11. Dylan
11
DYLAN
A t the sight of Parker walking into the office, Blake’s face breaks out into the largest smile I’ve seen since coming in myself. The man is practically glowing. It doesn’t take much for me to realize that this was his plan all along. He never had any intention of meeting with just me, and all of the compliments were just to soften the blow.
“I did. Please, have a seat.” Blake motions to the empty seat next to me.
Parker does as he’s told and sits inches away from me, giving me a subtle head nod. From the looks of it, he had no idea that I would be here, either. At least I can’t fault him for this.
“I was just telling Dylan that I chose to have Miss Kensington removed from the account because I want you two to work side-by-side on this account.”
Surprise flashes in Parker’s eyes, but he doesn’t let his professional facade crumble. I’m guessing he wasn’t in on that decision either. Within seconds, his gaze is stony with anger directed right at Blake. It’s not a look I’d want to be on the receiving end of .
“Is that so?” His steady yet hoarse voice sends a thrill through my veins. If I weren’t so vexed right now, I’d be able to appreciate just how attractive he sounds.
“Yes. While I think Miss Kensington is extremely talented, you’ll benefit from working closely with someone you’re familiar with. If all goes well, this account could put your name on the map on this side of the country. Because you represent Blue Bird, I want to do whatever I can to ensure this is successful.”
I can feel the heat emanating off of the figure to my right. He’s fuming, and I do my best to bottle the sting of the rejection. Yes, I did tell him to back off, but to have such an extreme reaction about working one-on-one together feels a tad hurtful.
Blake glances down at his watch and pushes out of his chair, ending the discussion before it can even begin. “While I would love to stay and discuss this further, I have another meeting on the other side of town I need to head to. Dylan, it was lovely seeing you again. I hope you understand where I’m coming from. I want the best for both of our businesses. It’s not my intention to make anyone uncomfortable. I know you two will make a great team.”
I’m left sitting there dumbstruck. It’s not like I can argue with him on this. The decision has already been made, and I want to keep the last shred of my dignity intact. Parker already appears upset enough for the both of us anyway.
“Oh, and last thing.” Blake grabs the briefcase he just packed up on the way out. “Dylan, I went ahead and spoke to Katherine earlier. I let her know that you would be coming down here for a meeting with me, and we both decided it would be best to start brainstorming as soon as possible. I blocked out one of our conferences for the rest of the afternoon. You’ve already been given the green light to stay and work. I look forward to seeing what the two of you come up with!”
And just like that, he’s gone.
The room is vibrating with energy, like a thunderstorm ready to break. Parker’s head is bowed, and he refuses to meet my eyes. I think it may just be the most unpleasant scenario I’ve ever been in before–and I’ve walked in on my parents on multiple occasions. I’m the queen of triple-checking that doors are locked when I have someone over now.
I shift my body to face him, knowing that I’m going to have to be the one to break the unpleasant silence. “I’m guessing you didn’t know about this prior to this meeting?”
He lowers his thick, black lashes before swiveling toward me. “I did not. When I came in this morning, I saw that I had a last-minute meeting thrown on my calendar, but I wasn’t expecting all of that.” He signals to the void that Blake just left. He blows out a large, weary exhale and scrubs a hand down his face. “I’m so sorry, Dylan. Had I known we would get ambushed like this, I would’ve warned you. Blake has a tendency to do whatever he pleases without thinking about how it affects others.”
The corner of my lips quiver in amusement. “That’s quite a strong opinion about your new boss.”
“He’s not my boss. He’s my best friend.”
“Your best friend?” I ponder.
“We met in California shortly after my move out west. We worked together at our last publishing company and he transferred to Blue Bird about a year ago. He’s the one who got me this job.”
And just like that, the dots begin to connect in my head.
“This all makes a lot more sense. But wait, why was he ogling me at our initial meeting if you two are so close? Does he not believe in “bro code” or whatever?” I curl my fingers in mock quotations because I’m getting the sense that Blake doesn’t abide by these unspoken man rules.
A muscle in Parker’s jaw flicks sharply. “He what? ”
“I caught him outright staring at my boobs before he even muttered a single hello. Real charmer of a friend you got there.”
He sucks in a breath through his front teeth, his brows furrowing. I initially think he’s contemplating how to strangle his best friend when he gets the chance until he says, “To be fair, they did look great in that dress.”
My jaw falls open in shock, and I slap him gently across the arm. He throws his head back in laughter and places his hand over the spot I just hit, feigning pain.
I feel my cheeks go hot at the sound of his laugh, and a pool of desire begins to grow in my core. The audacity that my body has for enjoying that comment.
I could listen to him laugh for hours. It used to be the soundtrack of my life, the thing that would brighten even my worst days. It’s like the sound of birds chirping on a warm spring day when the sun is shining, and there’s a slight breeze that kisses your skin. It was the house that I built for myself, the place I felt the safest. Even after all these years, hearing it makes me feel like I’m coming home again.
