She blinks a few times, watching me carefully as she decides if the information I just gave her is enough to satisfy her before she speaks.
“I have nightmares sometimes, and other times I just can’t fall asleep at all,” she admits, head down, voice hushed. As if she wants as few people as possible to know.
I notice how Demi picks at her fingernails, and I’m starting to realize I don’t think she’s sat completely still this entire time.
“Nightmares where you can’t fall asleep, or they wake you up at night?” I’m no stranger to sleepless nights. Only Dana, my therapist, knows about that, though.
“Both,” she says, clearing her throat with a small chuckle.
I nod as she stares at me and she returns the gesture. Somehow both of us seeming to feel a little relieved for this admission of hers. It’s kind of nice to know I’m not the only one who often sees pain when I close my eyes, even if we don’t know exactly what the other is referring to.
The sound of shoes scuffing the floor grabs my attention. “Oh shit, Liam Evans.” The eager voice of a male interrupts the silence between us, and I turn my head to see a man and woman standing at the counter waiting on drinks.
“And you’re Demi Sanchez.” The woman with him perks up.
Demi smiles as if we weren’t just in the middle of a heavy moment and nods as she greets the woman.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your?—”
“Business meeting,” Demi cuts in before the woman can place any labels on today.
I scoff under my breath as I stand and shake the guy’s hand. They both ask for pictures, and I can see how hesitant Demi is to be photographed with me, so I take the asshole card for the day and decline as politely as possible.
Thankfully, the couple seems to understand, and I catch a closed lips smile from Demi.
“We should go,” Demi says in a hushed voice, scooting her chair back.
I nod, extending my hand out in front of me to follow her lead.
It’s warm once we’re on the sidewalk and the sun is glowing in the sky. Humid, even in the evening, it feels like a summer out on the water. Like I should be pulling in the anchor and loading up the boat from the island to head back to the dock.
The curve of Demi’s hips distracts me when I take a few steps after her.
“I…” She pauses when she turns to face me. “Your dad will be off-limits. In interviews with me, I mean. I won’t bring him up, and if I see anything on the media sheets I’ll decline.”
She has no explanation of the circumstances. Not even the smallest morsel of information. For all she knows, the “it’s complicated” could mean something as simple as we don’t like the same music. She has no idea why, but it doesn’t matter. She’s still telling me she won’t ask about him, and fuck. This woman has no goddamn clue what that means to me.
I swallow the lump in my throat and feel my jaw tick as I nod.
“Thank you for the coffee. And I shouldn’t have made that fan interaction so weird for you. I’m sorry about that, I just…” She doesn’t finish the thought as she takes a few steps toward me. “I appreciate your friendship, Liam.”
“Friends.” I nod as I repeat the word.
“Think you can handle that?” Her voice holds a little amusement as she smirks at me.
I’ve been handling it for years. I can do it easily, even though I don’t want to. But I’m curious to know if she can, now that circumstances are different. I’m also not going to rest easy until I know she’s found a new place to live—whether it’s by me or not.
I smile, tilting my head down to her as I hold my hand out, gesturing my index and middle finger for the phone she’sholding. “What?” Her hip pops as she stands in front of me, her eyes curiously glaring in my direction.
“Ican be your friend, Dem. But it’s not me I’m worried about.” My fingertips graze her wrist near the tattoo I’ve always wondered about as she hands me her phone.
I hold it up to her face, unlocking the screen so I can add my number.
“What are you?—”
“Let me know when you want to come see the empty apartment. It’s got a great view. Friendly neighbors.” I wink, and she gapes at me as I hand her phone back to her. “You’re welcome for the coffee, Dem.”
Calling it now. I just had my last first date.
