by E. L. Todd
“And that’s not the worst part.”
“What is?”
“I have a surf competition this weekend. Guess who will be there.”
“Can you avoid her?”
“I don’t see how that’ll be possible.”
Thatcher came into the room. “Everyone is here.”
“What?” Nancy said. “What are they doing here?”
“I told them Derek was here.”
Derek wiped his tears away quickly.
Coen came into the room and patted Derek on the shoulder.
Derek tried to hide his face.
“I cry too, man. It’s not a big deal,” he said.
“When Ren broke up with me, I cried like a little girl,” Henry said. “We aren’t judging you.”
Derek nodded but said nothing.
Sydney and Ren came to him and wrapped their arms around him. He was being held by his friends, feeling protected and safe for a moment in time. It made him feel better slightly. He didn’t have Paola but at least he had his family—no matter what.
Ren kissed him on the cheek. “Sydney and I can beat her up.”
Derek smiled. “No thanks.”
“I’ll deck her good,” Sydney said.
“I know you guys love her,” Derek said.
“We love you more,” Sydney said.
Nancy looked at them all. “Derek thinks Paola is back with her ex.”
Coen raised an eyebrow. “Are you being serious? That doesn’t make any sense. Why would she go back to him?”
“I’ve been trying to figure that out,” Derek said.
“Fuck her,” Henry said.
“And I have to spend the weekend with her,” Derek said quietly.
“You are?” Sydney asked.
Derek sighed. “I have a surf competition in Santa Monica.”
“That sucks,” Henry said.
“It’s payback time,” Coen said.
Derek looked at him. “What?”
“This is what you do,” Coen said. “Act like she doesn’t mean shit to you. Don’t open the door for her, don’t hold her bags, don’t walk with her, act like she doesn’t exist. And when you are back at the hotel, pick up a girl and bring her to your room. Make sure she sees it.”
Derek shook his head. “I’m not ready to be with someone else.”
“You don’t have to actually do anything,” Coen said. “Just make her realize what she lost. And when she does, she’ll come crawling back. That’s exactly what I did with Sydney.”
Sydney looked at him. “Not really.”
“Pretty much,” he said. “You told Henry the truth after you lost me. I doubt you would have done it if I stayed.”
She nodded in agreement.
“I don’t like to play games,” Derek said.
“You want her back or not?” Coen said.
“I’m not sure…I don’t think she loves me. She left me so easily, and then she was hanging out with Vince. And she doesn’t trust me even though I’ve done everything for her. Even though I love her more than anything, I can’t settle for a fraction of her heart. I need all of it.”
“And this is the best way to do it,” Coen said.
“You think?” Derek asked.
Henry nodded. “It’s the only choice you got.”
Derek looked at Thatcher. “What do you think?”
He sighed. “I would have gone about it in a different way. First of all, I wouldn’t have let her walk away from me to begin with. When Nancy and I got together, she wasn’t given a choice. You let her go.”
“That didn’t answer my question,” Derek said. “If you were in this exact situation, what would you do?”
He sighed. “I guess I would do the same thing, but not the part about bringing a girl to my room. I would just act indifferent to her.”
“No, you have to act like you’re hooking up with another girl,” Coen said. “If she does feel something for you, it’ll kill her.”
Derek ran his fingers through his hair. “I guess I’ll do it. At this point, I have nothing to lose anyway.”
Coen clapped his shoulder. “There you go.”
“But if it doesn’t work, I’m going to feel worse.”
Nancy held him tighter and his friends crowded around him, being the support he needed more than anything else in the world.
18
Derek headed to the airport with a heavy heart. The last thing he wanted to do was be around Paola and act like he wasn’t bleeding internally. How could he act like he wasn’t desperate for her love and affection, that he was over her? He put on a straight face and forced himself to push forward.
Before he left, he made sure there was food stocked in the refrigerator for his sister. Cheyenne seemed too depressed to eat, but he wanted her to have everything she needed. Ren and Sydney volunteered to crash at his place this weekend, keeping his sister company and getting her mind off her heartbreak. Derek was moved by the gesture. He didn’t even have to have to ask them to do that.
When he got to the airport, he checked in and walked to his gate. The plane hadn’t boarded yet so he took a seat directly in front of the window. If Paola was in the room, he wouldn’t be able to see her. He thought this was the best position. He took out his phone and played a game to occupy his time. He asked his agent, Tony, if his seat could be in a different section so he wouldn’t have to sit next to Paola, but Tony already bought the tickets, much to his dismay.
When the time to board was announced, Derek stood up and walked to the gate with his ticket extended. He didn’t see Paola but he smelled her. The familiar scent of summer flowers tickled his nose. He didn’t look up and check. He handed the ticket over and walked onto the plane. When he took his seat, he sat by the window, not bothering to be a gentleman.