I clear my throat, hoping to rid myself of the squares of memories that have come together to create a quilt in my mind. Parker notices the shift in my demeanor, and we fall into another torturous momentary silence.
“I’m kidding. Kind of.” One look into his devilish eyes tells me he’s not joking, and I cross my legs, hoping to keep my libido down to a minimum. Now’s not the time or place. “Look, I know Blake rubs people the wrong way, and I will absolutely be talking to him about gawking at you, but he really is a good guy. He’s been with me through a lot. And to be fair, he didn’t know that you were my ex when he decided to eye fuck you.”
“He didn’t know about me?” I choke out.
In a flash, the room’s warmth is drained and replaced with a bone-chilling iciness. I wrap my arms around myself protectively. He’s kept me, us, and our history a secret all these years, as if I was just another girl he dated. Not the one he went ring shopping with.
“He knew how messed up I was over a breakup. I just never told him the details. I never thought I was going to see you again. It just felt easier to keep some things to myself…” His voice tapers off as he loses confidence.
For the first time since we ended things, I can see a glimmer of pain in his eyes. I can hear it in the way his voice breaks as he speaks about it. The only other time I’ve seen him show an inkling of emotion was the day we went our separate ways. Unfortunately, I remember it like it was yesterday.
I’ve tried to scrub it from my memory for years, but there’s something about that kind of heartbreak that lingers with you for the rest of your life. No matter how many people you meet, sleep with, or try to forget with, it sits buried deep in your soul.
When he came over that October afternoon, I immediately knew something was wrong. He was aloof and wouldn’t look me in the eye. We were supposed to go apple picking that day. I dressed up in a new sweater I had just bought, in a shade of teal that he had once said was his favorite color on me. I had picked it out just for him.
We made plans to move in together earlier that year, but Dad passing away from lung cancer the previous year put all of my plans on pause.
Mom didn’t take it well and began using alcohol to cope with her grief. She went from one of the happiest, most vivacious people I’ve ever met to escaping reality at the bottom of a bottle. So I stayed home to take care of her. While she eventually did make a full recovery after some time in rehab, the journey to get there was a long one. I felt like I was drowning, and there was no life preserver in sight.
To make matters worse, Parker got a job in California. He applied on a whim, said he had no chance of getting it. We had both wanted to get out of town, so I couldn’t fault him for trying. I think we both knew deep down that getting the job was a very real possibility. He was smart, driven, and had an impressive resume with internships and a nearly perfect grade-point average. They would’ve been foolish to turn him away–which is why it was no surprise to me when he broke the news that they had extended him an offer.
He had every intention of turning it down to stay with me, but I knew I couldn’t ask him to sacrifice his dreams. Despite living across the country from one another, we made it our goal to see each other as much as possible. In the beginning, we saw each other once a month. As time progressed, our visits became few and far between.
I knew the distance was making things tense for us. Stolen kisses turned into clipped conversations over the phone. Laughing until our stomachs hurt, up until 3 a.m., turned into unanswered texts. We were always quick to apologize and work through our fights, but it tested our relationship unlike anything we had gone through together up until that point. I thought it was just a hurdle, one that we were strong enough to get through if we just practiced a little patience.
That is until we stood on my front porch, and he told me he couldn’t do it anymore. That moment has echoed through my thoughts like a horror movie countless times throughout the years—the way he avoided my gaze the entire time he spoke, how stoic he was as he broke the news that his schedule was only getting busier and that it wasn’t fair to me to keep things going . It was cowardly. But more importantly, it was one of the worst days of my life.
I cast the unhappy thoughts aside, trying to focus on the man sitting in front of me with puppy-dog eyes. I nod my head in understanding.
Sometimes, it’s easier just to tuck away your innermost hurt and hide it from the world–even those who know you best. After his rented Toyota Corolla pulled away from my house that day, I didn’t leave my bedroom for weeks. I couldn’t bring myself to say the words out loud. We weren’t strong enough to make it.
I divert the conversation. “Well, it looks like we’re going to be around one another a lot, so we might as well get started.”
He coughs quietly, visibly upset that I’m not pushing the topic further, but decides against saying anything. “Definitely. Hey, instead of using that conference room, why don’t we take a walk?”
“Really? Don’t you think we should get started on this? We’ve got a presentation with Evelyn in a couple of weeks.”
He loosely shrugs his shoulders. “Being outside always helps me get the creative juices flowing. Besides, if I had to guess, you’ve already gotten a head start on this presentation. Am I right?”
My cheeks heat, and I bring a hand to my face to cool myself down before he can notice. While I don’t want to give Blake any credit for forcing us together, there is something to be said about working with someone who knows you better than you know yourself.
I’ve always been an overachiever. It was one of the things Parker always said he admired most about me. I blame being a double Virgo. I was destined to be a kiss-ass since the minute I was brought into this world.
