Chapter 9 #2
I glanced at the time, pissed I’d have to cut this short soon. I could spend hours talking to her, getting to know her better, and still feel like I wanted more.
“Afraid of what?”
She sighed. “It’s easy to keep someone at arm’s length when you’re not really invested in the relationship. But when you find someone who makes you want things you’ve never wanted before, it’s scary as hell.”
I’d always wanted it all. My sister was right about that.
Marriage. Babies. A house in the country.
The whole nine. Rylee was probably the worst candidate for a life of domestic bliss, given her career and lifestyle, but that didn’t mean I could shut down my fantasies.
Because this woman, with all her sad stories and messy and complicated life, was still flawless in my eyes.
“I get that.” My voice was low, intimate, when I said, “But I don’t want you to be afraid with me. I want to make you feel safe. Those dreams you’ve been harbouring since you were a little girl? I want to hear them… so I can make them come true.”
Her soft sigh made me smile. “That has to be the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me. How did I get so lucky, meeting you?”
“I’ve been asking myself that same question. How’d I get so lucky?”
I thought of her before I fell asleep last night, when I woke up this morning, and dozens of times in between, despite how busy my day had already been. To say I had a Rylee-obsession wouldn’t be overstating it.
“So, the distance and age thing isn’t bothering you as much any more?”
I laughed. “If it doesn’t bother you, I’m not gonna let it bother me.”
I didn’t care anymore if people thought she was too young for me. I knew how mature she was, how much she’d been through. She was definitely an old soul.
“How about all the shit-talk on social media? Are you gonna let that bother you?”
“Babe, I don’t have time to sit and scroll on my phone all day. I probably won’t even see ninety-five percent of what’s posted about us. And if I see something that pisses me off, I’ll write it off as trolls with nothing better to do than comment on the lives of people they don’t even know.”
She laughed. “I like your take on it. I’ll have to get better at that, ignoring trolls. I have a thick skin, but it still gets to me sometimes.”
“Have people been saying shit about us? Something that bothered you?”
She hesitated, but finally said, “The negativity is coming from your corner of the world, not mine. Just like I suspected. It’s obvious the residents of your county like and respect you a lot. Some seem to think you’re above dating someone like me.”
“What?” I sat forward, curling my hand into a fist on my desktop. “They’re crazy. You’re beautiful, talented, successful—”
“It’s okay, Cam. You don’t have to build me up just because some people tore me down.
I’m used to it. Like I said, I have a pretty thick skin.
I know not everyone is going to like my music.
And I’m fine with that. But when they start saying I’m not good enough for you, I guess that brings up some of my own insecurities. ”
She was killing me with this. If I had my way, I’d fire back at every rat bastard who had the nerve to imply she wasn’t worthy of me, but my career forced me to ignore comments like that.
“How can you say you’re not good enough for me? I—”
“Cam, you grew up a middle-class, All-American, small-town boy. Solid family, deep roots, played football. Hell, your sister told me you even went to college on a football scholarship. Your career has been beyond reproach, with a rapid rise through the ranks—”
“You’re making me sound perfect. Trust me, I’m not.”
“You may not be perfect. But when you compare your life to mine, I can see why people think of me as white trash, while they think of you as the salt-of-the-earth local hero.”
I closed my eyes, trying to find the words to tell her that her perception was so far from the truth, in my mind. But before I could, my executive assistant, Julie, knocked on the door and poked her head in to remind me I had a meeting in a few minutes.
“Sounds like you have to go,” Rylee said. “I’ll talk to you later.”
I hated letting her go while she was still thinking those negative comments about her and us had merit, but I couldn’t miss this meeting. “Can I call you tonight, when I get home from dinner?”
“Um, I have a thing for the record label tonight. It’s a launch party for a friend’s new release. Actually, Dean, my ex-boyfriend is in her band.”
Knowing she would be at a party with her ex-boyfriend tonight didn’t sit well, but they were in the same business and probably travelled in the same circles. So, I would have to get used to it.
“Okay, well I’ll probably get in before you then. So, why don’t you call me when you can?”
“I will.” There was a pause before she said, “Thanks for not giving me a hard time about Dean. If you were going to a party with Kelly tonight, I’d be pissed.”
I loved her honesty.
“Well, you’re not going to a party with your ex. You’re going to a party where he’ll be, big difference. And I trust that what we’re building doesn’t compare to what you had with him, so I’m not worried.”
I wouldn’t be human if I wasn’t a little worried, and given my history of being cheating on, I did have some trust issues. But Rylee wasn’t my ex and I wasn’t hers.
“I love how secure you are. It’s a refreshing change from all the insecure boys I’ve dated in the past.”
I’d always prided myself on being secure in relationships, but that hadn’t served me well with Kelly. I assumed she’d never cheat on me and she proved me wrong.
“Don’t give me reason to be insecure and we won’t have a problem.”
“I’ll try not to.” I could hear the smile in her voice when she said, “I don’t want to let you go. But I know I have to. I’ll talk to you tonight.”
“Can’t wait.” It was true. I was looking forward to hitting the sheets tonight and hearing all about the rest of her day and evening. “Miss you, baby.”
“I miss you too. I’m so excited about seeing you this weekend!”
I grinned as I stood, reaching for my laptop and a Moleskine notebook to take into the meeting. “Me too, sexy. Gotta go.” I looked forward to the day when I could tell her I loved her before hanging up… because I was pretty sure I did.