She carried her bags down the aisle then stopped in front of their seats. Derek stared out the window like he didn’t see her. Paola stuffed her heavy bag overhead, but she struggled with it. It wasn’t because she wasn’t strong, but she wasn’t tall enough. Derek did nothing, letting her struggle. He grabbed his ipod and put the headphones in, acting like she didn’t matter to him at all. Some guy helped Paola get her stuff inside the overhead compartment.
When she sat down, she looked at him.
Derek stared out the window, indifferent to her presence.
She tapped his arm lightly.
With a sigh, he pulled out his ear plugs and looked at her. “Hey.”
“I don’t want this to be weird between us.”
“It’s not,” he said calmly. “I just have a major hangover and I’m tired. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“Oh…”
He put his earplugs back in and stared out the window. When he spoke, he sounded convincing, like he was talking to Sydney or Coen. Nothing was amiss. She crossed her legs and leaned back. Normally, Derek would stare at her beautiful legs but he kept his gaze glued to the window. When the plane took off, Paola started to get anxious. She closed her eyes and breathed heavily, clutching her hands together. Watching the fear on her face broke Derek’s heart, but he treated her like anyone else. He stared out the window and pretended she didn’t exist.
After their flight landed, Derek grabbed his stuff without helping her and left the plane. He moved through the airport then waved down a cab.
“Derek.”
He recognized her voice and turned around. “What?”
“Why are you ditching me?”
“I’m not. I’m just trying to get to the hotel.” He opened the trunk and put his stuff inside.
“Why didn’t you wait for me?”
“Why would I?” he asked. “You said you didn’t want it to be weird between us but you’re making it weird. I’m treating you like I would everyone else.”
“But I thought we were friends.”
“And this is how I would act with my friends.” He opened the door and sat inside.
Paola stuffed her bags into the trunk then joined him in
the backseat. “We may as well share a cab.”
“Sure,” he said. “We can split the fare.”
She glanced at him then looked down.
“So, are you nervous?” he asked. He kept a straight face while he spoke.
“I’m always a little nervous.”
“I’m excited,” he said. “I really hope I win again. I know Tony would be ecstatic.”
“Yeah,” she said.
“So, how’s school?” he asked.
“It’s okay.”
“I nailed my comparative anatomy exam,” he said with a smile. “I did a happy dance when I got my test back.” That was a total lie. He failed it miserably but he wouldn’t tell her that.
“That’s great…”
“So, what’s new with you?” Derek asked. “Cheyenne got dumped by Ryder. I’ve been picking up the pieces.”
She gasped. “I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “I know she’s in pain, but I suspected this would happen. He left her for someone else. But I know she’ll get through it.”
“Did he give her back her money?”
He laughed. “That would never happen.”
“I feel so bad for her.”
“She’ll be fine. She has me. Right now, it seems like the end of the world, but she’ll get over it. It’ll just take some time.”
“Did you beat him up?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “I need to stay out of jail. I’m a pro surfer now. Everything I do can be thrown back in my face. I’ll keep my cool.”
The taxi arrived at the hotel and they grabbed their luggage and walked inside. Derek checked in at the front desk then walked to his room. Paola came behind him with her own key then put it in the door.
Derek turned to her. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow. Good luck.”
She looked at him. “Yeah…”
He walked inside then shut the door. As soon as he was alone, he released a deep breath and blinked back the tears. That act took all his effort. It was so hard to be fake, to act like everything was fine. He wasn’t. He was dying inside. Looking at her beautiful face killed him.
He dropped his luggage then changed his clothes. Now he had to do something he didn’t want to do. When dinnertime arrived, he walked to her room and knocked.
She opened it, wearing the dress she wore earlier. She smiled when she saw him dressed in his nighttime attire.
“Do you have the itinerary for tomorrow?” he asked. “I lost mine and Tony isn’t answering.”
“Oh…” She walked inside her room then fetched the paper.
He looked at it and nodded. “Okay. Thank you.” He handed it back then walked down the hallway.
“Where are you going?” she asked, stepping out of the room.
“Out,” he said without turning around.
“Alone?”
“I won’t be for long. Santa Monica is alive with people.”
“Oh…”
“Have a good night,” he said. He kept walking and heard her door finally close a few seconds later. He was pleased to know that she watched him walk away.
Derek walked to the pier then advanced past the restaurant and bars. He picked a random one and walked inside. After he ordered his drink, he sat at the bar and scanned the crowd. There were two beautiful girls sitting at the far side. They were laughing as a man talked to them. A few minutes later, one of the girls left with the guy, leaving her friend behind. Derek took a deep breath then made his move.
“I just wanted to tell you that I think you’re really pretty,” Derek said.
She turned and looked at him, her eyes widening when she saw how attractive he was. “Oh…thank you. I—I wasn’t expecting that,” she said with a laugh.
“You should.” He stared her down, giving her best smoldering look. “Can I sit here?”
“Sure,” she said with a smile. “I’m Denise.”
“Derek. So, your friend left you?’
She laughed. “She’s getting laid. I can’t blame her.”
He nodded. “You’re a true friend.”
