Contents
11. Ryan
Overview
Ryan returns from a distracted practice and video-chats with Indy’s parents, Tim and Abigale, witnessing their family’s ASL dynamic. He promises to look after Indy, learns about sign names, and asks how to learn ASL himself. Quiet gestures—coffee and vegetarian groceries—culminate in Ryan realizing he wants Indy to truly make his place home.
Summary
After a practice ruined by intrusive fantasies about Indy, Ryan comes home conflicted between attraction and protecting their arrangement. He finds Indy video-calling her parents and joins, nervously meeting her deaf father, Tim, and her mother, Abigale.
As Indy interprets, Ryan jokes about roommate quirks, earns the parents’ approval, and promises Tim he will watch over Indy. They discuss basketball and tickets, and Ryan learns about ASL sign names, seeing the family’s intimacy and love through signing.
Feeling left out but moved, Ryan asks how an adult could learn ASL so he can speak to Tim directly. Indy offers to help teach him. Ryan’s quiet care surfaces when Indy discovers he prepped iced coffee for her and has been stocking vegetarian substitutes.
In private reflection, Ryan recalls stopping himself from going to Indy’s room the previous night and handling his desire alone. The chapter closes with Ryan recognizing his gestures aren’t just polite; he wants Indy there, wants her to feel at home, even as his growing feelings threaten his focus on the court.
Who Appears
- RyanNarrator; struggles with intense attraction to Indy, meets her parents, promises to protect her, seeks to learn ASL, shows care through small gestures.
- Indy (Indigo Ivers)Roommate and fake girlfriend; video-calls her parents, interprets ASL, shares family traditions, appreciates Ryan’s thoughtful acts.
- TimIndy’s deaf father; warm and approving, asks Ryan to watch over Indy, demonstrates family sign names, avid basketball fan.
- AbigaleIndy’s mother; friendly and welcoming, shares family anecdotes and her own sign name, gives Ryan her number for emergencies.