Page 53 of Denim & Diamonds
“My best friend from college was getting married, and the bachelorette party was in Vegas. One afternoon, we all went to a pool party, and I ended up talking to the only guy wearing a flannel with his swim trunks. Elvin was there for his friend’s thirtieth birthday. ”
“That sounds about right.” I laughed. “Though I had no idea you weren’t from here.”
Linda lifted her wine glass. “Seems like a lifetime ago, but I’ve only been in Maine for six years.”
“Do you still do any acting?”
She shook her head. “When I first moved here, I got involved with a local theatre group. A lot of the participants were younger and didn’t have too much experience, so I would help them out and show them techniques I’d learned over the years.
It made me realize I like teaching acting even more than I like acting.
My degree is in theatre, but I’m currently working on getting my Master’s in Education.
I’m hoping to teach high school theatre here someday. ”
Her story got me thinking. “If you don’t mind me asking, how was the transition from living in L.A. to living in Meadowbrook?”
She smiled. “Bumpy. Elvin and I had been seeing each other for about six months when I came out to stay for a three-month trial period. I went back home when the time was up.”
“Oh wow. What brought you back?”
“I realized I could adjust to driving twenty minutes for a Starbucks, but I couldn’t adjust to not seeing Elvin every day. I missed him.”
I took a deep breath but stayed quiet.
“Are you…considering moving to Meadowbrook?” Linda asked.
“I have no idea what the hell I’m doing.
I’m crazy about Brock, but I’ve also spent a decade building a business I really love, and that business isn’t easily relocatable.
Before the baby, we were going to give the long-distance thing a shot and alternate visiting each other.
But now, things are obviously different.
” I paused before meeting Linda’s eyes. “Do you ever have regrets for giving up your dream?”
She shook her head. “Never. I’m happy. Life is different than I’d pictured for myself, but having Elvin and the kids is better than any dream I could’ve imagined.”
Linda’s words should’ve made me feel better, should’ve made me believe it wasn’t impossible for things to work with Brock. Yet it made me feel like something was wrong.
Patrick let out a mewl from the other side of the room, so I went over and picked him up.
Linda smiled. “I know it’s only been a couple of days, but he really seems to adore you. I swear, those little monsters imprint faster than a wolf from Twilight .”
She’d meant it as a compliment, but her comment weighed heavily on my heart. Babies need consistency. Forty-eight hours ago, I’d flown into Brock’s arms, so happy to see him, and now…I suddenly felt the urge to run.
It was almost ten by the time everyone left. Brock got Patrick ready for bed and tucked him in, then brought the baby monitor out to the living room. He sat on the couch next to me and hoisted me from my spot to straddle his lap.
“Talk to me. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“How do you know something is going on in my head?”
He frowned. “You can’t hide your feelings for shit. Lay it on me, Red.”
I sighed. “I don’t want to give up you or my business. ”
“Why is it one or the other?”
“A child needs consistency. Tomorrow morning I’m going to fly back to New York and work sixty hours in four days to make up for being away.
Next week, I have to fly to the West Coast to meet with the production team.
After that, I have to start gearing up for Fashion Week. And then it will be time to—”
Brock crushed his lips to mine. After a minute, I felt the stress drain from my body.
The knot in my neck loosened, and my shoulders lowered from my ears.
This man could probably make me forget my name.
Too soon, though, he pulled back. Brock stroked my hair tenderly.
“I hate that this is all on you, and that’s the only thing I can do to make you relax. ”
I smiled sadly. “I don’t know what to do, Brock.”
“I know, sweetheart. Things got complicated real fast, and now I can’t do the things I committed to you that I would—like come to New York or meet you halfway trying to make this work out.
There’s so much more on your shoulders now, which isn’t fair.
And it’s not just me you’d be taking on if you decide to stick around.
” Tears filled his eyes. “I will understand if you need to walk away. I’ll fucking hate it, but I’ll understand.
I care about you enough to let you go, if that’s what you need to do.
I just want you to be happy. Because you deserve it, February. You really do.”
It broke my heart when a tear rolled down his cheek. I wanted to reassure him—but I didn’t want to make promises I wasn’t sure I could keep. So instead, I followed his lead and crushed my lips to his. Maybe this was all we had now, the ability to make each other feel good physically.
** *
The ride to the airport the next morning was somber.
I’d told Brock I’d take an Uber so he didn’t have to bundle up Patrick for the ride, but he’d insisted they take me.
We drove the short distance making small talk, while big questions loomed and so much was left unsaid.
Brock pulled to the curb when we arrived at the terminal.
The baby was in his infant carrier in the back, so after I got out, I opened the back door and gently kissed his cheek. “Be good to your daddy, little one.”
Brock stood at the back of the truck with my suitcase. He looked like he wanted to say something, but instead he pulled the handle up and gave me a chaste kiss. “Text me when you get to the office so I know you made it safely.”
I forced a smile. “I will.”
Awkwardness set in. Should I say, I’ll see you soon or Nice knowing you? Eventually, I settled on “Goodbye” and turned to walk toward the terminal.
Halfway there, Brock called after me. “February! Wait!”
I stopped and turned back. He jogged to catch up and set his hands on my shoulders. “I love you, sweetheart.”
The words knocked the wind out of me. I was absolutely, positively, head-over-heels in love with this man, too.
But that’s not what I told him. Instead, I pushed up on my toes and brushed my lips with his. “Take care of yourself, Brock.”