Contents
17. Indy
Overview
Indy learns her insurance won’t cover fertility treatments, intensifying her financial and emotional pressure. Determined to move on from Alex, she tests a purely physical connection with Ryan. Their chemistry spikes in a charged kitchen encounter, but Ryan pulls back and reveals he’s celibate, complicating their fake-relationship dynamic.
Summary
Indy banters with her sister Stevie, then confirms with her employer’s HR that her insurance will not cover fertility treatments. The denial deflates her hope for affordable options and renews her urgency to earn more money.
Reflecting on Alex’s dismissiveness and the public kiss with Ryan, Indy resolves to separate sex from love to help herself move on. She targets Ryan as the safest person to try a no-strings physical connection within their ongoing fake-dating arrangement.
When Ryan returns from a road trip, a playful, highly charged kitchen scene unfolds. Ryan appears in only a towel, and their teasing escalates into close contact, with Ryan crowding Indy on the counter and stoking her arousal. He also pays Indy a sincere compliment, saying her beauty isn’t the first thing he sees anymore—he sees her character.
As Indy pushes for more, Ryan deftly defuses the moment by grabbing a spoon and stepping away, revealing he had opened the silverware drawer between her legs as a distraction. When Indy challenges him about always “winning,” Ryan ends the encounter by stating he is celibate.
Who Appears
- Indy (Indigo) IversNarrator; learns insurance won’t cover fertility treatments; seeks a physical outlet with Ryan; initiates intense flirting.
- Ryan ShayReturns from road trip; flirts and nearly hooks up with Indy; praises her character; ultimately stops, revealing he’s celibate.
- StevieIndy’s sister; appears via texts, offering sarcastic support about Indy’s situation.