“I don’t think so. I’m working with his sister and their friends. For all I know, he was told to stay with me to make sure no one else came in.”
“Ember Walker, open your fucking eyes! He’s texting you this morning, asking if you have plans this weekend. He’s interested.”
“Cruz, he’s so out of my league it’s ridiculous.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know what it means.” I can’t look at him and instead pick at my comforter.
“It won’t matter if I live to be the oldest person on the planet, I’ll never forgive Natalie for the shit she put you through. Even after five years, it still haunts you. You’ve been in Nashville for a while now and haven’t dated more than a dozen times. Are you ever going to move on?”
The mention of my sister causes tears to pool in my eyes.
“Em, sweetie, look at me.” Cruz’s soft voice causes more tears to fall.
“I’m totally okay with who I am, Cruz. I’m a quiet introvert with a lot of emotional baggage. My social skills are subpar. You don’t understand this crew. It’s an enormous group of friends and family, and the siblings have a bond similar to ours. They range from students, to soldiers, to rockers. Raven and Robbie Hayes’ whole group is an anomaly. It’s unbelievable how beautiful everyone is. The guys in the band look the part- piercings, tattoos, cocky yet charming. The other guys range from boy next door to clean-cut soldiers.
“And the girls, don’t get me started. But Robbie takes my breath away. His dark hair, the deep blue eyes, his build and physique— everything. I can hardly form a coherent sentence around him. Even the briefest of touches last night caused my skin to actually tingle. Tingle!”
“Can it be!?! Does my little wallflower have a crush on a hunky man? And I do mean man. Even from the grainy footage, it’s obvious he’s all man.” Cruz fans his face as he teases me.
“I guess that’s what it is, without knowing much about him. He did tell me about his time in the Marines, and we talked about his friends. I tried to keep the conversation on him, so he wouldn’t ask me too many questions.”
“Text him back now, or else I will.” He pulls my phone from his back pocket and shoves it at me.
My stomach flutters when I open the messages from this morning and read through them.
Robbie: I hope you don’t mind, but I put my information in your phone when you were in the back last night. I’d prefer it if you call me the next time someone stops in and asks too many questions.
Wow— not exactly heartwarming. The fluttering stops and is replaced with a knot.
Robbie: Shit, Ember, that sounded rough. What I meant is that Raven has a lot on her plate. I’d like to be available if you have to avoid or lie to anyone else. I’m around the corner and can get to you sooner. Do you mind telling the other associates as well?
“Cruz! Did you read these? They’re business related. He’s totally protecting his sister.”
“Read the last one, Little Star.” His eyes are warm as he uses my nickname.
I hesitantly open the third text and gasp.
Robbie: Ember, I obviously suck at this texting thing because I haven’t heard back from you. What are you doing this weekend? I enjoyed dinner last night and would like to see you again. Are you available?
“Yep, he’s not just being polite. It took the guy three messages to get it right, but that is a bona fide invite on a date,” Cruz says through a smile.
“Really? A date? Why didn’t he call? I’m not sure how I feel about being asked out through mobile technology.”
Cruz looks to the ceiling and runs his hands down his face. “Because he’s a guy, and as much as I hate to say it, we’re idiots sometimes.”
There’s something he’s not telling me, so I punch him in the gut to make him talk.
“Don’t do that. I can only assume he knows very little about you or our situation. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then he has no clue you aren’t like other girls. The fact that you used the term ‘mobile technology’ is proof that you’re out of touch. He doesn’t know your dating experiences are limited. He’s treading in shallow water and feeling you out. No offense, babe, but when you are as closed off as you appear to be, men have a hard time.”
“I don’t mean to be closed off. I’m damaged.”
“Fuck No! You are not damaged. Maybe you were, but you’ve pulled yourself from that shithole and made yourself into a beautiful woman. I’ll never sit idly on the sidelines and allow anything else to happen to you again. That’s why you’re going to call him, not text, and let him know you’re interested in getting together. Give it a chance, Little Star. Give something a chance.”