He shrugged. “Both, I guess.”
“I’m not going to force you, of course, but I’m here and I have some pretty good ears.”
Brock shook his head. “Life is tricky sometimes, you know?” He paused, not really knowing what he was going to say. “Did you have any complications when you and Sadie got together?”
“Isn’t that always complicated?”
“I don’t know. Is it?”
“It is. Always.” Derek paused, then asked, “Is it Kyra?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s what I thought–just wanted to confirm. I can see it. But don’t worry, I don’t think most people can see anything. I’ve been doing this a long time, and I know people, and I can see you two were pretty much made for each other. Sadie thinks so, too, and she’s spent some time with your girl, so she’d know.”
“She’s not my girl.”
“Isn’t she? One thing I knew with Sadie, and that most of us know when we meet the Littles who will be ours, is that sense of needing them to belong to us. We all feel it. I think you do too, am I right?”
“Yeah, I guess you are,” he admitted.
“And I guess you aren’t happy about it, for some reason. Is it because you’re her bodyguard?”
“Partly. But mostly it’s because of her manager, Richard, who was also her Daddy until he did her wrong and disappeared on her. Well, he still is her Daddy, officially, so she’s not exactly available. Officially, and maybe emotionally. She hasn’t even had time to process this whole thing.”
“Maybe not, but it seems to me you’re one of the constants in her life. She already knows you, she trusts you, and that goes a long way. If she’s going to be with anyone, given not only what she’s just been through, but her career, being in the public eye and all that, you’re maybe the only person she can be with.”
“I don’t know if she even sees me that way.”
“She does.”
He looked up at that. Derek had a big grin on his face.
“You seem pretty satisfied with yourself,” Brock said.
Derek’s grin spread. “Yes I am. And you know I’m right. Look, let’s get her through this show, then you two can have some time to figure things out. You’re welcome to stay a little longer if you like. We’ll keep the booking on that room open as long as we can. How does that sound?”
“Helpful. Thanks. And thanks for listening to all this. I’m not normally the type to confide in anyone. I’ve always been able to figure things out for myself, but I have to admit, this thing has me stumped.”
“Let’s see how it plays out. She has to talk to Richard, I imagine?”
“If we can find him.”
“Maybe he’ll show up for the concert?”
“Maybe. I have no idea. But honestly, I don’t think him showing up here right before her show will be good for her. She needs to be in a good space to perform. Which means anything she and I have to figure out is going to have to wait a while.”
“Hmm, good point. I’ll make sure we tell security and the front desk he’s not welcome here, and if he does show up, he’ll have the two of us to deal with. Meanwhile, you know where to find me if you need anything.”
“I do. Thanks, Derek.”
“No problem.” Derek gave him a pat on the shoulder and Brock headed back upstairs to order dinner for his girl.
Not mine.
Not yet. But maybe someday. Because he honestly couldn’t imagine being without her. Not ever.