“I may or may not have already brainstormed a few social media ideas to help us promote the book…”
“A few?” He lifts a brow in question.
“Okay, I’ve got a content calendar planned for the next six months. So what?”
He beams up at me, his smile as bright and warm as the sun. “That’s the Dylan I know and love. Looks like we’ve got plenty of time to get some fresh air.”
My heart lurches in my chest at the words. He pushes out of his chair, leaving me no time to think about what that “love” comment means before he’s out the door.
It’s an unusually warm March afternoon. The city is thawing under the bright light of the sun, but the trees that line the sidewalks of Central Park are still bare. I can’t wait for the warmer days when the trees are in full bloom, but there’s something magical about the way you can see the city skyline behind the naked branches. Traces of greenery have begun to sprout, and the idea of the leaves making their appearance for the first time this year is oddly comforting. No matter how harsh the conditions get in the winter, there’s always spring—the chance to start over.
That’s what this move has been—my chance to bloom.
“So, tell me what you have in mind for marketing so far.” Parker’s gruff voice pulls me out of my musings. I glance over at him, strolling beside me. His hands are tucked in the pockets of his pants as he walks slowly to match my pace. My eyes trail up to his dark, loose curls, blown by a light gust of wind. He looks so effortless, as if he’s lived in New York his entire life.
It’s never something I’ve admitted to him, but I’ve always been jealous of how he can chameleon his way into any setting or scenario. That never came naturally to me, and I’ve always struggled to fit in.
“Well, we already know that she has the following needed to promote this book. But those numbers don’t necessarily correlate to buyers. I’ve already shared the calendar that I’ve put together with Scarlett, and she thinks it’s a great start. I’ll share that with Evelyn so she can get a head start sharing blurbs of the book, behind-the-scenes moments, hints about writing book two, that kind of thing.” I twirl a strand of hair around my finger, suddenly shy, discussing my work.
“While we’re getting all those posts scheduled, I’m going to be working with the web designer Scarlett put me in contact with. It’s no secret that her site needs a facelift. Once we get that fleshed out, I’m going to create an email marketing campaign to get the ball rolling on preorders. I’ve already begun putting together a list of influencers to send early copies to, so once those physical copies are ready, I’ll send that list over to you. Oh, and I’m also in the process of organizing a release party here in the city with the help of our PR team.”
I look down at my feet when I realize I’m rambling. I’m met with utter silence. Perfect . I’ve bored him to death . Without looking up, I can feel his eyes on me. I flick my eyes up and meet his stare. It’s not a look of judgment that I’m met with. No, it’s one of admiration.
“Sounds like you’ve got this in the bag.” He nudges me with his shoulder. “I wish you could see yourself from my eyes sometimes. You’d stop being so hard on yourself. You’re talented as hell, Dylan. It’s time you start believing in yourself.”
It’s moments like these where my heart is tugged right back in his direction. He always knew exactly what to say when I was feeling down. If we hadn’t been dating in college, I’m not sure I would have graduated. There were countless long days following all-nighters spent studying where I didn’t feel good enough. All I wanted to do was finish with honors to make my dad proud, but imposter syndrome got the best of me more often than not.
As my mind wanders, I can’t help but wonder who else he’s given these same pep talks to. Olivia .
That reality brings the runaway train of my thoughts to a screeching halt. He has a girlfriend. There’s a reason I was trying to distance myself from him in the first place.
“Look, I appreciate that. I really do. But you have a girlfriend, and I don’t think it’s fair to her for you to speak to me that way. I’m okay with working together, but that’s all it is. Work. No compliments. No walks down memory lane. Strictly professional.”
“Dylan, we need to talk about-”
I cut him off him, feeling a wave of panic start to wash over me with every powerful beat of my heart. I refuse to have another anxiety attack in front of him. It’s been years since he’s last seen me in that state, and I don’t want him to know I have yet to overcome it. “No, it’s okay. I shouldn’t have eavesdropped on your phone call, and for that, I’m sorry. But I heard you talking to her the other day at lunch. I’m happy for you, I am. I hope it works out for you two, but let’s focus on this project, and then we can go our separate ways for good, alright?”
As I speed up to get ahead of him, I feel his fingers curl around my bicep. I’m lightly jerked backward, and I meet his eyes, a grave expression on his face.
“I wish you would let me explain myself.” He frowns.
I glance down at my watch. “I’m sorry, I really should get back to the office. I don’t need Katherine chewing my head off for a third day in a row.”
With a wince, he lets go of my arm. “Okay, I understand. Can we at least set up a meeting later this week? I’d love to go over what you’ve got. In a more formal setting.”
“Sure, just send me a calendar invite. I’ll make time.”
“Alright, sounds great. Thanks for humoring me with this walk.”
With that, I turn around and walk in the direction of my office, leaving Parker behind.