Chapter 10
ten
. . .
Vicky
“Hey, hey, hey, amica. Stop apologizing. I’m so happy you woke me up early. Didn’t think I could wait a few more days to actually talk to you anyway,” Ren said, her sleep-induced husky voice assuring me my freakout needed to be addressed.
“Thanks so much, Ren. I couldn’t wait either,” I said as I crawled into bed and gathered the duvet around me.
I talked myself in and out of calling her the whole drive home, but my last few interactions with Miles prompted the emergency phone call.
I could hear her making coffee as my nerves settled down.
“Now. Spill. Every. Little. Detail,” she said, holding back a yawn. It was about 5 am her time, so I needed to get this all out before she’d have to get ready for work.
“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “So, I texted you about our first encounter. It was, well, weird and confusing.”
“You mean when he stared at you in his daughter’s room, then dropped pot lids and made a fool of himself?” she asked sarcastically.
I chuckled lightly. “Yup. I mean, at first I was like…what in the world was the problem, right? But every time I’ve seen him since, there’s this inexplicable spark between us.
” I let my fingers glide along the soft duvet I’d picked out, my thoughts running around my head as I remembered the encounters.
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me. You’re both gorgeous people. Might as well be gorgeous together.” I could almost see her perfectly groomed eyebrows waggling.
I pushed air from my lips and said, “That’s the thing. There’s no together, together. I mean, we’re kind of working together, but…he’s him and I’m me. Then there’s Enzo and Anna.”
“Wait, who’s Anna? Anna in your office?”
“Yeah,” I groaned. “She made it clear that clients are off limits. Especially rich ones like the Austins.”
“How’d she bring that up? Kind of random. Oh, wait, did you write ‘Vicky loves Miles’ on your sketchpad?” she snickered.
Rolling my eyes, I answered, “Not funny. But I guess she might’ve gotten a vibe.”
“Then tell me, girl. You’re killing me here,” she groused.
“Okay, okay. I went to his house to go over the sketches for MJ’s room.” I smiled just thinking about how awkward he was. “He got flustered, I guess, when I asked if I could take off my shoes and he said ‘take off whatever you want.’”
Ren gasped so hard, I hoped she wasn’t drinking coffee at the moment. “Are you kidding me right now?” She started laughing like a hyena, and I joined her, just reliving it through her eyes. “That’s priceless!”
“Oh, I forgot before that even happened, he grabbed my laptop bag and ended up pulling me against him. Then there was kombucha and dinner, and the text from Enzo that made me livid, and this sweet moment between us about him being a great dad,” I rambled, barely catching my breath.
“Yeah, then I told him how Enzo makes me feel like a kid, and he said he’d like my pigtails, and he touched my palm, and then he gave me his hoodie, and it smelled sooo good.
Then we painted together and I ate a s'more. And there were fireflies, Ren!”
“Vicky! You’re not making any sense,” she finally said, stopping my emotional tirade. “Take a breath and tell me the details. Slowly.”
For the next hour, I told her everything that had happened in detail, stopping only for her “aw” and “how sweet” mixed with chuckles, just like we were in elementary school being goofy about a guy I liked.
She promised to help me find ways to get back at Enzo for his ridiculous text, encouraging me not to tell him I knew so there would be an element of surprise.
“They’ve all been the best conversations of my life with a guy, you know?
There’s this deep connection that I’ve never experienced before and I don’t know what to do with it.
I honestly think he would’ve kissed me if I hadn’t mentioned Enzo.
I’ll never forgive myself for that one,” I said sardonically.
“We laughed and talked like we were old friends, but with this electric feeling that was undeniable.”
“Amica, that all sounds amazing. I just don’t see the problem, though. Kiss him if you want him to be your first kiss. I’m proud of you for opening up and sharing that with him. Shocked, but proud.”
I laid down on the bed, letting the soft pillow surround my head as I closed my eyes.
“Can’t believe I told him that, either. Then I messed up the moment by saying it was because Enzo’s my brother. Then there was that moment when he was carrying MJ to her room after the s’mores. I stopped him and kissed her on the head. It felt so…right. Like I belonged there. With them.”
