offer an observation. I think you would look great in the sweater I bought you and I would love to see you in it." He raised his eyebrows as though his observation might bring a negative reaction about being controlling or what have you. Instead, she surprised him by saying, "I'd love to. It's very pretty, by the way, and thank you again for it. I don't think that's an unusual observation—at all. I believe two people who like one another—or in our case—who've agreed to spend some time together—should willingly do things for the other so sure, I'd be happy to wear it for you." "Does that mean you like me?" Again, before she could answer he said, "Never mind. Pretend I didn't just say that, okay?" He was happy to see she smiled at him again. "As to your belief, I couldn't agree more. Doing some small thing for the other person is worth more than some expensive gift they don't really need. At least in my humble opinion." "That's amazing. That's exactly how I feel!," she told him. "I'd much rather have a note with something personal written on it than something that cost a lot of money." "So don't buy you a new car?" he said smiling. "Well, I don't even have a car so if you happen to have an old clunker just laying around you don't need...." She wouldn't take a gift like that, but she was willing to joke about it. It wasn't that she didn't like nice things. It was just that they weren't a priority to her. He was staring at her for several seconds when she said, "Is everything okay?" "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to stare. It's just that you're such a remarkable young woman. I'm not sure I've ever met anyone quite like you before." "So...may I assume that's also a compliment?" she asked referring to his 'at my age' comment moments before. "Most definitely. It is indeed a compliment, Miss Ryleigh...."

"Porter," she said supplying her last name. "And you're Grayson...." "Ryleigh Porter, I'm Grayson Tyler," he told her. "And it's been a true pleasure meeting you." She gave him her phone number and he promised to call her. "I'd like that," she said. "Most people just text each other nowadays and that seems so impersonal." She decided to take another small risk and said, "Especially for a hopeless romantic, right?" "You remembered," he said. "I'm flattered." "I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic myself," she confessed. She could see he wanted to stay but instead said, "I guess I should go," he said. "I've kept you long enough." "I had a nice time, Grayson. And I look forward to hearing from you. If you don't forget to call, that is." "I never forget anything, Angela," he said without smiling. Ryleigh couldn't help herself and she laughed loudly. "Okay, now that was funny—I don't care who you are!" imitating Larry the Cable Guy. The next day, Ryleigh left her room and heard her phone buzz indicating she'd received a text. She didn't recognize the number and she assumed Grayson would call rather than text. She checked her text messages and saw she indeed had one. It was a link she thought twice about before opening but went ahead and clicked on it. It took her to a page with images of sticky notes with one pointing to the next. The first said, "I had a really great time." The arrow pointed left so she looked left. The next one read, "I'm looking forward to seeing you again." The arrow pointed down so she looked down. This one said, "Meet me at Scotty's Friday at 8pm." The last one said, "Click here to accept." Along side it was one that said, "Click here to reject and break my heart." At the bottom of the page was a big heart and the name Grayson. Ryleigh's heart was beating faster again when she realized how creative and romantic this was. Without a second thought she selected "Accept" and clicked on it. When she did, the address popped up and she had two more options. The first was "Click here to meet me there" and the other said "Click here to have me pick you up at 7:45pm." She was smiling and so lost in what she was reading she nearly ran into several people. She clicked to be picked up then stood there and did a kind of happy dance. No sooner had her feet stopped moving when she told herself this wasn't even a date and that Grayson, whoever he was, was far too old to be more than a friend. But the romantic in her was swooning. In fact, she found it nearly impossible to concentrate during her next class and she was grateful it wasn't in a core science subject. When class let out, she squealed out loud when she was sure she was by herself. She checked on her laptop and saw that Scotty's was a karaoke bar which had a place where those under 21 could sing and have a soda. This was the first time Kyleigh could remember feeling silly about being under 21. She wasn't much of a singer either, but she could hold her own. Regardless, she wasn't going to let any of that stop her from having a good time. She was standing outside at 7:45 when an old white van pulled up and stopped next to her. She peeked inside and saw Grayson behind the wheel. She went to open the passenger door and he held up a hand. "Uh-uh! Don't you dare!" He jumped and came around to her side and said, "It may be corny, but I never let a woman open a door." She