13. Thirteen
Thirteen
DYLAN
Tuesday
“ Y es, I’ll have those floor plans resent to you, no problems Marie,” I was cradling the phone between the crook of my neck and shoulder, as I searched my handbag for my roomkey. “I’m back at the hotel now, give me five minutes.”
It was mid-afternoon and I’d been in conference all morning. I hadn't heard from Brax since the text exchange, but if he was anything like me, he’d be nursing a hangover of some sort too.
I also hadn’t heard from Zack. But I hadn’t checked in with him either.
Out of sight, out of mind.
That was a future Dylan problem. It wasn't lost on me just how easily I’d been able to push the thoughts of Zack out of my mind.
I was learning a lot about myself, and some of it wasn’t nice.
Hanging up, I was looking forward to having a quiet night in. I even considered opening my sketchbook because for the first time in a long time, I felt inspired.
Those plans were blown to bits when I opened the door to my suite. Slid under the door was an envelope on the floor with two words splashed across it: Wild Thing.
Smiling to myself, there was only one person this could be from. As I bent down to pick it up, my heart fluttered. I opened it to find a ticket to a concert, to see a band I’d loved since forever, and a note that said;
Sorry for the blindside yesterday.
Meet me in the lobby bar at 6pm.
Get fired up.
Excitement raced through my body.
What were the chances that one of our favorite bands has a gig here?
Throwing myself down onto the bed, envelope resting on my chest, I stared at the ceiling. My smile was wide and my body buzzed with a delicious mix of anticipation and excitement. I wished I could bottle up that feeling and drink it over and over again. I felt so… alive.
Was this a… date?
Reaching for my phone, I called Taylor. She answered after the first ring. "Hey."
“Got a sec?”
“Does this involve a certain ex?”
“Yes.”
“Then, yes.”
“He’s taking me to a concert tonight.”
“Okaaay,” Taylor drawled.
“Well, do you think this is a date?”
I was met with silence. Taylor normally wasn’t rendered speechless, so I pushed for an answer. “Taylor, are you having a stroke? Say something.”
“I’m not having a stroke, you idiot. I’m processing the clusterfuck that is your life right now.”
I sighed, continuing to stare at the ceiling. “It’s a giant shit show, I know."
A few seconds passed. Even though I was relishing in reconnecting with Brax, there were parts of me screaming for being such a snake.
"So, do you think I should go?" I asked Taylor.
“Well, are you thinking of blowing up your life for this man?”
Was I?
I might be messed up in the head, but I knew one thing for sure: My heart drops when I think of anyone else having Brax. “I think so.”
“Does he feel the same?”
“I get the vibe that he does.”
“Well, have you asked him?”
Don’t be silly, that would have been smart.
“No,” I admitted. “Not outright anyway. He’s said a few things though. He told me he wasn’t happy…” I recalled the time we’d spent together. There was zero chance he was faking it. The desire in his eyes was real, his pupils sometimes looked like real flames. The anticipation in the air whenever we were together was electric. It felt like a second chance.
“Yeah, of course he did,” Taylor deadpanned. “He wants to sleep with you Dylan.”
“Tay, I don’t think he is lying to me about being stuck in an unhappy relationship.”
“It’s probably the truth Dyl, but you’re walking a fucking fine line here. Be careful. I’m ride or die for you, but you make it hard, girl.”
“I know.”
“Listen, if you and Brax are the real deal, you gotta play this right. You need to make sure this isn’t just some lustful fling, and if it is just that, you need to be okay with walking away from him when the time comes,” Taylor said, taking a more matter-of-fact tone. “You both live in separate states, you have established careers in different towns... not to mention existing relationships. He chose himself over you once before. What’s to say he won’t do it again?”
Her voice softened, realizing how brutal that last sentence sounded. “The last thing I want for you is to be hurt by this man again.”
The realization hit me like a slug to my chest. I hadn’t considered what was going to happen once we had to go back to our real lives.
Could I walk away from him again?
I didn’t think that I could.
I needed to know for sure. Was this just a flirtatious fling, or was this something more?