You're the Only One

by E. M. Abel

  He didn’t like me paying for our meals, but that didn’t keep me from trying.

  “Why don’t you take our waters to the table?”

  I narrowed my eyes back at him.

  Bossy.

  I stuck my tongue out but did it anyway.

  Luigi glanced at me as I picked up our cups. He said to Dillon, “You’re a very lucky man. Your life will never be boring.”

  He winked at Dillon, and we both laughed. Luigi always knew how to put a positive spin on things.

  Once we sat down, Dillon reached across the table, and I put my hand in his. He watched as he ran his thumb over my knuckles, seeming to be deep in thought.

  “This will be the longest we’ve been apart,” he said, looking up at me.

  “I know, but it’s only for three months. We’ll be okay.” I’d been saying that for weeks. It was my new mantra.

  Dillon nodded. He knew me well enough to know I was scared, but I was also determined.

  “If things keep going well, there’s a chance I’ll be gone a lot. I’m not sure I can handle spending most of my time away from you.”

  I stared down at our hands, finding my strength in his grip. “Well, once things start to settle down for me here, maybe I can go with you. Or at least fly out to see you sometimes. I’ve always wanted to travel more. It’ll be fun.”

  I smiled at Dillon, but he didn’t seem satisfied with my answer.

  “Just say the word, Sky. If you want me to stay, if you don’t think we’ll survive this, just tell me, and I’ll give it all up.”

  I laughed and rolled my eyes. He’s insane.

  “I’m serious, Sky. Look at me.”

  The smile fell from my lips as I met his intense gaze. He wasn’t joking.

  “There’s nothing more important to me than you. Do you get that? I have to have music in my life, but I don’t need to be famous. All these years, I’ve been chasing this dream, but I’ve realized that none of it means shit if I don’t have someone to share it with. And you’re the only one I want to share this with. Only you.”

  Tears clouded my vision. “Great. Now, you’re making me cry, jerkface.”

  I picked up a napkin and dabbed my tears away as Dillon kept watching me. I guessed he wasn’t going to let me lighten the mood with a joke.

  I sighed and took his hand in both of mine. “I’d never ask you to give up your dreams for me, Dillon.”

  He started to argue, but I stopped him.

  “Because your dreams are mine, too. Do you remember that night at O’Brien’s when I finally got you onstage for the first time?”

  His severe gaze finally broke, and he chuckled. “Yeah.”

  “I was a nervous wreck, but I never let you see it because I believed in you, Dillon. I knew you were meant for so much more, and I couldn’t wait to see how far you’d go. And, now, look at you.”

  Dillon glanced down at our hands.

  “I still believe in you, and I always will. I could never hold you back. And, besides…I have champagne and strawberries waiting for us at the apartment. If you quit now, they’d be a total waste.”

  DILLON

  After finishing our dinner at Luigi’s, Sky and I went back to our apartment. We’d moved into a new place last month after I signed my first record deal with Spin Records. It was a lot nicer and larger than anything we’d had in the past, and I was filled with so much satisfaction, knowing I could provide that for her. Not that Sky needed my help.

  Her business had taken off in the past five months. Her designs had been receiving rave reviews and recognition from all the top magazines and leaders in the fashion industry. I couldn’t be prouder of her and what she’d accomplished.

  Our dreams were coming to fruition, and the best part was being able to celebrate our successes together.

  The impending tour weighed heavy on my shoulders as I watched Sky pouring champagne into two glasses.

  She smiled as she handed me one and then held hers in the air. “To your bright future.”

  I lifted my glass and corrected her, “To our bright future.”

  Sky grinned, and we each took sips.

  Taking her glass, I set them both down on our new dining room table and pulled Sky close. I slid my fingers into her soft hair and looked down at her, trying to memorize every line and curve of her face. “I’m going to miss you so much, Sky.”

  She closed her eyes. “I’ll miss you, too.”

  Leaning down, I pressed my lips onto hers, relishing the feel of her body against mine, the heat of her skin, the sound of her breaths.