“So, do you live in LA?”
“Actually, I live in Hawaii. I’m in the surfing competition tomorrow.”
“Wow,” she said with wide eyes. “That explains your perfect body.”
“And you haven’t even seen it.”
She blushed then sipped her drink.
“So, do you live here?”
“I’m on vacation. I’m actually from San Francisco.”
“Beautiful city,” he said. “But too cold for my taste.”
“Since you live in Hawaii, that doesn’t surprise me.”
He laughed lightly. “I don’t know about you, but a connection like this doesn’t happen to me very often. Normally women are boring and quiet. You seem like you’re a lot of fun.” Derek felt weird saying the lines. He hadn’t done it in so long that he felt like he was off his game. The girl didn’t seem to notice. She blushed again.
“Can I buy you another drink?” he asked.
“I really shouldn’t.”
“Okay,” he said. “No pressure.”
“Is your hotel nearby?”
Derek knew he scored. “It’s a short walk away.”
She nodded then stared at him.
Derek knew that was his cue to invite her back to his hotel so he could fuck her. It was usually a little harder than this. He knew he was attractive, but this girl was really easy. He could be a serial killer or something. And he could be lying about his participation in the surfing contest. But whatever. “You want to come back to my place?”
She pushed her drink away. “Let’s go.”
Derek led her out of the restaurant. As they walked, the guilt started to weigh on him. He wasn’t being fair to this girl. He grabbed her arm and stopped her. “I have a confession to make.”
“What?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“I’m actually using you. It’s a long story, but basically the girl I’m in love with is in the room next to mine. She broke my heart and shattered it to pieces, and I’m trying to get her back by bringing another girl to my room and…having sex with her really loud.”
“Well, I appreciate your honesty even though it’s unnecessary. I expected to sleep with you and never see you again.”
“But I can’t have sex with you,” Derek said. “I’m just not ready for that.”
“Then what do you want?”
“To pretend we’re having sex.”
“So everyone wins,” she said sarcastically.
“I’m sorry,” Derek said. “If you want to walk away, I totally understand.”
She shifted her weight then looked at the ground for a moment. “For the sake of true love, I’ll help you.”
“Really?”
“You love her, right?”
“More than anything.”
“Then I have to help you.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much. I’ll make it worth your trouble. He pulled out the cash from his wallet but she steadied his hand.
“Really, that’s unnecessary.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Let’s make this girl realize what she’s missing.”
He smiled. “You’re really cool.”
She shrugged. “I know.”
He grabbed her hand and walked with her back to the hotel. When they got to his room, he heard the faint sound of the television in Paola’s room. If he could hear that, she should hear them. “You look really fine in that dress,” he said a little louder than usual.
“Thank you,” she said, meeting his volume. “And you look really sexy in that shirt.”
“I look even better with it off,” he said.
She laughed. “I bet.”
They were quiet for a second and Derek heard her TV turn off.
“I love your tits,” he said, standing with his hands in his pockets.
She chuckled lightly then adopted a straight face. “Wow. You’re….big
.”
Derek smiled. “Let’s move to the bed.”
She sat down and leaned against the headboard.
He sat beside her, his hand on the headboard. “You’re an amazing kisser.”
She moaned quietly.
Derek started to move the headboard, gently, barely making a sound.
“You’re really good at that,” she said in a sexy voice.
“I’m going to come already.”
She moaned again.
Derek moved the headboard faster, tapping the wall with a regular rhythm. “Fuck,” he said.
“Yeah…”
“I can’t last long when you do that.”
“Harder!” she yelled
Derek slammed the headboard faster.
“Don’t stop!”
“I’m about to cum.”
“Oh…yeah….oh god!”
“Yeah…..yeah…”
Derek stopped slamming the headboard, breathing loudly,
Denise smiled at him. “I think that did the trick,” she whispered.
He nodded. “Me too.” He climbed off the bed then shook her hand. “It was a pleasure doing business with you.”
“I hope you get her, Derek.”
“Me too.” He walked her to the door then hugged her. “Bye.”
“Bye,” she said with a smile.
He watched her walk away before he walked into the room. When he sat on the bed, he stared at the wall. It was quiet except for the sound of falling tears. Paola was sobbing next door. Derek felt his heart break when he listened to it. He thought he’d feel happy, but he didn’t. Now he felt worse.
19
Derek stared at his computer screen the next morning, seeing Ren and Sydney on the screen. “I feel like shit.”
Sydney gave him a sympathetic look. “I know you feel bad, but this is a good thing. She’s obviously in love with you. Now she realizes it.”
“She cried all night,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Ren shook her head. “Don’t feel bad, Derek. This is what she wanted. What’d she expect you to do?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a sigh. “But I feel like the biggest asshole in the world.”
“She’ll probably say something to you,” Sydney said. “Wait it out. If doesn’t then…you are where you were to begin with.”
“Just keep it up,” Ren said. “Keep acting like she doesn’t mean anything to you.”