I scoff, exhausted. I didn’t think people around here would really believe that bullshit.
“I haven’t been with that many women,” I say, irritated. I don’t want to have this conversation in front of my daughter. “All it took was for me to have one conversation with a woman, and the next day, the media had decided that she was my latest target.”
“Poor you. I can’timaginehow difficult that must’ve been,” my sister teases.
“Trust me. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
“I honestly don’t care.” She sips at her beer, then lets her gaze wander over to their table again. “Besides, I wasn’t talking about you. I was talking about her.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s too much for you.”
There was no need for her to say it, really: I have eyes, too.
“And you definitely don’t deserve a woman like that.”
I stay quiet, unable to say anything more, because I’m starting to believe that she’s completely right.
Niall
Tyler and Jordan left the pub around half-past ten. He placed his hand on the small of her back as he was guiding her towards the door, before opening it for her. She smiled at him. When they stepped outside, they didn’t hold hands – but he kept his hand placed against her back at they crossed the road.
We left just after them. I dropped Rian home, and as she got out of the car, she told my daughter she’d pick her up tomorrow and take her to the shopping centre. Then the two of us made our way home. Nobody was downstairs when we got in – they’d probably already gone to bed. Skylar began to climb the stairs, leaving me down here, alone, before changing her mind and turning to face me.
“Maybe you shouldn’t give up so soon.”
“Mmm?”
“You shouldn’t step aside yet.”
“What would you know?” I asked, tiredness overwhelming me.
“Probably nothing. But I don’t think anything’s definite between those two, yet.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
She stood there on the stairs for a few seconds, her eyes resting on me. “If you really like her, you should do something.”
“Like what?”
I didn’t even try to fight it.
“Let her know you like her.”
She turned her back to me and bounded upstairs, as I…well…
I’m actually outside her door, waiting for her to let me in. I’m desperately hoping that she’s not asleep yet, and that she doesn’t slam the door in my face.
Last time I was here, I left as if I didn’t want anything more to do with her. I fed her, wanted her, and made her want me, too. Then I just disappeared, and she didn’t come along to my training session on Thursday. Then, tonight, she went out with Tyler. And I won’t just sit back and accept it.
Why? Well, it’s simple:
“I like you,” I blurt out as soon as she opens the door.