  I teased the seam of her lips with my tongue, and she opened them for me, always willing to give me what I needed. Sky tasted like champagne and strawberries. Her hands slid over my shoulders and around my neck as I pulled her closer, not wanting any space between us.

  I held on to her waist and picked her up, making her giggle as she wrapped her legs around me. I smiled against her lips, and her sparkling blue eyes pierced mine as her thumb drifted over one of my dimples. My heart both ached and swelled with love as we stared at each other, our eyes speaking all the words that were too hard to voice.

  Carrying her to our bedroom, I lowered her onto the mattress and settled between her legs. Her dark hair glided through my fingers as I swept it away from her face, watching as tears formed in her eyes. I knew I couldn’t take her sorrow, so I kissed her lips and took her love instead.

  SKY

  Tears rolled out of my eyes as Dillon pushed himself deep inside me. My heart was so overwhelmed with gratitude and good-bye that I wasn’t sure which was making me cry.

  Dillon’s short breaths fanned across my face while his hips started a slow and steady rhythm, stoking the flames inside me. His dark eyes held mine captive, and my hands explored his back, committing every ridge of muscle and bone to memory.

  “Don’t ever forget,” Dillon whispered against my skin.

  His hips drove deeper, and I whimpered, my nails digging into his flesh. All pain disappeared, and pleasure took over as he kissed me, his tongue sweeping into my mouth to caress mine.

  No matter how far apart we were, I knew my love for Dillon would never change. He was my forever. And I could never forget.

  My body pulsed around him as he grew harder inside me, drawing my orgasm toward the surface. Dillon kissed and licked down my neck as I begged him for more. Reaching between us, he circled my clit with his thumb, and my insides instantly clamped down around him. He hissed out a breath, and I arched my back as the most exquisite euphoria took over me. My body shuddered in his arms, and more tears fell, Dillon’s hips pumping faster and harder until we came together.

  SKY

  “Seriously, they need to hurry up and get home. Phone sex isn’t doing it for me anymore.”

  I laughed as TJ stuck her toothbrush in her mouth and started scrubbing her teeth. We were at her apartment, getting ready for a girls’ night out.

  Dillon and Matteo were due home in a couple of weeks, and we were both growing restless, waiting for them.

  At first, Dillon and I’d spoken on the phone every morning, but as the tour went on, I heard from him less and less. I understood though. He was in a new world full of people who were just as passionate about music as he was. He was finally doing what he loved, and I wasn’t going to hold that against him.

  Besides, the time apart had been a real growing experience for me. It was nice to focus my energy on my goals and know I had a man in my corner who supported me one hundred percent. I finally felt like a strong, independent woman, secure enough in myself to realize my own worth. I wasn’t sure I would have found that strength if Dillon had been more readily accessible. Sometimes, I relied on him more than I needed to.

  “It’ll be good to get out,” I said, pulling my hair back.

  TJ leaned down to spit out toothpaste. “Yes, it will. And we have to celebrate! I still can’t believe we have a new office now, and SKY designs will be on the runway at Fashion Week! Have you told
Dillon yet?”

  I shook my head. “Not yet. I haven’t talked to him.”

  TJ gave me a sympathetic look in the mirror. “I’m sure things are super busy. I haven’t heard much from Matteo lately either.”

  “Yeah.” I smiled at her. “It’s cool. These past few months have given us plenty of time to focus on business and get some good girl time in. ’Cause Lord knows, when they get back, we’ll never see each other.”

  TJ pursed her lips. “I know that’s right. I’m gonna be getting the booty all the time.”

  She gave me a high five, and I started laughing when she shook her ass.

  “You act like he’s been gone for a year, fuckin’ nympho.”

  “I know you aren’t talkin’. Don’t forget, we used to live together, and our walls were thin, too. You think I couldn’t hear that buzzin’ coming from your room every night?”

  My cheeks grew warm, but I tried to deny it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  TJ watched me in the mirror as I fought hard to hide my grin.

