Chapter 25 Midst of a Crisis
MIDST OF A CRISIS
It’d been three months since she’d been dating Rowan.
Two weeks ago, Saylor didn’t think she could get any more embarrassed by having such a crazy low in front of him.
But he’d handled it better than anyone else ever had in her life. Even better than her parents.
Heck, even Logan held it together. Then once Logan realized she was going to be fine and her blood sugar climbed to eighty, he went to the bar and got a shot.
There’d always been this fear in her life that the person she loved didn’t understand her or her moods or how she had to stop her life to deal with her health.
She worked so hard to keep it balanced, but it always caused issues.
Never with Rowan.
Was that why she fell in love with him?
She’d been losing her heart for months. Maybe since the day he helped her at the airport. Why else would she have taken such a crazy risk to move here?
But two weeks ago, in the midst of a crisis surrounded by his friends, he put her first and pushed everything aside.
An hour later, her blood sugar was fine and she knew she’d be battling the high for the carb overload, but it was manageable. Her body was just weak from the havoc she’d experienced.
Rowan hadn’t wanted to surf with his friends, but rather stay by her side. She didn’t want him to give that up, nor did she want them all to think she was so frail she needed to be watched over.
They compromised, he’d brought an umbrella out and stuck it in the sand with a chair and she sat there watching him having fun, reading a book, and supplying drinks for everyone. Even went in the house and put together food to bring down hours later, much to his chagrin.
If she had a raging headache and felt nauseous, she wouldn’t let on. He’d get even more protective of her and she knew it’d pass.
She wasn’t just out to prove to the group she was fine, but to Rowan that it was only a little bit of time and she bounced back quickly.
What she hated the most was how much he’d apologized all night for pushing her to surf.
She’d laughed and said she wanted to learn, but the truth was, she wasn’t so sure it was her thing but promised to try again, just not give it as much time. She was happy with bodysurfing and paddleboarding.
He wouldn’t pressure her, and that was what she loved the most.
The question remained if he felt the same for her as she did for him.
For a guy that slipped words out of his mouth all the time, they’d yet to address their feelings.
Was it just fun for him?
She didn’t think so. Not with the way he treated her grandmother and they hung out together while she was working. Her grandmother never had so much fun in her life.
She walked to her closet and went through the dresses in there. Today was going to be a long one. Not in time but in nervousness.
An expo and press release for Sixth Surf. Rowan had been talking about this for months. He had a new line of boards coming out with another pro. Most of the pros he sponsored would be here today too. She’d gotten the lowdown of how it worked. Or what he’d done.
She heard the door open downstairs and walked out of their room.
“Rowan, is that you?”
“Yeah,” he yelled up.
“What are you doing home so early?”
Saylor moved toward the stairs with him coming up them. “I’ve got something for you. Logan and the rest of my team have everything under control.”
The expo was on the beach, the pros going out to test the new boards. It was a space he’d rented for today and media would be present.
It wasn’t the first he’d done it, but not having any knowledge of this world, she’d been unaware of the existence of events like this.
“Are you nervous?” she asked
“Nope,” he said. “I came to shower and change and give you this.”
She reached for the bag in his hand. “What is it?”
“It’s a dress if you’ll wear it.”
“Of course.” Even if it was ugly, she’d wear it for him since it was his event.
She pulled it out, the bright prints of blue and green her favorite mixture of colors. “It’s so pretty.”
It was a long maxi dress, sleeveless but with thick straps. The V wasn’t extremely deep so that she had no worry that her bra would show.
“It’s got pockets,” he said, grinning. “You can have treatments in it.”
He was even calling her fruit snack packets treatments now.
“Ahh,” she said. “That’s so sweet.”
“And a big slit for me to see your leg when you walk.”
“Now we are getting somewhere. I love it. I was just looking in my closet trying to figure out what to wear.”
“There is one more thing,” he said, pulling the dress out of her hand. There was a thick band that would go under her boobs and around her waist, showing off her figure before it flowed toward the ground. “Right here on the band.”
“Is that your logo?” she asked, pulling it closer. It was stitched in white and discreet.