tried not to laugh when he pulled on it and it stuck. He gave it a real yank it popped open with a loud creak. "Thank you!" she told him as he worked on getting the door to close once she was inside. "Sorry about the door. I borrowed the van from a friend. I hope it's okay," he said a bit nervously. The seats were worse than the door but Kyleigh didn't care or really even notice. She wasn't going out with his car. "It's fine, really. I meant it when I said things don't impress me." She looked over at him and said, "Wow! You clean up right nice there, mister." She was amazed at how different he looked. He'd shaved, combed his hair and was wearing a nice pair of Dockers and dressy shirt with a decent-looking leather jacket. "You, too. Um...not that you needed to clean up. What I meant was...I mean, I was going to tell you how nice you look the door kind of took over as a priority. I did notice the sweater, by the way. It's very pretty." He put the van in gear and said, "So are you, Ryleigh." When they went inside the club, the greeter said, "Mr. Tyler! It's been a while. It's really good to see you again." "Thanks, Terry," he told he guy who seemed to about Ryleigh's age. "Your old spot is available if you want it," he said smiling broadly. "Sure. That'd be perfect." As they followed him to a corner table, Ryleigh said, "Usual spot? Is this where you take all of your girls?" He helped her remove her coat then pulled her chair back to help her get seated then said, "Well, let's see. My wife and I used to come here occasionally and you're here so...yes, I believe I do bring all of my girls here." Ryleigh laughed as the young man asked what Grayson would like to drink. He looked at Ryleigh and said, "I'm in the mood for champagne. You?" She looked at Grayson then at the young man and said, "Um, that might be a problem." Just then a man quite a bit older than Grayson walked up and said, "Grayson! I thought that was you." He stuck out his hand and shook and said, "I can't tell you how good it is to see you back out here!" He looked at Ryleigh and said, "And you have company! Listen, drinks are on the house. Whatever you want is on me tonight." The young man nervously told the older man, "Sir, I don't think she's 21." He was obviously very uncomfortable as he didn't look him the eye. He looked at Ryleigh and said, "Would you care for a drink?" "Yes, but...." "Great! Bring them whatever they'd like. And Grayson, it really is good to see you getting out again. We've missed you." Moments later, there was a bottle of champagne and two glasses in front of them. The young man filled them half full, bowed slightly and left. Grayson lifted his glass and said, "To true romance?" "I'll drink to that," Ryleigh said as the touched glasses and took a sip. "I have something for you, by the way," he said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a flat object that was wrapped in pretty paper with a blue ribbon on it. "I thought you might like this," he said as he handed it to her. "Grayson? This isn't necessary," she said as she began unwrapping it. "No, but it seemed...appropriate," he told her. It was a book of romantic poems by various authors. Ryleigh flipped through the pages, stopped to read a short poem, then looked up at Grayson. "This was the most...romantic...gift...I've ever received and this isn't even a date," she told him. She blinked back a tear and said, "I think I have some mascara in my eye." He knew otherwise but didn't say anything as she slipped the small book into her purse. "So do you like to sing?" he asked. "I love to sing," she told him. "I'm just not sure anyone else loves hearing me." Ryleigh grew up listening to all genres of music. Her mom and dad used to listen to everything from Sinatra to Hank Williams, Sr., to Elvis to The Beatles to the Eagles and everything in between. She loved her own generation's music the most, but she knew and enjoyed hundreds of the kinds of old songs sung in karaoke bars. "You game to give it a whirl?" he asked. "Oh, no. No way. I'm not that good. I think I'll just sit and listen for a while if that's okay." "That's fine with me. But I plan on doing some singing!" He stepped up to the empty mic and several people called out, "Grayson! Hey, man, where you been? Good to see you! Let's hear you belt one out!" He smiled and waited for the melody to start and the words to come up. The next song was called Reflections of my Life by the Marmalades. As the music started Grayson said, "Those of you who know me know I've gone through a pretty rough patch the couple of years. This song is perfect because it captures some of how I've felt. I recently met someone who's been a true inspiration for me and this song fits that, too, because I finally feel like changin', rearangin' my life." Right on cue he began singing, "The changing of sunlight to moonlight, Reflections of my life, oh how they fill my eyes, The greetings of people in trouble, Reflections of my life, oh how they fill my mind, All my sorrow, sad tomorrow, Take me back to my old home, All my cryin', feel I'm dyin', dyin',Take me back, to my old home, I'm changin', arrangin', I'm changin', I'm changin' everything, ah everything around me, The world is a bad place, a