A couple holding a bouquet | Source: PexelsSee, my dad passed away when Ryan and I were just kids. I was eight and Ryan was 12.
After that, Ryan stepped into the role of protector without anyone asking him to. He became the man of the house overnight, looking out for Mom and me in ways that should have been too much for a 12-year-old boy.
Ryan and I have always been more than siblings. We’re best friends. But when it comes to the men I date, he’s especially careful.
He watches, listens, and reads between the lines. I’ve seen him scare off guys with just a look.
A close-up shot of a man’s eyes | Source: Unsplash
That night at dinner, I could feel Ryan studying Ed like he was solving a puzzle. Ed was charming, funny, and respectful to my mom.
He asked Ryan about his work, listened to his stories, and even laughed at his terrible dad jokes.
By the time we reached dessert, something had shifted. Ryan caught my eye across the table and gave me that half-smile I knew so well.
It was his way of saying, “He passes.”