“Uff, that’s a lot to experience in just two visits.” I could hear her moving around, most likely putting on makeup. I knew I’d have to let her go soon, and it was getting late for me.
“Yeah,” I answered softly, stretching my back, realizing how much work painting was.
“It’s so much in such a short time. I’ve been waiting to have this kind of feeling for so long, I mean, do you know how hard it is to watch everyone fall in and out of love in school and college while you’re the only one stuck just reading romance novels? ”
“Falling in and out of love isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.
It probably saved you from wasting time on the wrong people.
Don’t feel bad. I get how overwhelming these powerful feelings can be.
I’d be overwhelmed too. I’ve never experienced anything like what you’re describing, just awkward dates and boring dinners with a few good ones now and then. Just take your time.”
“What if I don’t have time, though? My visa is only for three months.
” I groaned again, turning on my side and bringing my phone with me as it stayed on speaker.
“I’m crazy to even think there’s a possibility with Enzo and Anna around.
Not sure why I’m even stressing about it.
Oh wait. What happened to your guy with the cute accent? ”
“It didn’t work out. Don’t worry about me. Look, Enzo will have to deal with it if something more happens, and Miles won’t always be a client. After this design job is over, you’ll be free to pursue something with him,” she said, her words letting hope bloom in my chest.
“That’s if he even wants anything like that. I still may be reading the room wrong.”
“Doesn’t sound like you’re reading anything wrong to me.” She waited a beat, then asked, “What’s really going on? Why the doubt after all you’ve told me?”
“I just can’t understand what he’d see in me.” I cut her off when I heard her start to speak. “I know, I know. Don’t talk about your best friend like that.”
“Got that right,” she snarled.
“It’s just. Yes, okay, yes, I know I struggle with my body image, but it’s more than that.
I’m a college graduate, a recent one. He’s an older CEO single dad, girl.
I mean, seriously. What could he possibly see in me?
He said his ex, Katy, left when MJ was about two, so he’s been alone for close to seven years.
Maybe he’s just lonely, and I’m easy to talk to. ”
Ren was probably getting dressed, I realized, when I heard a zipper close and heels on her tile floor.
“I’m choosing to ignore your poor assessment of yourself for now, amica, because you’ve never seen what I see in you.
But I will tentatively agree with you that he might just be looking for a friend.
But,” she answered, emphasizing her last word, “friends don’t gape at each other and practically pull them down helping with a bag, or hold your hand and rub your palm while sharing their thoughts.
Or gaze into your eyes, sparks flying all over the room.
The age difference, the life experience differences, none of that is news to you.
What is new, though, is how he’s been acting now that you’re getting to spend time alone together. ”
I regretted sharing all those details because I knew she’d use them against me, but with no experience with the opposite sex, I was desperate for her interpretation. And she was correct. Everything she said had happened. I may not know everything, but I knew that.
Miles Austin was attracted to me. There was no denying it, but I had no idea why and more importantly, what could come of it. Ren’s last words had, however, brought me some comfort.
“Gotta head out now, but let me just say this. Be open to what could come from this, Vicky. You have so much to give to anyone lucky enough to want more than friendship from you. I know you’re not ready for a serious relationship like marriage yet, but Miles could be the one.
And if he is, he will wait for you to be ready.
If not, he was never worth your time. Right now, pursue friendship.
Pursue your career. Go after the things you want right now for your life.
Everything else will fall into place. God will guide you every step of the way. ”
“Thanks, amica. You’re the best. Go. Get to work. We’ll talk again soon. Love you.”
“Love you more. And remember. You’re beautiful, inside and out.”
As I lay in the dark hours later, reflecting on Ren’s words, mainly her last ones, I prayed for guidance and help. Mostly, I prayed that my heart wouldn’t end up broken into a thousand pieces.
The next few days at work went by quickly.
Anna told me they received a call from someone in Miles’ office.
Apparently, one of his employees bought a small house in a neighborhood about twenty minutes from their office, and he had recommended me.
After meeting with the young couple, there was an excitement to help them achieve their plans.