Chapter 55
Chapter Fifty-Five
Darcy
A fter the holidays had passed and I’d still heard nothing from Sebastian, I knew it was finally time to let go and move forward with my life. Was it bullshit that it all fell apart because both of us were unwilling to make an effort to reach out to the other so we might figure out what the fuck happened between us? Absolutely. And if I were any other person hearing about what was going on between Sebastian and me—or rather what was not going on between Sebastian and me—I’d think I was a weak idiot for hiding away like this, too.
Regardless, I wasn’t going to beat myself up about this anymore. The constant waking up and checking my phone, followed by trying not to think about him all day for the past four months, was enough to send my ass to the crazy farm.
I rationalized my reluctance to reach out to Sebastian like this: he and I discussed things when I left for Los Angeles. He knew why I was going and wasn’t in the dark. When he decided to leave, the only thing he did was dial my number. He didn’t leave a message, send a text, a telegram, or even a goddamn raven to let me know he was going away. He must’ve seen that I attempted to call him back, and he still didn’t bother to make another move. He just left without a word, leaving my mother to tell me he’d gone. That level of disregard and disrespect was too big a pill to swallow, and it stopped me from being the one to initiate contact because, ultimately, why should I chase after someone, begging them to want me?
I’d love to say I’m confident enough to accept rejection, but I’m not. I don’t think anyone is. However, because my feelings came from out of nowhere, and they were stronger than I’d ever experienced, I’d gained a new fear and insecurity that I didn’t like.
I also didn’t like that I was obsessing over the man either. It wasn’t good for my mental health, and I needed just to knock this shit off. I’d allowed the holidays to come and go, and I got nothing from the man. If that wasn’t reason enough to believe he was done with our fling, I didn’t know what was.
Everyone’s opinions about how I was handling things died down after the holidays. I believe it was because they all came to the same conclusion as me: Sebastian had no intention of furthering our relationship, and he was most likely chumming it up with his kind again.
“I never thought you’d call,” I heard Titus say, answering the phone on the first ring.
“Well, I never planned on calling,” I smirked, “but here we are.”
“Here we are indeed,” he chuckled. “What’s happening, Darcy? Are you finally going to let me take you out on that date? You certainly know how to keep a man waiting.”
“I planned on fine-tuning some details with you before I publish my last article for Lifestyles ,” I said.
“You quit?”
“I’m going nowhere with that job. All it does is keep me involved with people like you; quite frankly, it’s too much sometimes.”
“Well, well, aren’t you a rude little firecracker?”
“I’m not rude; I’m just being honest. I’m over it. I don’t care to know what any of you people do in your downtime, whether you’re buying the newest Bugatti off the line or having a multimillion-dollar super yacht named after your wives…none of it. I’m exhausted and bored of all the frivolous posturing.”
“So, I guess I’m out for men you’ll want to marry because I intended to name my super yacht after you,” he teased.
“Are you up for tacos on the beach?”
“If that puts a smile on your face and helps you to stomach being around people like me ,” he softly laughed, “then sure. I’d gladly join you for tacos on the beach.”
“ By the beach,” I said with a smile. “ On the beach could lead to other things, especially when a sunset may be involved.”
“Do you always think twenty-nine steps ahead of a man trying to charm you?”
“I do, and I have to,” I said in a challenging tone. “There’s no way in hell I will have another Sebastian Aster situation on my hands. I can’t trust you rich guys for nothing. You go after whatever you want at any cost, apparently.”
“Well, have no fear. I merely plan to make sweet love to you, forcing all memories of Sebastian from your mind to help you heal and move on. I’m a very generous spirit in that way, you know?”
I rolled my eyes at his flirty gesture. I’d seen Titus on another occasion after meeting him the first night. He and his brothers were wildly gorgeous, and they took that charisma and charm and waltzed into Southern California, instantly making a name for themselves with the ladies.
Everyone seemed enamored by them, and I couldn’t blame any of them for it. Titus seemed to have the most significant following of single women, and it was no wonder, given the shameless moves he was pulling on me right now. I liked the guys, though. They were fun, even if they were a little flirty and scandalous. They could be taken down a notch or two, but that wasn’t any of my concern. I didn’t care for them romantically, which made me safe. Anyone who caught feelings for any of them should’ve been scared, though, because I couldn’t see anyone taming these boys.
“How about four this afternoon around the Santa Monica pier?” Titus asked.
“That place is busier than hell,” I answered. “I was thinking more along the lines of where Jim and Avery live in Malibu. About two miles north of their place is a more secluded beach that’s not so busy.”
