“You need to get your dick out of your ass and go after her. Get on your knees and beg.”
Sebastian’s words cut through me as we walk down the street, on our way to meet Carla. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye and I bite back the urge to knock the grin right off his face. He’s presuming my unenthusiastic response to his idea of going playing a round of golf is because of a woman. He’s right, which I hate. Sebastian being right isn’t good because it’s something he’ll never let you forget.
“I’m right. You’ve done something to screw up with cute Rosie.” He laughs and really is going to be meeting my fist if he carries on. “Oh, c’mon, I seem to remember not too long ago you laughing at me when Carla had me tied in knots.”
“Rosie doesn’t have me tied in knots.” I keep a watch of the cars as we cross the road, but my thoughts are with Rosie. I don’t know how, but Rosie definitely does have me by the balls. “Fuck! This isn’t funny. She thinks I’m screwing around while I’m telling her I want to date her.”
Well that shut him up.
“You told Rosie you want to date her?” He shakes his head. “Seriously? You want to date?”
“Stop being a dick. Yes I want to date her.” No reason to lie to him. He may act like a three year old but I know he’ll keep it to himself. “I took her out, but then that night she somehow saw me leave with Veronica, who was in town. I didn’t want to break off our agreement at Kenza so I offered to follow her back to her hotel—where nothing happened. Afterwards I returned to Kenza only to have Hunter tell me he’d taken her home because she’d been upset.” I run my fingers through my hair in agitation.
“What did she say when you explained everything? Although I hope you didn’t go into too much detail about Veronica.”
“I haven’t yet.”
“What?”
“Hunter suggested I let her calm down so she’d be more inclined to hear me out, and I agreed. But it’s been a few days and she’s due back at the club tonight so I can’t decide whether or not to drive to her place and try talking to her before she leaves for work or to wait.”
This is all new to me and it isn’t sitting well on my stomach. I like everything to be cut and dry, but this has me uneasy because I’m not in control of the outcome.
Turning the corner to the terrace there are only a few people around now, which suits me just fine. The less crowds the better. I suffer through crowds in Kenza on the weekends so the thought of having to dodge everyone while out in Lexington isn’t something I enjoy.
“Um, Ruben.”
Hearing the strain in my brother’s voice, I glance at him, and then in the direction holding his stare. “What the…” I pause mid speech, not expecting to see Rosie sitting at the table with Carla.
“I had no idea Rosie would be here,” Sebastian says in defense.
“Yeah right. You really didn’t know? That’s why you rang me up and asked me to come meet Carla with you.”
Sebastian shakes his head. “Seriously bro, I’d have told you…once we’d arrived. But I really didn’t know she was going to be here. At least it solves your problem of when to talk to her.”
My feet have a mind of their own and I’m drawn toward the girl I can’t get out of my head. She doesn’t know I’m approaching yet, and I really hope when she sees me that I’m not going to see disappointment on her face; that will crush me.
Hell! Carla has spotted us and can’t seem to smile wide enough when she looks at Sebastian. Sometimes my brothers make me want to hurl and that’s no exaggeration.
I watch as Carla says something to Rosie who sits up from her slouched position in the chair and turns toward us.
“Oh you’re in for it now brother,” Sebastian says, chuckling as he plucks Carla out of her chair and sits back down with Carla on his lap.
All I can do is hold Rosie’s gaze and I feel hope when her eyes look full of happiness, but unfortunately that look doesn’t last. She obviously remembers the last time she saw me when she’d misunderstood what was going on. Something I need to clear up with her if we have any chance of moving on. I only hope she believes me.
Feeling like a teenager speaking to a girl for the first time, I say, “Rosie, how have you been?” taking the seat next to her. My only hope is that Sebastian takes Carla elsewhere so I can talk privately with Rosie.
“I’ve been okay, Ruben. You?”
“Ruben, you want a drink?” Sebastian asks.
Without taking my eyes from Rosie, I reply, “No. I need to talk to Rosie.”
“We’ll go,” Carla stands up and pulling Sebastian to his feet passes him her shopping bags, “and give you two some privacy.”
“Can’t I stay and watch my brother beg?”