“What about my job?”
Dylan stands with her hands on her hips. “You work non-stop from February until October. You travel across
the country. Are you going to give it up for her?”
I look at Dylan with confusion. “No, why would I?”
“Because she’ll want you to go on tour with her, that’s why. Because she’ll want you to be her arm candy at all her awards shows and whatever.” Dylan sits down on the couch and sighs. I know she means well, but this is a bit over the top. Hadley and I discussed our schedules and she’s not going out on tour anytime soon. Besides, her schedule is more flexible.
“Look, I know you’re protecting me, but this is right. It feels right, Dylan. If I don’t do this, I’ll regret it.”
“You’re making a mistake. She’s going to hurt you again. You may believe her sad-ass excuses, but I don’t.”
“You don’t have to.”
“No, I just have to pick up the pieces again when she rips your heart to shreds.”
“I don’t feel that, in here.” I put my hand over my heart and plead with Dylan to trust me.
She shakes her head, wiping her traitor tears away. She stands and grabs her purse. “I can’t watch you do this. Not with her. Anyone but her, Ryan.”
“It doesn’t work that way and you know it.”
“I don’t know it, Ry. What I know is that when you were seventeen you were so lost in her that you couldn’t see clearly. You haven’t had a healthy relationship since her.”
“Our relationship was good.”
Dylan scoffs. “No it wasn’t. I took advantage of you and you know it. You just don’t want to admit it. We were always better off as friends.”
I walk over to her and pull her into my arms. “I love you, D. I always have, but she’s the one. I feel alive when I’m with her. Every fiber of my being is on fire when she’s near. I know you don’t want me to get hurt, but I don’t feel like that is going to happen.”
“And when it does?”
“Then label me a fool because that’s what I’ll be.”
Dylan wraps her arms around my waist and holds herself to me. I don’t want this to be goodbye, but I’m hoping after today things will change for Hadley and me.
“I love you, Ry. I hope you’re enough for her. I’ll be here if you’re not.”
Dylan lets go and walks out of the door. I look around our apartment, an upgrade from the one we lived in while I was in college. As soon as I was hired by the Yankees we moved here. It’s a bit classier and definitely in a much nicer part of town. Dylan’s in her final year of school and I know she doesn’t need the stress, but this is something I have to do for me.
I pick up my keys and head out to Hadley’s. We’re supposed to meet up with her manager tonight, but I have other plans. I stop at the corner florist and pick up a couple dozen lilies and roses and carry them the ten blocks to her apartment.
I think that the worst discovery was that we only lived ten blocks from each other. I’ve jogged down her street many times and never once knew she was there. I climb the steps and meet the doorman. For the most part, her building is fairly secure. For the first few weeks, I had to show my ID to the doorman and the desk clerk before they’d even call her and let her know I was down there. Now they know me by name.
I ring her doorbell and wait. My nerves are starting to get the best of me. She doesn’t know I’m coming. This is a surprise. When the door swings open I’m greeted with the most breathtaking smile I could ever hope for.
I kiss her, pulling her to me, smashing the flowers in between us. I know I’m making the right decision.
“What are you doing here?”
“I had to see you.”
I shut the door behind me and lock it, handing her the flowers in the process. She brings them to her nose and takes a deep breath. Her eyes close as she inhales the fragrance. I could watch her all day and I’d learn so much about her.
She follows me into the living room and sits next to me. I kiss her again and again, thanking my lucky stars that I have her back in my life.
I clear my throat and pull her hand into mine.