“Are you embarrassed to be seen in public with me, Miss Burke?” he said, his voice filled with some humor and some concern.
“In a way, yeah,” I said. “I don’t need the person who’s going to take over my column to write about how I’m some gold-digger who jumps into relationships with every top eligible bachelor.”
“Isn’t that what this is, though? I mean, not the gold-digger part, but the relationship part?”
“If you believe I am doing this for a relationship, then we can just do this interview over the phone. I’m not interested in anything else. Sebastian has proved that trusting a man of your status is a foolish idea. Besides, you’d grow bored of me as quickly as your last girlfriend. I’m not doing that.”
“You tempt me, you know that?”
“Do you want tacos or not?”
“Santa Monica pier. That way, there is a large crowd of people, and things won’t get out of hand ,” he teased. “Your romantic, private little beach might bring out the softer side of me, and trust me, you won’t be able to resist it.”
“Right,” I said. “Okay, fine. I’ll meet you at the pier.”
“I’ll bring the food.”
After that, we hung up, and I returned to my boxes to finish packing the small apartment I’d leased for a short time. I was happy to get this chapter of my life out of the way and start on my newest adventure. Mexico had been calling my name for months, so I decided to take a leap of faith and go.
A small travel company had hired me to bring their patrons on diving excursions, and I couldn’t wait to embark on the adventure. I was damn good at selling billionaires on eating grasshoppers, so why wouldn’t I be just as good at convincing people to go scuba diving on the shores of Mexico? Truthfully, I could’ve been hired to sell fruit from a street cart and still be raring to go. I needed this break and reset in my life, and I was happy to embrace all of it. The rent was cheap, the food was unbeatable, and most of all, the culture and way of life were what I needed to restore my soul.
Saying goodbye to my parents and Antonio and his family would be challenging, but they were so busy and happy with the revamped winery that they wouldn’t have much time to sit around and count the days until I returned. Since I planned to visit often, I knew they’d be happy for me to rediscover my happiness.
“So,” Titus said, sitting beside me on a bench, “I hear you are leaving the country.”
“My God, rumors travel fast,” I said.
“Well, I’ve spent a lot of time with Jim and his brother, and Jim’s wife seems pretty sad that you’re leaving?”
I looked at him, thankful this was a sincere, friendly conversation instead of a flirty one.
“I guess she would be. I mean, I finally moved down here, and we started spending a lot of time together. Now I’m suddenly moving away again,” I said, taking a bite of a carnitas street taco and watching the beach volleyball game being played by a group of shirtless men in the sand in front of us.
“Sad as she may be, you must do what’s best for you,” he said kindly.
“That’s how I’ve managed this whole decision. I’ve got to get out of this rut I’ve been stuck in.” I looked at him and grinned, “Writing about people living their lives to the fullest and working hard to achieve their dreams has inspired me to do the same.”
“Oh?” he said, swallowing a bite of food. “Am I to assume you’re embarking on a business adventure?”
“In a way, yes,” I chuckled, “but not any business adventure I would write about like I do with you billionaires.”
“So, I shouldn’t be expecting that my new hotel chain in Mexico will have competition from you?”
“Not yet,” I returned.
“May I ask what you’re going to do?”
“I’m working for a travel agency, doing their diving excursions. I’m considering holding surf workshops of my own for tourists visiting the Puerto Vallarta area. Between cruise ships coming in and beachgoers from around the world, I’m pretty sure I would do well.”
“Why not try a more popular area with a lower living cost? Maybe somewhere like San Blas?”
“San Blas would be perfect if I wanted to teach small-town locals how to surf. I need tourism, buddy,” I smiled at him, really enjoying this authentic side of the man.
“Sayulita?”
“No,” I snapped. “I won’t be visiting that place again for quite a while.”
“Ah, I see,” he said. “Perhaps that is where Sebastian and you spent time together?”
“Yes, but I’m not talking about that or him. That destination is off the menu for a while.”
“A shame. I’m developing there due to his recommendation. He was drunk when he told me about it, but after Jim and I researched the possibilities, I saw that it would be an excellent place to start our new project. We’ve chosen to create hotels that cater to those with hesitations about visiting Mexico, offering all the luxury amenities of our exclusive properties at a lower cost.”
“Jim has that effect on people, you know?” I said, smiling at him. “Ensuring that the wealthy use their money to help us less fortunate live a life just as luxurious, but at half the cost.”
“I like his style and manner of thinking; it’s why I chose to venture down this path with him. I’ve only catered to the famous and wealthy, and I now want to cater to those who make them wealthy and famous.”
“And it's about time someone gives us little guys some credit,” I chuckled.