  “You’re so full of shit. But I love you anyway.”

  About an hour later, TJ and I were at Tito’s, sipping on margaritas and eating Mexican food. It felt good to get out of my lonely apartment for something other than work. It had been a while since I went out and had fun.

  TJ bobbed her head to the music as she sipped her margarita, seeming much more content. She was scoping out the room when her eyes landed on something and widened.

  “What?”

  I turned around, trying to find what she was looking at. Then, I noticed the television in the corner. My hands got clammy, and my heart began to pound as I stared at a video of Dillon and Natasha together. I sucked in a breath when I realized the video wasn’t old. Dillon’s hair was cut differently, and he was growing a beard. He’d sent me a picture of himself last week, and he looked the same on television. I wasn’t sure what bothered me more—that he was with Natasha or that she got to see him in person while I had to settle with pictures on my phone.

  I read the closed-captioning on the screen.

  Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Dillon Frazier was seen with supermodel Natasha Bennington in Los Angeles on Thursday night. The couple seemed very comfortable with each other as they got into Natasha’s car together and left Club Nitro well after midnight. Could there be romance in the air?

  When the entertainment show moved on to the next story, I closed my eyes and told myself to forget it.

  I know Dillon. He’d never do that to me.

  I turned to face the table again, taking a long sip from my margarita.

  “Don’t even sweat it, Sky. Those shows are garbage. You know you can’t believe anything you see on there. I’m sure they just ran into each other.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’m not worried about it.”

  I wanted to mean what I’d said, but the seed of doubt had been planted, and I wasn’t sure how easy it would be to stop it from growing.

  By the time I got home that night, I was feeling pretty tipsy, and I couldn’t get that video out of my head, no matter how hard I’d tried. All my past insecurities were raising their ugly heads and reminding me why I’d evaded love for so long—to avoid the type of pain and rejection Dillon could easily inflict at any moment.

  Dillon was thousands of miles away, spending time with his supermodel ex-girlfriend, and he was no longer a struggling artist trying to make it. He was successful and famous—exactly the type of man Natasha wanted. I knew Dillon loved me, but he was also human. He was a man with needs, and he was out on the road, surrounded by fame and beautiful women. Not many men, even some good ones, could resist that kind of temptation.

  Fuck, Sky, you have to stop this.

  I kicked the heels off my feet and went back to our bedroom. I dropped my purse on our bed and petted Kuma as I stared at the comforter. I remembered the last time we’d made love there, and tears gathered in my eyes, just like they had that night. I always knew love was a risk, but I’d been willing to take that risk for Dillon. I hoped he wouldn’t make me regret it.

  Going into the bathroom, I looked at myself in the mirror and squared my shoulders.

  No matter what happens, you’ll be okay.

  I didn’t believe it, but I knew I had to try. I took my makeup off and changed my clothes before grabbing my phone and climbing into our empty bed. Clicking on my Camera app, I went into the archives and found my favorite video. I hit play and watched as Dillon’s face appeared on the screen, his dark eyes staring directly into the camera.

  “I’ve missed you, Sky.”

  The camera shook, and I could hear myself gasp as I continued recording.

  “When you’re gone, the sun isn’t as bright, music doesn’t sound as good, my heart doesn’t beat as fast…”

  I bit my lip, and I recalled the way I’d felt when he said that to me. God, I miss him so much.

  Dillon’s eyes lifted from the screen to look at me.

  “It’s taken me a long time to realize this, but I know it now. I’m in love with you. I love you, Sky.”

  I woke up the next morning to my alarm clock going off. I kept hitting the snooze button until I realized it wasn’t my alarm. It was my phone ringing in my bed. I groaned as my hand searched through the sheets to find it.

  “Hello?” I croaked into the phone.

  I peeked one eye open to check the time. It was three a.m.

  “Sky?”

  It was Dillon.

  I instantly sobered and rolled onto my back, staring at the shadows on our ceiling.

