I was broken—healing, but still broken.
Just under two months had passed since I’d left Ethan and I didn’t know how to navigate my new terrain. The girl Derek met once upon a time—the girl with hopeful dreams and aspirations—was long gone. I didn’t know how to get her back—deep down, I wasn’t sure if I wanted her back. I was just starting to feel comfortable in this new skin and I needed time to sort out the new me before thinking about anything or anyone else. As much as I wanted to say yes to Derek, I needed to be my sole priority for a while.
Still, I couldn’t help but wonder how different my life would have been had I met Derek before Ethan. Would I have been the woman Derek was searching for—the one who he once said he wanted to cherish? I didn’t know, but I didn’t want to believe our window of opportunity had closed. I only knew I couldn’t step over that line right now… not yet. I needed more time.
Looking into those gorgeous hazel eyes, I focused on the tiny flecks of green that sparkled in anticipation. Reaching out, I touched his forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze, and the air began to fill with an affection neither of us dared to acknowledge. Bracing myself, I locked away my emotions and smiled.
“Ask me again in six months, Derek.”
When I turned to walk away, I felt hopeful for the future. With every step I took toward home, my smile grew bigger—bigger than it had been in a long, long time.
20
Derek
Six months. That’s how long I had to wait.
It was all I could think about as I sat on the couch with Maisie watching reruns of Seinfeld. I felt restless with impatience but understood why Val was putting me off. She needed to find herself again. I respected that, and I would wait for her.
She was worth it.
After all, I’d unknowingly been waiting three years for her. Hell, at times I wonder if I’d been waiting for her my whole life. Another six months was nothing. I’d fallen into her so quickly, wanting that easy, casual banter again—that connection and chemistry we’d shared on the very first day we met. All the missing pieces seemed to lock into place whenever we were together. The attraction shivered across the surface of every one of our conversations. I knew she felt it as well. I just had to make her see it. Whatever she was running from, she didn’t have to run or be afraid with me. I’d keep her safe. And when she was ready, I’d be there. Until then, I vowed to use every minute I had to earn her trust.
My cell phone buzzed in my pocket and I fished it out. Ryder Malone’s name and number lit up the screen. I hadn’t spoken with my friend and silent partner in a few weeks. I was sure he was calling to check on how things were going at the newest location we’d opened.
“Hey, Ryder.”
“Derek! I haven’t talked to you in a while. I wanted to check in on New York’s most eligible bachelor. Any new, juicy articles published about you lately?”
“Don’t even joke about it, man. If you sic that reporter on me ever again…” I warned.
Ryder laughed.
“I’m just yanking your chain. How are things going with The Mill Brooklyn?”
“Pretty good. I stopped in there a couple of days ago. Alyssa already has the place running like a well-oiled machine. She was a great hire.” I paused, noticing the music and people chattering in the background for the first time. “Where are you? It sounds like a party.”
“Vegas for a little R and R. I’m chilling by the pool at the moment. Happy hour is winding down, so I decided to give you a buzz. I honestly just realized the time difference. I hope I didn’t call too late.”
“No, it’s cool. It’s barely nine o’clock here.”
“Good, good. You know me. Even in Vegas, I can’t shut off work completely. I wanted to run through some numbers with you.” He ran through cost scenarios and projections for the Brooklyn gym, but I was barely listening to him. I was too distracted, thinking of ways I could slowly convince Val to give me a chance—to give us a chance. So, when I showed little enthusiasm over the fantastic revenue stream we were experiencing, Ryder called me out on my lack of focus.
“Dude, I feel like you’re barely listening. Did someone drop a barbell on your head?”
I laughed.
“Sorry, man. I’ve got some stuff on my mind. I didn’t mean for it to be so obvious.”
“Seriously. What’s up? You sound really…I don’t know… off.”
“Do you remember when I came out to Cinci to see you a few years back? We were going over the contracts for The Mill and planning the grand opening.”
“Sure, I remember.”
“When I was there, I met this chick…” I stopped short, knowing my description was all wrong. Val was not just some random chick. “I met this woman at the hotel where I was staying.”
“It’s always a girl with you, isn’t it?” he joked.
“Yeah, but this one is different. She moved to New York a couple of months ago and just so happens to live in the building across the street from me.”
Ryder snorted.
“Let me guess—you’re going to say it’s fate or some other nonsense like that.”
“Isn’t it? I mean, what are the odds?”
“Pretty slim, I guess. Did you ask her out?”
“Yeah, but she’s been through some shit.”
“My friend, they’ve all been through some shit. And if they haven’t been, they’re bound to put you through some shit. I’m convinced all women have a little bit of crazy in them.”
I laughed and thought about the long line of psychotic women Ryder had dated. He and I had been college roommates so I was there for every girl he paraded through our dorm room. Sometimes I wondered if it was really the women who had the issues, or if it was Ryder’s wandering eye that drove them to madness.
“This girl ain’t crazy,” I assured.
“So what’s the problem then?”
“Whatever she’s been through is making her cautious. I asked her out to dinner earlier today. She told me to ask her again in six months.”
“Whoa! Back up. If I’m not mistaken, that sounds an awful lot like you were moved to the ‘I think it’s better if we’re just friends’ zone, if you know what I mean.”
I could see why Ryder thought that, but he didn’t know about the connection I had with Val. The two of us weren’t meant to be friends—there was way too much chemistry that couldn’t be ignored.
“You’re wrong. I’m telling you…there’s just something about her.”
“Well, then I suppose you have six months to win her over.”
“And I will,” I vowed. “So, anyway, enough about me. Let’s get back to why you called. I swear I’ll pay attention this time.”
Changing topics, Ryder and I talked shop for the next thirty minutes. After I hung up, I glanced down at Maisie and ruffled her ears.
“What do you say, Miss Maisie? Ryder said I need to win over the girl. Want to help?” Maisie wagged her tail and scooched herself up so her paws were on my chest. When she gave a light lick to my face, I laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”