“Are you okay?”
She swallows deeply, nodding her head.
“What’s wrong?”
She turns my way, her entire face softening. “Why didn’t you tell me that half of this organization is because of you? I thought it was Maddison’s this whole time. Everyone thinks that.”
Shrugging, I pull my beer back to my lips. “I tried to tell you a couple of times, but I knew you’d find out eventually.”
“Zee...”
My eyes dart to hers as a small smile takes over my lips. I like hearing that name come out of her mouth.
“Why don’t you let people see the real you?”
“It’s a long story. It’s hard to explain.”
“I want to understand,” she says. “Because right now, I’m confused as hell about who you are.”
“You know who I am.”
“Do I?”
Does she? Sure, she’s seen more than most people, but she doesn’t know everything. She doesn’t know why I put on an act for everyone else. She doesn’t know that I’m afraid.
She’s seen the asshole, player, rude, arrogant side plenty. And I’ve only shown her bits and pieces of the uncle, the caring, the loving, the protective side. It’s no wonder she’s confused.
“Go on a date with me.”
“What?” she asks with a startled laugh. “Zee, I cannot. We cannot go on a date.”
“Why not?”
“Because...because I work for you, and I’ll get fired if anyone saw us together.”
“I’ll make sure it’s a private place.”
“Zee, you don’t date. Stop being ridiculous.” She tries to laugh it off as if it’s a joke.
“Go on a date with me.”
I would add a “please” to the end of that, but I already sound desperate, begging like this. But let’s be honest, I am.
“You said you just wanted to hook up again.” She slightly shakes her head in confusion. “This was just physical, and it was supposed to be only once.”
“I changed my mind.” I turn around, leaning my back against the bar so I can look at her. “Stevie, go on a date with me.”
“I don’t...I can’t.” Her words stumble out of her mouth without conviction, and I’m not sure that she wants to say them or even that she even believes them, for that matter.
So, I change my tactic. Because even though I know there’s a big part of her who doesn’t understand me or thinks that I’m suddenly changing my mind by wanting a date with her, I have a feeling there’s an even bigger reason why she’s saying no.
And he just so happens to be the guy hanging around her brother all night.
“What happened with your ex-boyfriend?”
“Why are you so fucking observant,” she nervously laughs.
“Eight years of therapy, sweetheart.” I quickly tuck her hair behind her ear to see the earrings that decorate it, but I make my movement quick as to not get caught. “What did he say that your brother doesn’t know?”
Nervous eyes bounce between mine before she releases a shaky exhale. “It’s not even what he said about me. I guess it’s how he made me feel.”
“How did he make you feel?” I keep my tone soft and my eyes locked on her, making sure she knows no one else in this room matters.
“Like I was an option, and not even the first one. Like I would only be his pick if he didn’t have better opportunities waiting for him. I just... I didn’t like feeling like I didn’t matter. I wanted him to choose me.”
I turn around, so we both face the bar again, my shoulder touching hers and our hands grazing, holding our respective beers. Our mutually ring-covered fingers look good next to each other, so I reach one out, skimming hers because that’s all the physical comfort I can offer in this room with too many eyes.
“And your brother, who seems like he’s protective as hell, by the way, he’s still friends with him?”
“Ryan is trying to help him get a job with a sports network here.”
“Here? Chicago?”
Nodding, Stevie continues. “Ryan doesn’t know the details. I haven’t told him. He and Brett played basketball together in college, and they were equally loved on a campus that worshipped the team. Everyone wanted a piece of them, but I just wanted to be chosen by the guy I was in love with, you know?”
I stay silent, coaxing her to continue.
“We were together for three years, and not once did I feel like I was good enough for him. He constantly ended things with me if he had other options he wanted to pursue, then when he was out of said options, he would come crawling back. And I was the idiot who always took him back. I just wanted to be chosen.”
I hate him. Partly for how he made Stevie feel, and partly because he once had what I want so badly and treated her as if she didn’t matter. As if she wasn’t his first option.
She nervously twirls the ring on her thumb before I place my hand over hers, stopping it. The motion causes her to finally look up at me.
“You’re not an idiot. You’re not crazy for wanting to be wanted. For wanting to be loved.”
A deep swallow bobs in her throat.
“And you’re not an option, Stevie, because besides you, there’s no other choice.”
Her entire face relaxes, melting in front of me. “Don’t say that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m trying not to like you.”
Her honesty makes me laugh. She’s used the phrase “I hate you” all too often since I met her.
“Well, good luck, sweetheart, because I’m a fucking gem.”
In my peripheral, Rich motions me over for another fucking interview.
Rolling my eyes, I place my attention back on Stevie. “I have to get back to work, but don’t forget you still owe me a dance.” I give her hand one last sly squeeze before leaving her at the bar.
“Who is that?” Rich’s focus is lasered on Stevie’s back.
“Don’t worry about it.” I continue walking past my agent in hopes of pulling his attention away from my favorite flight attendant.
He doesn’t need to know about her. Not tonight and maybe not ever.
To say I’m annoyed that Rich hasn’t let me enjoy my night is an understatement. He’s pimped me out for interview after interview, and I just want to get one fucking dance in. One dance with one girl to end my night.
But before I can make that happen, a certain point guard of a particular basketball team stops me.
“We need to have a conversation,” Ryan says, blocking the path to his sister with a hand on my chest.
He’s only an inch or so shorter than me, so I barely have to look down at him with smirking lips. “Do we now?”
“Don’t be a dick.”
Reluctantly, I follow him to an empty high-top table hidden in the corner. “I’m kind of known for being a dick, in case you haven’t heard.”
“Oh, I’ve heard. And that’s what we need to talk about.”
“All right, let’s go. Give me the big brother speech.” I lean down on my elbows, allowing him to be taller than me.
And even though this is annoying, I respect it. How could I not? The guy is just looking out for Stevie.
“What are you doing with my sister?”
My lips lift, trying to hold back my laughter. “You sure you want those details?”
Ryan is fuming at the moment, nostrils flaring, so I drop it down a few notches.