bad place, A terrible place to live, oh but I don't wanna die." Ryleigh was stunned by his beautiful baritone voice which was perfectly on key. She didn't remember the song until he started singing it then she remembered her mom playing it over and over after her dad passed away. Grayson was looking right at her as he sang, "I'm changin, I'm changin' everything around me" and Ryleigh felt a lump in her throat, a tightness in her chest, and a warmth spreading in a familiar place. He was actually a very good-looking man. His thick, black hair framed his face which contained those eyes that were boring holes into her, a straight nose, two full lips, a great smile, and that damn dimple. As he poured his heart into the song, he stepped down off the stage and extended his hand. Ryleigh looked around and saw people clapping and cheering and many were waving at her to go up on stage with him. She gave him her hand and he stood her next to him. He then turned and continued singing by slightly changing the words, "The world seemed a bad place, a bad place, a terrible place to live, but I met you, and I don't want to die." Love Goes Old School Ryleigh was aware there were scores of eyes on her but the only two she saw were Grayson's as he smiled and sang to her like she was the only person there. When he finished the final note, the place burst into applause with people hollering and whistling and shouting, "Encore! Give us one more, Grayson!" When Ryleigh heard the next song cue up, her knees went weak. It was Truly, Madly, Deeply by Savage Garden, another song she'd heard many, many times growing up. Grayson took her hand and sang, "I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy, I'll be your hope I'll be your love, be everything that you need...." She stood there spellbound listening to him share his feelings with her through song. At one point he stood just inches from her and sang, "I want to stand with you on a mountain, I want to bathe with you in the sea, I want to live like this forever, until the sky falls down over me." He was able to hit the high notes of the chorus in a tenor's range. Before she could move, another oldie started up. It was You Look Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. When he got to the second stanza he turned and faced Ryleigh, took her hand and sang right to her: "We go to a party and everyone turns to see, This beautiful lady that's walking around with me. And then she asks me, "Do you feel all right?" And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight." Ryleigh was starstruck and unable to move when he finished singing. She just stood there staring at him even after he sat down the mic. "You okay?" he asked as the crowd was cheering again. When she realized what she was doing, that stunned her more than his singing had. "Um, yes. I'm...okay," she said not sure whether or not she really was. They stayed two more hours and Grayson sang several more songs and even got Ryleigh to join him singing Sonny and Cher's duet I Got You Babe. As they hammed up the ending singing out, "I...got...YOU...baaabe!" they touched foreheads and people shouted, "Kiss, kiss, kiss!" Ryleigh looked out at the audience and saw women smiling and motioning, "Go ahead!" to her. She turned to Grayson who said, "You don't have to do that, Ryleigh." She told him, "You are not the boss of me," and softly kissed him on the lips. The place went crazy with applause, whistles, and some loud table banging. He took her hand and raised them both. As he began to bow, she picked up on his cue and bowed with him. The crowd was still cheering as they walked back to their seats. On the way back to her dorm, Ryleigh said, "Grayson? I just wanted to thank you for tonight. I don't think I can remember ever having a nicer time. That was so much fun and you can really sing!" He smiled and thanked her. "I appreciate that, Ryleigh, but it's me who needs to thank you." He pulled the rickety old van up the curb in front of her dorm and said, "I don't want to go into detail but the words to that first song were more than just words for me. I've done more than struggle since my wife died. It's been tough to keep going. And I dunno but since meeting you, I really do feel like living again." He saw her look away and quickly added, "Please don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to guilt you into seeing me again or anything. I mean, I'd like that very much, but I'm just saying you've quite literally brought me back to life. So...thank you, Ryleigh." "I'd like to see you again, Grayson. I know this...you and me...it's kind of unusual but I kind of believe in fate and maybe we found each other for a reason." She sat there and stared out the window. It was pitch black except for the streetlights on the sidewalk. "I know the whole age thing is a really big deal, but tonight it just felt like two people having fun, you know?" He smiled and looked over at her and said, "I agree completely. I can't say the age difference doesn't concern me because it does and I'm sure it probably freaks you out when you think about just how old I am. But you are a kind of...kindred spirit or something. I feel like I've known you for a lot longer than a couple of days and I'd very much like to see you again." "Then you have yourself...a date," she said sweetly. "It's hard to imagine a date being better than an agreement," he said with feigned concern. "Yeah, I know. Maybe we should go on a second agreement and forget about dating," she said with equal concern. "I agree with agreements," he told her matter of factly. "You're a nut," she said as she laughed. "Well, I guess I should get inside." He came around and opened her door with one hard, loud pull. He helped her step out and said, "Would it be okay if I walked you to your door? I mean, I can understand how it might be embarrassing for you if...." