Chapter Fourteen #2
I feel alive with you. I feel safer with you. I feel happier when you’re here.
My mouth parts, but I’m not ready to tell him yet. To accept how quickly these feelings have developed .
“I’ll be back when you have an answer for me.”
He leaves, this time through the front door. I hear the crunch of tires on the gravel road as I throw myself into the bed and weep as silently as the house I’m left alone in.
◆◆◆
Austin hasn't lied when he said he would give me space—something I desperately want to avoid. I've looked for him everywhere. He doesn't turn up to Squeeze the Day on Monday or Wednesday. Now, it's Friday, and I'm heading to a fitness expo for the next three days.
He's left his number on a scrap of paper with a note saying “for emergencies.” Is telling him I'm sorry an emergency? Or that he's left me so unsatisfied that I've punished myself by not relieving the ache he's built in me the entire week?
As soon as the words came out of my mouth the last time we spoke, the regret hit me as hard as that medicine ball hit my shoulder. I roll it back, reminding myself of the pain.
Despite my willpower, I've left a note for him where he's left his.
Informing him I'll be back on Monday and that if he needs me, I assume he'll know where to find me.
It's a tease, a challenge of sorts. I have no doubt he knows exactly where I'm going and when.
I think he'll expect me to come running back.
Part of me wants to. The other part is wanting to give him what he's asked for.
He said he could be patient...well, so can I.
The time apart has made me realize that I want to see where this goes. I want him here with me.
Scanning my phone for the airport staff, I walk through when the scanner dings.
“Oh, miss.” The impeccably dressed air steward turns to me. “I have a new seat for you if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, okay. Sure.” At least she isn’t saying there isn’t space on the flight .
“You’re in row one.” She smiles, her perfect white teeth glistening.
As soon as my butt hits the chair, I know it’s going to be a good day. No, good doesn’t cover it. The day is going to be spectacular.
I have the row to myself, not a soul to either side of me or behind me.
Which means no one is behind me to kick my chair.
When an opportunist decides to sit in the second row, he is met with a stern-faced air stewardess who informs him that if he does not return to his assigned seat, he will be arrested the moment the tires hit the ground.
I am offered champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and a full meal.
At one point, the co-pilot comes out of the cockpit, takes one look at me and the empty seats, and with a flirty wink, asks, “What did you do?” in a British accent.
The air stewardess with sharp features leans in even closer until he cowers, gives me one final wink, and hops back into the cockpit.
My luggage is first off the carousel, and then I’m greeted by a driver from the convention.
I could get used to this kind of living.
And now, as I walk around the convention center, the bustling fitness community is swarming in. Dance-offs are happening between the chairs. Salsa classes are taking place in one of the connecting rooms. Music is playing, but it seems to alternate between genres with every stall I pass.
I am smiled at as fliers are thrust into my hand. This isn’t my first convention, but it is certainly the biggest and the first I’ve been invited to personally.
I check my calendar. My first stop is a new brand that has reached out to meet.
I head over toward the stall and am greeted by a short brunette with a huge smile. She is so bubbly she is almost jumping.
“Oh. My. Gosh. JOSH, she’s here!” she squeals, reaching out to shake my hand as she straightens her spine and pushes her shoulders back, her high ponytail swinging.
A head, which I presume is Josh’s, pops around the back of the stall. “Oh lord, brace your ears,” he warns.
“Nice to meet you. You must be Nicole?”
“Oh god, you know my name. YOU. KNOW. MY. NAME.” She hops as Josh’s head disappears around the back of the stall, eyes rolling as he goes.
I decide not to tell her it is on her name tag. “Of course. I’m excited to see what products you have. Truthfully, your brand is the one I’m most excited about seeing this weekend.”
It’s the truth. They run an eco-friendly clothing company out of Texas that has great reviews so far.
It just needs a little more exposure to get their name out there, which is where I come in.
It helps that the clothes are gorgeous. As well as your simple basics, they have cowboy-inspired workout gear that works well for anyone with extra flair.
The fringe tassels look amazing when you spin around in a dance class.
I play with the tassels on a light yellow top, which I think would go well with my lavender shorts. A small cowboy hat is embroidered over the top left-hand corner.
“Oh, that would be perfect for you. Although, if you don’t mind, I have a few options put aside for you that I thought would suit you.”
“Absolutely, you’re the expert—although I’m definitely going to buy the yellow one.”
“Take it! As a token of our appreciation for meeting with us so soon on the weekend.”
“She’s giving the stock away again,” Josh mutters to himself.
Nicole leans in. “Josh doesn’t technically work for the brand. He’s, err, helping this weekend. He lost a bet with my brother.”
“A bet?”
“Yes, my brother was supposed to come with me, but in poor form after too many beers, he made a bet Josh couldn’t refuse.”
“Okay, now I’m intrigued.”
“Nicole, you’re supposed to be introducing her to the brand to develop your business. Not gossiping about your brother and his friend.”
“You’re my friend too, Joshy,” she teases.
His jaw clenches ever so slightly, and I swear I hear him mutter, “Yes, I know we’re just friends,” before diving into another merch box.
Interesting.
“Well, if you’re free tonight, I don’t have any plans. The three of us could go for drinks and dinner?” The invitation slips from my lips before I realize what I’m saying.
I haven’t been out with friends, albeit new ones, in a long time. My business has been my sole focus—before Austin, at least. But the thought of letting loose with a few new people seems like a great idea as long as I don’t do anything to mess up the business prospect.
No tequila. That’s for certain.
“I love that idea! But can we do it tomorrow night? We’re going to be quite busy tonight with setup, and I think this one”—she throws her thumb back over her shoulder toward Josh—“needs an early night.”
I stifle a giggle, and before I move to the next stall, she reaches out to grab my forearm. “Quick, before he sees.” She hands me the light yellow tassel top in my size, blocking Josh’s view with her body.
She gives me a small wink, and as I turn, Millie Gilbert rounds the corner, arm in arm with my ex.
I haven’t seen him in months. He stopped coming around once I’d threatened to call the police on him.
My first instinct is to run and hide, perhaps behind the stall with Josh—he wouldn’t mind, would he?
But I’ve done nothing wrong; I’ve only ever worked hard to get where I am.
I’m not going to cower like a scared child in the face of two bullies.
Besides, they apologized on their video, and despite my suspicion about the increase in trolls, they haven’t posted anything since, so maybe this would all be okay.
I only wish this weren’t happening right in front of Nicole and the brand that I want to work with.