“That can’t be.” Her brows bunch together. “After what you told me, that guy was into you just as much. Maybe he’s mad at you.”
“No, we’re not going there.” It’s too painful to open the door to my one and only regret.
She shrugs. “What if he did stop by the next day, only to find you gone and a note? At least you could have given him your number.”
I pin her with a look. “You know why I didn’t.”
She grimaces. “You should reconsider the whole not-dating-athletes thing. He is the only guy who made you feel something. As if you believe you’re defective or something. Maybe all those apparently nice guys on paper are not nice and your type at all.”
A heavy weight sits on my chest. “It doesn’t matter. It changes nothing.”
“It could be. Think about it. Love you bunches.”
“Love you too. See you tomorrow.”
We hang up, and my eyes fix on the fruit basket. An orange threatens to spill over and take all the others with it. Wouldn’t be the first time an orange disrupts my life.
Ian is so close, and if that won’t put me to the test, I don’t know what will.No. I am stronger than temptation. It was a one-night stand. It doesn’t matter that he was my only one. It doesn’t even matter that my one relationship after him didn’t work out because I was seeking the same connection. For a one-night stand, it screwed up my personal life like nothing else.
Pouring myself a glass of wine, I try to unwind, getting comfortable on the couch.
Turning on the TV, a dry laugh escapes my lips. He’s everywhere on the sports channels. Quickly changing to Netflix, I scroll through the endless movie selections when my dad calls.
I pick up, relieved to stop pretending I’m not affected by Ian. Nothing like your father being his head coach to remind you of the impossibility of the two of you.
“How’s my only child doing?” he asks in his soothing baritone voice.
I giggle. “Still alive.”
“Smart ass. Are you all set up?”
My dad came along with me while I looked at apartments, and we both liked this one the most. I wish I’d known in advance who lived on this floor as well.
“I want the guys to drink your juice blends. It has been doing wonders for me. Can you bring some samples to practice sometime this week?”
“Of course, Dad.”
“You didn’t want my financial support, but I always believed in you. You’re going to do great things. I just know it.” Conviction laces every word.
Hearing my father’s support makes me emotional.
Fears are only in our minds. Fear of disappointing your loved ones. Of others’ opinions. Of failure. But if we don’t risk failure, how can we learn? Safety is nonexistent.
With the promise to see each other soon, we end the call.
I press play on the remote without even caring what movie it is. Halfway in, I give up pretending to follow the plot, so I shut the TV off and move to my bedroom, changing for bed.
Closing my eyes, I fall into a restless slumber with images and thoughts of Ian chasing any trace of sleep away. Not good. So not good.
I rollout of bed with the fading image of two dark blue eyes. Ian’s eyes are like two pools of mystery, swallowing me whole. Why are blue eyes so damn pretty?
Huffing, I change into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.
I let my hair fall down my back, but slide a scrunchie on my wrist, knowing that at some point I’ll pull it up. Slipping into my sneakers, I grab my bag and lock the door behind me.
I love early mornings as most people are still asleep or just getting ready for the day. It’s a few moments of peacefulness before the day’s chaos begins.
My peace and quiet vanish when his door opens, and I come to an abrupt stop, not knowing how to act. I must have done something wrong for karma to come at me full force. Why did I have to end up on his floor? This building is freaking huge. It was one reason I moved here, for the anonymity, only to end up living next door to an NFL star. Oh, the irony.