“Yes. I want to launch a brand of clothing for women. I’ve got T-shirts and shorts with my logo on them, but nothing that has been created.
I’d like you to wear this. It’s the first anyone will see it.
The rest will be on display and some women pros will have shirts and shorts on.
You’ll be the only one in a dress, but they will be set up and everyone will know once they see it.
People will probably ask you questions about how it fits and feels.
Are you okay with that? Guess I should have asked it first.”
“I’m so honored,” she said. But this also meant she’d have a lot more eyes on her. “I’ll put it on now. I showered twenty minutes ago. Should I do anything special with my hair or makeup? I just don’t know what to expect.”
“You look beautiful. We are going to be on the beach. Oh crap. One more thing for you too.” He went to his closet and pulled out another bag and handed it over.
“Now what is this?”
“A tiny purse for you. It will blend in with the dress and hold everything you need for the day. Your phone and test strips, more treatments.”
Rowan was always so considerate. The purse was actually adorable and a brand she’d noticed and admired, but nothing she’d spend money on.
“This is awesome. You’re spoiling me.”
“It’s my pleasure to do it,” he said, giving her a kiss.
He walked into the bathroom with a change of clothing. Shorts and one of his company T-shirts. Guess she worried for nothing that this would be a fancy event.
She pulled her shorts and T-shirt off, changed her bra to a nude one, then slipped the dress over her head.
Oh my, it wasn’t as loose and flowing as she’d thought it’d be. At least on top.
She looked in the full-length mirror, saw the dress fitted to her breasts and waist as if it was custom made for her. There was a bit of stretch to it, so it wasn’t snug, but didn’t gap in one spot on the top.
After the thick band ended, there was more material flowing to her ankles. She put her hands in the pockets on the side and pulled the material some to see the slit. It was pretty high on her thigh but wouldn’t expose anything. If she stood still you’d never know there was a slit.
She did a spin sending the dress flying around her legs.
The material was lightweight and cool against her skin. She had to admit this might be the most comfortable dress she’d ever worn. It’d be great outside.
The bigger question was going to be what to wear on her feet. Ugh, this was always an issue for her and she wasn’t used to having dress shoes on.
“Sneakers,” he said behind her.
She was crouched in the closet, looking, and turned. “What?”
“Those white sneakers you bought last month. Wear them with the dress.”
“You’re joking?” she said, reaching for them.
“Nope. I know you’ll feel more comfortable in them.
You’re already nervous. Be you and as comfortable as possible.
Besides, that’s my brand or the vibe I’m going for.
I want these dresses to be something people throw on to go to the beach and then go out to dinner if they want.
They can put it over a bathing suit. Doesn’t matter. But I’m not a fancy person.”
“You’re sure?” she said. “This is your event.”
He kissed her again. “Do I look like the type of person who wants a fancy dressed woman by their side?”
She laughed. “Nope, and it’s a good thing because that is the last type of person I am.”
Saylor sat on the bed and slipped on the white canvas sneakers, then looked in the mirror and realized the outfit was actually one she’d see in a magazine and wish she would have bought.
“Perfect,” he said. “How do you feel in it?”
“Great. Like myself but amped up some.”
“Just what I want. Now for the bad news,” he said. “You might want to sit down.”
Her jaw dropped. “Seriously? You set me up to give me bad news?”
Her heart was pounding, her hands were sweating, and her ears were almost ringing.
Everything had been so perfect between them and she’d just been waiting for the shoe to drop.
The fact he was doing this to her before his event was horrible.
What the hell was he going to hit her with?
“I don’t think it’s bad news, but you might. I just found out this morning at work.”
“Okay.” So it wasn’t something that was planned.
“West, Nelson, and Braylon are flying in. Actually, they landed and are on their way here.” He looked at his watch. “They should be here in about ten minutes.”
“Your brothers are coming and just told you this morning? I don’t understand how they can do it this quickly.”
“West’s private jet,” he said, laughing. “Did I forget to tell you about that?”
“Yeah,” she whispered.
She was more nervous over meeting his family than she was being next to him for a major event in front of strangers.