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him and said, "Sometimes you think too much, Grayson." She offered him her hand and led him toward the building where she lived. "So this is your home away from home," he said when they reached her room. "Yep. This is it. Dorm sweet dorm. I'd invite you in, but I never do that on a first agreement." "Oh, sure. I understand. That's definitely a second—or third—agreement kind of thing." She laughed and he marveled at how beautiful she was when she smiled. "I know it's cliche but I'm gonna say it anyway," he began. He took both of her hands and held them as he said, "You make me feel young...and alive, Ryleigh. Thank you for that." "And you make me feel...happy and...very lucky to have met you," she said softly. "Well, goodnight," he told her. "Goodnight, Grayson." He kissed her softly on the cheek and as he did, she put her arms around his neck and held him. They didn't kiss. They just stood there for half a minute holding one another. "Bye," they both said again as she let him go and he headed toward the beat-up old van. Two days later, she and Grayson rode go-carts and had even more fun than they'd had signing karaoke. They kissed several times during the evening and their goodnight kiss lasted a good five seconds. Three days later they went bowling and discovered neither of them were any good but more importantly they discovered that they couldn't wait to see they other person regardless of what they were doing. As he kissed her goodnight he said, "Ryleigh? I was wondering how you might feel about having dinner at my place this weekend. I mean, if it's not too soon or too weird or...." She kissed him for a very long time and said, "You really do think too much, Grayson. Can't you tell I'm falling for you or is senility preventing you from figuring that out?" She smiled the way that made him remember what it was like to be in love. "Okay. I'll stop thinking. I just want to warn you. About my house, I mean. I don't want you to judge me on that or on 'stuff' of any kind." "Grayson, I can't believe you don't understand by now that I don't care about stuff. I care about love and romance and...you. I don't care where you live and what you drive or where you work. I don't care what you have or don't have, okay? It just doesn't matter to me—at all." "I have another surprise for you," he said. It was cold outside that time of year but neither of them noticed. He handed her an envelope which she could only open after taking off one of her gloves. She carefully unsealed it and saw what appeared to be a very nice looking certificate of some kind. She turned it right side up and said, "Oh, my gosh." It was a Star Naming Certificate which said: Ryleigh Porter: In the Constellation Columba. It was followed by galactic coordinates and an official Star Almanac Certificate Number. Her hands were shaking as she tried to put it back inside the envelope. "Here, let me get that for you," he said. He took her hand and walked her out into the dark courtyard. He stood behind and said, "Okay, that's the North Star. So look right over...there." He moved his arm across the sky and pointed to a specific area of the night sky. "Ryleigh Porter is right up there." She pulled him closer as he lowered his arm. "My roommate is out tonight," she told him. "I mean, if you'd like to come inside, that is." He turned her around and kissed her then said, "There's nothing I'd like more." When she closed the door behind them and made sure it was locked she said, "There really isn't too much to do here but study or watch TV and I don't feel like doing either." "Is there anything you would like to do?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Why yes there is," she said as she unzipped his leather jacket. "Could you maybe help me with mine?" He unbuttoned her coat then slipped it off her tiny shoulders and put it on the love seat on top of his. "Is that it?" he asked as she put her arms around him. "Um...no. But that was a very nice start. If you'll follow me I'll show you what we'll do next," she said as she pulled him toward her bedroom. She closed and locked that door too, then turned to Grayson and said, "You've completely won my heart, Grayson Tyler." She moved closer and put her arms around him again and said, "So the rest of me is yours—if you want it." He kissed her passionately and she pulled him close and kissed him back. She offered him her tongue as she eagerly accepted his. Ryleigh moaned as he pushed against her and his growing manhood pressed against her body. "Oh, my God. That feels so nice," she