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I stand there, not knowing what to say. We just stare at each other for a moment. Emotions are swirling through my body so fast, I feel dizzy. Once I’ve finally regained the ability to use my words, I say, “It’s late, I need to head home.”
“Mel, let me drive you home.”
I groan. “I’ll be fine, West. I’m not weak.”
His head rears back like my words were a slap in the face. Ignoring his reaction, I turn and start walking down the stairs.
When I make it to the front door, I slip my heels back on.
“The metro is perfectly safe.” I actually hate taking the metro this late, but I refuse to admit that because I’m angry, and hurt, and… and… still infuriatingly attracted to him.
He sighs. “Will you at least drive my car home?”
I roll my lips together. I’d rather drive home than take the metro. “But then what will you drive?”
He wrinkles his nose. “Um… I have more than one car. Do you want to drive the Tesla, the Land Cruiser, or the Mercedes?”
An hour later, I arrive back at my apartment building in West’s red Mercedes. I've never been so nervous about parking a vehicle in my life. I put the car in park and breathe a sigh of relief that I drove this beautiful car home safely. It’s late and I’m emotionally exhausted, but I know it’s going to take me hours to fall asleep.
No amount of essential oils or weighted blankets can take away my anxious thoughts or the hurt twisting my stomach.
* * *
When my alarm goes off early the next morning, I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. Overthinking and tossing and turning in your bed can make you so exhausted.
Forcing myself out of bed, I grab my peppermint essential oil. I inhale the refreshing scent, then dap a few drops on my temples to soothe my throbbing headache.
I’m relieved West will be out of town for a few days so I can process everything he said last night. I need to decide if I can forgive him and move forward. If I can learn to trust him again.
And if I’m being honest with myself, I really don’t know if I can handle the whirlwind of being with a professional athlete. So were his doubts completely unfounded?
The more I think about it, I wonder if Harrison had a point. I do thrive on schedules and organization. But then again, just because something is difficult, doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Looking in the mirror, I almost gasp at my reflection. My hair is all over the place like a bird’s nest, and the dark circles under my eyes make me look about eighty years old. I dress myself in some plaid trousers and a white sweater before walking out to the kitchen. Noel is already awake and has the kettle warming up on the stovetop.
Ahh, she knows me too well. She’s way more of a morning person than I am; you can’t even tell she just woke up. She already has her blonde curls tamed and she’s dressed for work in black dress pants, a classic white button-up, and brown suspenders. Noel is an old soul, and her outfits definitely reflect that.
“Good morning!” she chirps. “How was dinner last night?”
I blow out a breath. “I have so much to tell you, I don’t even know where to start.”
“Start at the beginning!” she tells me before filling two teacups with hot water from the kettle.
I recount the details of my evening with West, from dinner and the house tour to his admission that he lied about not having feelings for me. “He said he was in love with me then… and that he still is.”
Her jaw drops. “Wow.” Her eyes gloss over with tears. “Why’d you have to make me cry before six AM?”
I grimace. “Sorry, but you asked.” Taking a tea bag from the box on the counter, I steep it in my hot water. “I just don’t know how to sort through my feelings about all of this.”
She scoffs. “Why are you not running over to his house and telling him you want to have all of his babies?”
“I forgot how much of a romantic you are,” I say with a laugh then take a sip of tea. “Like the whole thing with Katarina? I’d have to deal with every female who wants to sink her claws into him. And public attention, and tabloids, and him traveling all the time.” I widen my eyes for dramatic effect.
Noel nods in understanding. “Yeah, being with someone that famous would definitely have its challenges. I guess you need to decide if you’d rather be with West and face the hardships… or be without him.”
“Being without him does sound pretty awful.” I take a deep breath. “He’s out of town for a few days. He told me to think about this while he’s gone.”
She swallows a sip of her own tea. “You have a lot to process.”
