Chapter 16
Savannah
"What are you looking at?" Gabe asked, coming to sit next to me.
We were in the main shared living room at the villa.
We were staying with other people in a large vineyard estate with twenty bedrooms. We all had our own quarters, but I had been sitting in one of the living rooms to send an email to EJ since that was one of the few places where there was wifi.
I closed my laptop when Gabe came to sit on the couch next to me. "I was just, uh, sending an email," I said, saying the truth even though I didn't want to answer to him.
"To the Australian guy?" he asked, referring to the things I had told him on the flight over here.
"No, EJ's from Chicago."
Gabe laughed. "I was just joking around. You told me the story. And I knew the guy wasn't really Australian, I was referring to the game story. He's Eddie Decker's kid. I already looked him up."
"He's a good guy," I said.
"Is he trying to be more than your friend?"
I had not expected the blunt question, and I pulled back in surprise as I looked at him. "No, he's not," I said, lying to his face. I hated doing that, but it was an awkward question, and I couldn’t bring myself to answer him honestly.
He grinned and shook his head a little. He didn't laugh, but he made a snickering sound that caused me to glance at him.
"If a man's doing all the things you told me this guy's doing…
if someone's making out-of-state trips and going along with silly names and stuff like that, he's not just trying to be your friend, Savannah.
He wants something from you other than friendship. "
"He is my friend. He doesn't want anything from me."
He shrugged. "Listen, sweetie, even if he's acting like he doesn't, he wants something from you. No man does all that because he wants to be friends."
"What about you? Do you want something from me, Gabe?"
"No, I don't. Other than to help you. But I'm also a man, and I know a lot of other men.
There aren't many like me. I love you like a daughter, Savannah, and that's all.
God put you in my life at a time when I was losing my dad, and I didn't have any kids of my own.
You needed someone to help you get free of a control freak.
I like you, and I wanted to help you, and that's all.
But that's not what most men would do. Nine out of ten men, Savannah, are going to be just like Christian.
And honestly, when it comes down to it, it's a compliment to you.
It's because you're so amazing that men want to control you. "
"Gabe, stop."
"No, I'm being serious. There's something to it, and you should be aware of it.
I looked into it, Savannah, and this guy's a big-time player in Chicago.
Look at who his dad is and realize that he must have been raised with that frat boy mentality.
That's the last thing you need to mix with your past. And look, sweetie, I can see by your face that you don't agree with what I'm saying, but it's the truth.
You have a dynamic about you, Savannah. It's something that draws people to you, like magnetism.
You're beautiful, and you're sweet, and you've got this positivity that sort of radiates off you.
It's the reason why you can run a successful salon, it's why your employees and clients love you.
It's also why men want to have you to themselves and control you.
I help you and support you, and you have your independence.
But when you start giving more and more of yourself to a man, he'll start having more and more demands of you.
I just want you to look at it that way and see that from the outside.
The way I see it, you have to be really careful with your magnetism and tendency to attract controlling men.
That's what happened before, and now you're finally doing so well.
I just hate to see you start getting attracted to a pushy, brute-athlete type.
Even if you are going to try to date someone and settle down, it seems like one of the worst options. "
"Well, thank you for being concerned," I said, smiling at him. "But we're friends. He lives in Chicago."
"That's another thing. Your home and salon are in Pittsburgh."
"Yeah, I'm not asking to…" I trailed off because I didn't know what we were even saying. I just knew it was awkward. "Yeah, I know EJ lives in Chicago and everything. I have no plans to go there or even pursue the relationship. We're friends. I just had something to tell him."
I felt sick to my stomach. I did not want to deceive Gabe, but I also felt like I had to reassure him of that or risk having him bug me about it.
"Ultimately, it's your life, baby girl. You can make your own decisions. I just wanted to warn you of what I could see from the—uh, good Biblical counsel is wisdom, Van. It's wise of you to take a step back and realize that you've worked so hard for independence."
"Yeah," I said, agreeing with him and seeming happy even though I was annoyed. "Thanks, Gabe."
"Wha...oh, you're cutting me off?"
"No, of course not. I’m actually saying thank you. Thank you for caring enough to be worried about me, that I might get into another bad situation like before."
"Yes, that's all I was worried about."
