I’ve been going to Culinary Drop-Out a couple times this week. Mostly because I can’t stand being alone right now. I’ve even become friendly with Adrian, the bartender. He’s not working when we get there, probably because it’s still early in the afternoon.
“So?” Kim asks as we eat. “Has he called?”
I chew on my pasta casually, trying to seem like I couldn’t care less about the fact that Derek has in fact, not called. “No. I told you he was going to forget all about me.”
“He’s probably busy. He hasn’t been active on social media either.”
I hate that I already knew that. I still don’t follow him on Instagram but his profile is public; and every time I grab my phone, I’m going into the damn app to check his profile before I even realize it. Like I said, I really hate myself right now.
I shrug. “Whatever. It’s probably for the better.” I look at her and decide to change the subject. “How are things with Justin?”
She’s been seeing Justin since the night they got matched at the bar. Apparently, it’s going pretty well. Derek wanted me to pretend to be his fake girlfriend to make us seem like a successful couple yet, Kim and Justin appear to be the real success here.
So maybe the app isn’t a complete scam. I think about what Derek said the other day. He was right. The app doesn’t promise a life-long relationship. It promises a match with a potential person. I’m trying to figure out how I got matched with Derek Collins. It must’ve been a glitch. The app can’t always get it right. Derek couldn’t be more far from what I look for in a man. Yes, he’s handsome but it’s not always about looks with me. Personality is just as important, if not more.
Yet, he has managed to make me like him. Liking him because of his looks makes me feel shallow. I guess he’s also sort of fun to be around too except when he ditches me for four other women.
“It’s going really good.” Kim beams. “We’re going to the club on Friday. You should come.”
I shake my head. “Pam needed Saturday off so we switched days and I’m covering for her. Besides, I don’t want to be a third wheel.” I tease with a smile.
She smiles. “We would behave in front of you, of course.”
I laugh “Wow. What happened to my sweet innocent friend?”
“Blame it on my sexy boyfriend.”
I raise my eyebrows. “We’re on labels now?”
She actually turns a little red as she looks at me. “We had sex the other night.”
I try to hide my shock. Personally, I don’t think I’d have sex with someone so soon but I’m in no way judging Kim. “Okay, wow.”
She laughs. “I’m sorry, is that too much information? I’ve never had a girlfriend before so I don’t know where the boundaries lie.”
I smile at her. She’s so sweet. “You can share whatever you want to share.”
“Well, I want to share that I had sex with my new boyfriend.”
Wow. Why am I thinking about Derek right now? No. Savannah. No. What is going on with you? Stop it.
“That’s great,” I say. “I mean, judging by your smile.”
She nods. “It was pretty great.”
I smile. “I’m really happy for you, Kim. Girlfriends stick up for each other so tell Justin he’ll have to deal with me if he breaks your heart.”
She reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Thank you, girlfriend.”
We laugh like schoolgirls and then she continues to beam about him.
This conversation makes me think about my sad sexual life. I was a virgin for a long time. Kevin was the first man I had sex with. I expected fireworks but I didn’t really enjoy it. In the time that we were together, I tried to get myself to enjoy it but it always left me wanting more. People always talk about sex like it’s the best thing in this world. Like Kim right now, for example, her eyes sparkle as she speaks. I haven’t had that experience with sex. Maybe I’m not good at it? I wouldn’t know. Not that it matters anyway. Sex is the last thing in my mind right now. My experience with it left me with zero desire to do it again.
We finish lunch and then we part ways home. We’ll see each other in just an hour for our work shifts.
I spot the big bucket of roses on my doormat the moment I step foot on the second floor of the apartment building. At first, I don’t think it’s my doormat. It’s probably my neighbor's. Who would send me flowers? But as I walk closer, I realize that it is my doormat.
I look around suspiciously, not really knowing what to expect, but there’s no one around. I approach the roses with caution and find a small envelope. I open it and my heart beats hard against my chest because there is only one person that they could be from.
Miss me? -Derek
A smile spreads across my lips and I can’t do anything to hide it. I roll my eyes at the card and take out my keys to unlock the door. The bucket is heavy when I pick it up and set it on my dining room table. I stare at the beautiful red roses for a moment.
Just then, my phone begins to vibrate in my pocket.
Took you long enough, I think to myself when I see Derek Collins on the caller ID. I take a deep breath before pressing the green button.
“Hello?” I answer, trying to keep my cool.