moaned. Shirts and blouses slid off followed by pants and underwear leaving them in the semi-darkness of them room naked together for the first time. "My God, you're so incredibly beautiful," he told her as he gently stroked her pretty face with his hand. "I want you so bad, Grayson," she told him as she reached down and felt his hard shaft. "Mmmm. That's what I want most of all." He kissed her as she stroked him then he slid his hand down and gently squeezed her soft breast. Ryleigh gasped as he rolled her hard nipple between his thumb and index finger. "Yes..." she sighed. "More please!" He slowly laid her onto the bed then laid down beside her kissing her deeply and passionately. His hand ran down her chest across her tummy. With the back of his hand, he felt a soft tuft of hair then turned it over and slid it gently between her legs. She moaned loudly and spread her legs wide. He slowly slid a finger inside her as they French kissed. He inserted it deeper and deeper then withdrew it and used her own wetness to lubricate the tip of his finger as he began gently rubbing her clit. Up and down ever so slowly. Ryleigh gasped and moaned as he increased the pressure slightly for a few seconds before slipping two fingers back inside her. "Oh...God!" she cried. "That feels so good, Grayson. Mmmmm. Yes!" She pushed him over and reached for him. He was very hard and ready for her warm, wet mouth as she held his shaft with one hand then took him deeply into her mouth. She cupped his balls with her free hand while stroking his cock with the other as she bobbed up and down. "Fuck!" he moaned. "It's been soooo long," he told her. "And soooo worth the wait!" She raised her leg up and over his head and offered him her soaking wet pussy. He pulled her hips down onto his mouth and buried his face in her love nest. Ryleigh gasped and briefly stopped sucking him as his tongue hit her clit. "Ohhhh..." she gasped. "Don't stop, baby," she begged him. Each continued to pleasure the other orally until Ryleigh said, "I can't wait any longer." She turned around and straddled him. "I want you inside me," she said as she leaned down over his face, her long hair dangling around his head. As he reached for his cock to line it up with her pussy she said, "I need you inside me." He no sooner found the right spot than Ryleigh began taking him inside her. She was so wet and so warm and so...tight. It had been well over two years since Grayson had made love to a woman and he was flooded with one pleasant sensation after another. "Yes!" she whimpered. "Oh, God, yes! That feels so...good!" She put her hands on his chest and slowly slid up and down grinding hard on his erect phallus so that it pushed against her swollen clit on each stroke. Grayson was concerned he wouldn't be able to last very long not having done this in so many months. But before he reached the critical stage, Ryleigh pushed down hard on him taking him all the way to the hilt and ground as hard as she could on him. "Oh...fuck!" she whimpered. Her fingers dug into his chest as her body tensed so hard he thought she might squeeze his dick off inside her. "Yes! Ohhhh...yesss!!!" she screamed. As she shuddered, he stopped trying to hold back. Months and months of built-up cum poured from his body into hers as she continued to grind against him and moan softly. When she was finished, he became aware of how rapidly she was breathing. She collapsed on top of him and said, "Oh, my God, Grayson. That was...amazing!" She rested her head on his chest and just lay there with him still inside her. "I love feeling you inside me like this," she said without looking at him. He put his arms around her and she snuggled even closer. She ran her hand across his face and said, "You are the most romantic man I've ever met. How could any woman want anything more?" She lifted her head and said, "I don't care where you live or what you do as long as you love me like this." He saw another tear in her eye but didn't mention it. He brushed her hair back and said, "Ryleigh? I hope this doesn't ruin the night for you but I need to tell you that...I love you." Her eyes took on a look of some kind of desperate need as he spoke. When she heard the three words she wanted to hear more than anything a tear fell onto her cheek. "I love you too, Grayson," she said with emotion straining her voice. "I love you, too." He made love to her again before showering and going home. As she kissed him goodbye, he said, "Dinner will ready around 7 o'clock, if that's okay?" "I can't wait," she said. "Oh, and get that door oiled, would you?" She smiled playfully letting him know she didn't give a damn about the door or the noise or even the fact he borrowed someone else's vehicle to take her out. All that mattered was that he was in it. "Good night," he told her. "I love you." She stared into his eyes as he spoke then whispered, "I love you, too." Ryleigh couldn't sleep that night. Her whole world was being turned upside down by a man she really barely knew. The only things of which she was sure were that he really was the most romantic man she'd ever met and that she loved him with all her heart. She didn't care how old he was or even if he lived in a place that was smaller