“You’re a smart woman, Darcy. I see what he found in you,” Titus stood and reached for my hand. “Join me for a walk on the beach, and I’ll gladly share some details I would tell no other so your final piece of work for that publisher stands out above all others. It should definitely outshine the article you wrote about the man who broke your heart,” he winked. “If you’re comfortable with it, of course?”
“Look at you, being a gentleman,” I teased. “Sure, I’ll walk with you. A walk on the beach sounds nice.”
“Okay, honey,” my mom said. “You promise to visit me and Dad every once in a blue moon?”
“I promise,” I smiled.
“And still nothing from Sebastian?”
“Mom…”
“Hey, I’m not one to be okay with how childishly you two have behaved. You both should be ashamed of yourselves for thinking this is okay.”
“You’re supposed to be on my side, Mom,” I looked at her in frustration. “After the way he skipped out, you’d think I wouldn’t need to state my case all the time. Trust me, no one thinks this is okay.”
“You left, too, my darling,” Mom said with an eyebrow arch.
“She should not be chasing after a man, Tina,” Ines said, making dough for tortillas. “I don’t care what anyone says.”
“She is not chasing the man, Ines,” my mom countered. “She needs closure and answers.”
“Even a call or text over the holidays would’ve given me something,” I said, thankful that Ines had taken a zero-tolerance policy on Sebastian, something I wished more people would do, not just me.
“Absolutely rude,” Ines said.
“Yes, that was awful of him, but what if he thinks the same thing about Darcy?”
“Darcy is an independent woman,” Ines said, arching an eyebrow at my mom. “She is not required to chase after a man for answers to his confusing behavior and, more importantly, his rudeness and disrespect for leaving without an explanation. The man is in business, no?” she questioned, looking at me.
“Yes. Last he told me, his family would be lost if he didn’t take over for them.”
“This is why I say you are not to chase after him. Business deals do not chase the businessman. He chases them. He does everything in his power to work hard to secure that deal. This is the same for relationships. If a strong businessman like Se?or Aster were to walk away from all his business ventures, he would be poor. If he were afraid to find out and afraid to question why a business deal was falling through, he would lose it. Same as your daughter. He has not invested any energy into discovering why this has fallen apart. He shows no interest or care; therefore, it falls through, and the deal is lost.”
I chuckled and sipped my freshly made margarita. “Ines knows a thing or two,” I looked at Mom and shrugged.
“I just don’t see it that way,” my mom answered. “I know that boy loves my daughter. I think his trauma got in the way.”
“A fearful lover is a dangerous person to be in possession of your heart,” she said, flattening the dough and looking at me. “If the boy is too afraid to pick up the phone and check on you, you don’t want him. This is not a difficult decision.”
“Dear God, Ines,” Mom said in frustration. “Don’t you think you’re being a little too hard on Sebastian?”
“I think you’re being a little too soft,” she eyed my mother with the determination of all her matriarchal ancestors. “If this man deserves your daughter, he will work for her, just like he works for his money.”
“And that’s what I know to be true,” I said, raising my glass to Ines.
She smirked. “And you listen to me, Se?orita,” she said, focusing her ancient wisdom onto me now. “You will use this time to move forward with your life. No man is worth the sabotage you bring yourself with this hurt and pain. I know it is not easy because I have gone through it myself. There was a time when someone had to smack Antonio upside the head, and because of that, I have three beautiful children now and a blessed place to call home. However, I never once lowered my expectations of what I deserved while he was off being an idiot,” she looked at me with reproach. “You need to take care of yourself, and all the good things you want in life will come to you.”
“Finally,” my mom said with some exasperation in her voice, “we can agree on something tonight, Ines.”
“You’re merely too soft, Martina,” she teased my mom. “You must never advise your daughter to chase a man who shows no interest. The way that Sebastian has grown silent in all this makes him hardly a man at all. He’s a bebé, and that’s putting it nicely.”
I may have been brokenhearted that Sebastian and I ended the way we did, but I was starting to be grateful for everything I had gained and lost because of the man. Until I found myself in a relationship with him, I hadn’t seen that I was going nowhere in life. When I think about it, I was thrilled to write an article about Sebastian Aster, as if it was the pinnacle of success and the best thing I could achieve. It took our breakup for me to look at the work I did, writing gossip and nonsense about other people’s lives and accomplishments, and realize I wasn’t living a life of my own.
Fortunately, by picking myself up and off the floor in all this mess, I learned that I’d been as stuck as Sebastian was in his grief. It took heartbreak to get my blood flowing again and for me to make a plan for my future. For that, I would always be thankful to Sebastian.