“Hi, Gin,” Derek says on the other end. His voice sounds so good over the phone though I’m not sure if it’s because it is or because I just missed the sound of it. Maybe both?
“Uh, I’m sorry, who is this?” I tease. I can’t fight against the smile. I’m literally smiling ear to ear. Oh my God. I’m in so much trouble.
He chuckles. “Okay, I deserve that.”
“You do.” I agree.
“I’m sorry I haven’t called,” He says. “I’ve been so busy prepping for this casting. My agent is always so strict with these things.”
Okay. I feel a little guilty. Here I’ve been thinking the worst of him when he was just working. Though it’s hard to believe that he hasn’t had five or even just one minute to call. At the same time, I don’t know why I’m being like this. I’m so annoyed with myself right now.
I bite my lip as I glance at the roses. “Thank you for the roses.”
“You got them?”
“Yes, today.”
“Good. They were supposed to get there yesterday,” He says disapprovingly. “I had to have a word with the supervisor.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course you did.”
“Did you like them?”
“Yes, they’re really pretty.”
I don’t tell him this, but this is the biggest bucket of roses that anyone has given me. I absolutely love them.
“Good.” He pauses. “Well?”
“What?” I ask with a confused frown.
“Do you miss me?”
“No.” I lie.
“Liar,” He says and I can easily picture the grin on his face. “I miss you too, Gin. I actually wanted to ask you something.”
“What?” I ask as I walk to my room.
“Are you working this weekend?”
“Why?” I ask slowly.
I’m not working Saturday but I am working on Sunday.
“I was wondering if you’d like to come here, with me.”
“With you?” I repeat. “You mean to California?”
“Yes. I can have my agent get you plane tickets. You can come and we can spend some time together. We’ll fly back together on Sunday.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Is he serious? Of course I can tell that he is being serious. There is no trace of humor in his voice. He’s actually inviting me to go to California. I’ve never been there. This is crazy.
“Uh, I, um, I don’t know, Derek.”
“Come on, Gin. I want to make it up to you. I owe you after what happened the other night. Let me do this, please.”
I frown at the floor. “I work on Sunday.”
“Try to take it off. It’ll be fun. I promise I’ll behave.”
I smile. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Okay
but let me know by tomorrow so we can get your plane ticket.”
“This is crazy, Derek,” I say shaking my head. “Do you invite random girls like this all the time?”
“Just the ones I call Gin.”
“And how many of those are there?” I ask, unable to keep the smile off my face.
“Just one.”
“You always have a response to everything.” I smile.
“Please come to me, Gin,” He says in a low voice. It makes my heart skip a beat. I’m so glad he can’t see my face right now.
“I’ll try,” I say when I can find my voice again.
“I promise you won’t regret it. We’ll have a lot of fun.”
“I don’t know. It’s hard to trust you after you ditched me.”
It’s hard to move on from what he did on our date. He made me look like an idiot and I’m going to look like an even bigger idiot when I am seen with him again.
“I won’t be a dick. Just give me another chance.”
I lay on my bed and look up at the ceiling. “I’ll let you know, okay?”
“Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay, Derek.” I smile.
“Okay, Gin,” He says. “We’re just getting started here so don’t deny me. Remember, you don’t have to say yes, just come.”
I laugh. “If only it was that easy.”
“It is.”
“Hmm,” I say. “I have to go. I have work.”
“Okay. Have a good day.”
“You have a good day too. Bye, Derek.”
“Bye, Gin.”
I hang up and take a deep breath. Well, there’s the call I was waiting for. It was definitely not what I expected it to be. What am I going to do? Truth is, I would love to go to California. The scary part is that I would love to go not because I’ve never been and I’m dying to go, but because Derek is there.
I like Derek Collins. I think it’s time I begin to admit this to myself.
You know, since I’m going across the country to him and all.
I won’t say yes. I’ll just go.
13. don’t want to share
I look out the window as the plane flies in between the clouds. I love being on a plane. I love how everything becomes so small because I’m reminded of how insignificant we all are. We walk around this world thinking we own it when we are next to nothing in the galaxy.
It’s Saturday morning and I’m on my way to Los Angeles. It’s a three-hour flight since there are no stops in between, so I should be there by noon. This is crazy. Even now, as I look out the window, I still can’t believe I’m doing this.
After I told Kim about it, she offered to cover my shift on Sunday.
“Are you sure?” I asked her Thursday night during our shift. “I didn’t tell you so that you would cover for me.”