than her dorm room. None of that mattered. If he'd lost his job or only worked part-time, they'd figure that out as they went. But she couldn't let go of the only thing that had made her happy since the death of her father. She just couldn't and she was determined she wouldn't. At 4am, she finally fell asleep and didn't wake up until noon when her phone buzzed repeatedly. She squinted to see what time it was and shook her head in disbelief when the clock on her phone told her it was 12:17pm. She was still exhausted but felt better when she saw it was from Grayson. "Good morning! Or actually, Good Afternoon!" it read. Then saw the link and smiled. Another surprise! This time she couldn't wait to see where it led her. She opened it and saw it was to a very upscale store. "Your adventure begins here" it said. "Please show this to the lady named Ann before 3pm. When you're done, click here." There was a big pink heart waiting to be clicked on after she finished at the store. She showered, got dressed and headed to the bus stop. The store was several miles away but directly on the bus's route. She went inside and looked around and felt like she was in another world. The clothes were all very expensive and this was the kind of store she could never afford to shop in. Curiosity got the best of her and she made her way to the front and saw two women. One of them was wearing a name tag that said 'Ann.' "Hi, I'm Ryleigh and I hope this makes sense. I'm supposed to show you this." She took out her phone and opened the link and handed it to Ann. "Oh, yes! I've been expecting you, Ryleigh. I have something I'm supposed to show you. If you'll follow me, please?" she suggested. Ryleigh went with her into the back where she saw three beautiful outfits on mannequins. "Which one would you prefer?" she asked. "What? I don't understand," Ryleigh told her. "You need to choose one of these and we'll bring it out for you in your size." There was a beautiful, long royal blue gown then a short, very cute black cocktail dress and finally a gorgeous, white cashmere sweater with 3/4-length sleeves with a short black skirt. Ryleigh wasn't sure how someone like Grayson could pull off something like this but he seemed to know a lot of people wherever they went, so perhaps Ann was a relative or family friend. She smiled when she imagined him running around trying to set this up. She worried how he was paying for it, but she was still intrigued. All three were beautiful but the choice was easy. The coffee incident was still fresh in her mind so choosing the most obvious outfit was a no-brainer. Ann called for someone named Ellie who came out with not only those two items but an entire ensemble to include jewelry and a gorgeous black coat. When Ryleigh looked puzzled, Ann said, "All of these things are included, dear. Please go ahead and try them on." "Oh, my. You look lovely!" Ann said when Ryleigh stepped out of the changing room. "I believe I'm supposed to click on a pink heart when you're through here. Is everything okay?" Ryleigh assured everything was perfect as she looked in the full-length mirror after handing Ann her phone. Everything was gorgeous from the clothes to the pearl necklace and matching earrings to the 4-inch heels to the silk camisole and and black panties and barely-black stockings. "Okay, you're all set!" Ann told her as she handed it back. Ryleigh looked down and read, "Please get in me." There was a picture of a black limousine waiting outside this very store and another pink heart next to it for when she was done at the second location. She grabbed her things and headed toward the exit. As she stepped out, a man in black said, "Ryleigh Porter?" She told him she was and he took all of her things except her purse and put them in the car. He then opened the back door and said, "Ma'am," as she stepped inside. He drove for about fifteen minutes, stopped the car, got out, and let her out in front of a salon. "I'll wait for you right here, ma'am," he told her and pointed toward the entrance. She walked in a very nice lady named Kathryn met her and said, "You must be Ms. Porter. Please come in." Ryleigh was now both confused and excited as the woman told her she'd be doing her hair, nails, and makeup. An hour and a half later, Ryleigh wasn't sure whom she was looking at as she saw her reflection for the first time after she was done. "What do you think?" Kathryn asked. "It's...amazing," she said as she looked at herself. She looked...glamorous. She'd been dressed up before but never like this. Kathryn was looking at her when she said, "Oh, my cell phone, right?" "Yes, please," she replied. She took it, clicked the heart and handed it back. There was another picture of the limo and in the background what looked like some kind of resort building. The caption told her, "Please get back in and come join me for dinner." The driver was dutifully waiting for her as he'd promised. "May I say you look quite lovely, Ms. Porter?" She thanked him and sat inside. It was now getting dark as he drove them outside of New Haven to a suburb she'd never been in before. "May I ask where we're going?" she said. She was starting to worry this might be some kind elaborate ruse or a kidnapping.