"I know. And I get what you're saying. My independence is important to me."
He laughed. "Yeah, I don't know many people with crushed up tile stored in bins wall-to-wall in their dining room."
I laughed and agreed with him that what I really needed was my independence.
The irony was that the whole conversation with him didn't make me feel very independent at all.
***
I had scheduled a call with Bree the following day. It was the afternoon in Italy and the morning in Pittsburgh. We were using an app so we could talk for free, and I could check in and see how the salon was doing in my absence.
"Hey, how's it going?" I asked when she answered.
"It's good. It seems quiet in here with your chair empty, but we're busy otherwise, so it's good. Business as usual, other than missing you. How's Genoa?"
"Beautiful. Wonderful. I’m awe-inspired."
"Speaking of awe-inspiring, EJ Paul, whatever his name is, EJ left a message for you."
"When?" I said, making a face that she couldn't see.
"This morning before I got here."
This morning? I made another grimace, wondering why he hadn't just emailed me back. I had sent him an email saying that I missed him and wanted to see him again, even if it meant me going to Chicago. I was happy that he had called, but I had been hoping for a response to my email.
"What did the message say?" I asked.
"He was asking if I could put him down on your schedule on the Friday when you come back."
"Yes," I said, causing her to let out a little uncontrollable laugh.
"Well, that's the problem. You're booked for twelve full hours that day. Eight to eight with no breaks."
"Just put him after my last one," I said. "I'll stay late that night."
"Okayyy. I can put him at eight, but you really have no breaks that day. I'm looking at your schedule now."
"Surely, I'll have a few people under the dryer. I'll be able to eat. And cutting EJ's hair's not really work. Is that the only thing?"
"No, I wanted to talk to you about a corrective color for Lindsay Woodard on Thursday. You have two hours booked, and she called back saying she wanted highlights with the all-over color."
"Two hours is still fine," I said. "I'll work with her once she gets there. Someone might be able to shampoo and finish her for me. I know everyone's willing to help me catch up from this week."
"Also, the water heater went out in Nico's apartment."
I cringed. Nico was my tenant under contract, even though Gabe technically owned the building.
"Really? When?"
"This morning. Or last night. He was waiting at the door when I unlocked it this morning."
"Sorry, Bree."
"No biggie. I went ahead and called your regular plumber. I hope that's okay."
"Yes. Thank you."
"Nico asked if he could have an extra key to your apartment to use your shower while he was waiting for his to get fixed."
"What did you say to him?"
"I told him you'd have it working in no time and that it was a common thing to happen. The plumber is coming later today."
"Thank you so much, Bree. Just pay for it with the store credit card."
"I figured," she said.
"Remind me to buy you lunch when we get back."
"You buy me lunch too much already, but thank you. It's no biggie to call a plumber. I hope you're having fun in Italy. Tomorrow's your birthday. What are you going to do?"
"I think we have plans to go on a boat."
"Oh, how fun!"
"I know. It's like another world over here. I'll tell you all about it when I get back."
"So, just confirming you do want EJ on the schedule next Friday? It feels weird giving you over twelve hours. That's a lot of time on your feet."
"It's fine. I've done that long before."
"Okay, well, I'll call him back."
"Thanks, Bree."
"No problem. Happy Birthday and enjoy your trip!"
I was downstairs in the shared living area when I talked to Bree, and this time, Gabe wasn't around to quiz me about who I was talking to. I stayed on my computer for a little while. It was long enough that I got an email from EJ.
I was so excited that my eyes stung like I might cry as I opened it.
Savannah,
I just heard from Bree, and I'll see you next Friday. We don't have to cut my hair if you don't feel like it. I think you should definitely plan on coming to Chicago for our little triathlon. I want you to come anytime you can. I think about you more than I should, and I'm excited to see you again.
Until Friday, EJ
I wrote him back in spite of his salutation inferring that it would be Friday when I next spoke to him.
He wrote me back after that.
During the remaining time of my Italy trip, EJ and I would write each other several more emails.
I didn't call him from Italy, but there was an email waiting for me about twice a day—just about every time I took my laptop downstairs.
His email was my best birthday present. I was in picturesque Italy, and my favorite part of each day was sitting on a couch in a shared living room to check my email and write EJ back.