“I know,” She says rolling her eyes. “I want to. What are girlfriends for?” She turned to look at me. “You do want to go, right?”
I thought about lying and saying no, I don’t want to go. But, of course, I didn’t. Why deny it? I didn’t make Derek invite me. He invited me all by himself and I really want to go, so why not go?
So here I am, on my way to meet Derek Collins in California.
This is wild.
The anticipation of seeing him grows by the minute. I’m a nervous wreck by the time the plane finally lands. It’s not until I’m making my way out of the airport that I realize Derek didn’t tell me where to meet him. I know I could take a taxi but to where?
The airport is full of people rushing down the hallways with bags over their shoulders and suitcases rolling behind them. All I brought with me is a backpack. Just enough clothes for two days. It took a lot of self-control to not overpack. It’s just two days and one night. I'll be back in New York tomorrow. It makes me feel sad and relieved at the same time.
I’m on the escalator going down when I decide I should probably call Derek. I take out my phone and get ready to call him but before I press his name on my contacts, I see him.
He’s at the bottom of the escalator wearing jeans with black and white Vans and a black T-shirt. Even from the escalator, I can see the way his shirt sleeves hug his muscular arms. He’s wearing a black cap but it didn’t seem to serve its purpose because he is surrounded by eager fans. A big group of women and teenagers are crowded around him. They’re all talking at the same time while taking pictures and selfies with him. The two security guards seem stressed as they try to keep them away from Derek though Derek doesn’t seem to mind.
As I watch this, I remind myself that he is here for me.
This hot and famous celebrity is here for me. I still can’t believe this is happening.
As if sensing that I’m looking at him, he looks up as I step out of the escalator.
“Sorry, everyone,” Derek says as he begins to make his way through the crowd. “My girl is here. I have to go.”
My girl is here.
He’s talking about me, right?
“Aww.” All the girls complain in unison and watch as he walks away.
“Please don’t follow me,” He says when they all take a couple steps forward.
I laugh as he reaches me. “You know, they’re gonna follow you right?” I ask as I glance at them. They all have their phones out and are taking pictures of Derek…and me.
Derek nods. “Yeah, we better get going.”
I follow his lead down the airport, trusting that he knows the exit. I know he must travel a lot. Airports must be a second home to him.
“So, how are you, Gin?” He asks with a cheeky grin as he nudges my shoulder with his.
I smile, looking straight ahead. “I’m good. How are you?”
“Excited that you decided to come,” He says.
I turn to look at him. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“I wouldn’t want to spend the weekend with anyone else.” He winks at me.
I have to look away to hide my blush.
He looks behind us then puts his arm around my shoulders. “We should hurry up,” He says as we speed up.
It’s hard to keep up with him but we’re able to make it out of the airport. He puts on shades when we get outside and leads us down the pathway to a shiny, red Tesla parked by the curb.
I raise an eyebrow at him when he opens the door for me. “Is this yours?”
“No, I rented it. I know how much you love Teslas.” He shrugs with a smile. “You’re welcome.”
I bite my lip, trying to bite back a satisfied laugh, then I get in the car. Truth is, I didn’t know how much I loved Teslas until I met his car. I knew about them, of course, and I’ve always thought they’re pretty cars but damn, I hope I make enough money one day to own one.
Derek walks around the car then gets in the driver’s seat. I look out the window as he drives away, getting behind the traffic.
“Have you ever been in California?” He asks.
I shake my head. “No.” I turn to look at him. “Where are we going?”
“I hope you’re not too tired. We’re going Six Flags,” He says. “You like rollercoasters?”
He’s asking me if I’m not too tired as if I’m about to spend my time here sleeping.
“Uh, I’m not the biggest fan,” I say.
“Aw, come on, Gin. It’ll be fun.”
I roll my eyes at him. He seems excited about this and I don’t want to be a party pooper so I nod. “Okay, but if I die it’s on you.”
“I’ll take full responsibility,” He says making me laugh. “It’s just an hour drive. We’ll probably make it there in less time with this baby.” He taps on the steering wheel.
I frown. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to go to an amusement park? People are just going to follow you everywhere.”
“I’ve been there without people recognizing me. There’s too many people.” He shrugs. “Plus, I got my shades.”
I laugh. “Right, because they hides your face really well.”
He turns to lo
ok at me and grins. “What’s wrong, Gin? You don’t want to share me with anyone?”
I roll my eyes as I turn my head and look out the window. “Shut up.”
He chuckles. “Give me your hand.”
DEREK'S MATCH Page 9