  “Yeah?” I swallowed, bracing myself for the worst.

  “Damn. I’m sorry I’m calling so late. This time difference has me all fucked up.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “I miss you. I’m sorry I haven’t been calling.”

  Tears stung my eyes, and I closed them. “It’s okay.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  Everything is fine.

  The words sat on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t say them. Not to Dillon. I had to be woman enough to face this head-on.

  “Tonight, I saw a video of you with Natasha.”

  “What?”

  I didn’t respond.

  “Are you fucking serious? Where?”

  “TJ and I went out for dinner, and it was on some entertainment show. They had a video of you guys getting into a car together.”

  “Oh my God. What is wrong with people? LA is ridiculous. There are people with cameras all over this place.”

  I waited for him to reassure me that everything was fine. I needed him to tell me that it was all a lie, to kill those questions festering inside me.

  But he didn’t. Someone else distracted him.

  “Hold on a sec. What? Okay, okay, I’ll be right there. I’m sorry, Sky. I have to go. I’ll try to call back tomorrow, okay? I love you.”

  He hung up before I could say I love you back.

  Time seemed to slow down with every day that passed. I did my best to keep busy. I worked long hours, I cleaned the apartment, I took Kuma on extra-long walks, but none of it seemed to work. Dillon was coming home in a week, and I should have been thrilled and excited, but I wasn’t. I was afraid. I was terrified of looking into his eyes and not recognizing them anymore.

  Walking into my new office in Midtown Manhattan, I found TJ at her desk with a stack of papers in front of her, but her eyes were on the windows.

  “Good morning.”

  My voice surprised her, and she turned around just long enough for me to see the tears.

  “T, what’s wrong?”

  I rushed to her side as she lowered her head and shook it back and forth.

  “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

  Squatting down beside her, I rubbed her back. “Tameka Joyce, don’t lie to me. Come on. What is it?”

  I plucked a few tissues from the box on her desk and handed them to her. She wiped her face and straightened her back, working to find h
er strength. I’d never seen her so upset before.

  “Matteo and I talked last night and decided we should take a break.” She finally looked at me, and a humorless laugh escaped her lips. “I don’t know why I’m so upset. We weren’t even together that long.”

  “You have every right to be upset, T. You care about him.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I do, but it’s all for the best. He’s so busy out there with Dillon, and we drifted apart.” She turned to look at me and asked, “Did Dillon tell you they’re staying for another month?”

  My stomach dropped. “What?”

  “Yeah, Matteo told me last night. They’re supposed to be meeting up with a new producer and doing some press out there or something. I think that was the final straw for me, you know? We hardly talked, and when we did, he was always so distracted. It hurts, but I think it’s better this way. I’ll survive.”

  I stared at TJ’s profile as her words slowly chipped away at my resolve. I felt like the room was spinning.

  Another month?

  I wanted to convince myself that Dillon and I were different, that our connection was stronger, but it was hard to deny the truth. Everything she’d just described, I’d felt, and the moment she was in now was the one I feared the most.

  TJ looked down at me with a sad smile. “It just wasn’t meant to be.”

  I closed my eyes and nodded as that seed inside me grew into something so terrifying, I could no longer ignore it. It was ripping its way through my gut and into my heart. Dillon and I were naive to think our love was indestructible.

  “Sky? Are you okay?”

  I stopped nodding and shook my head as tears stung my nose.

  “Oh no, what’s wrong? What happened?”

  “Nothing. I…I’m trying to stay strong, you know? This is Dillon’s dream, and I want him to have that. And look at us.” I blinked away my tears to meet TJ’s eyes, and then I glanced at the room we were in. “We’ve done what we set out to do, and we should be celebrating, not crying.”

  TJ grinned and wiped away more tears.

  “I know I should be proud of my achievements, but none of it seems to matter without Dillon.” I closed my eyes as my heart squeezed in my chest, warm tears making tracks down my cheeks. “I don’t want to lose him, but I’m terrified that I already have.”