“Zee, you don’t date. Stop being ridiculous.” She tries to laugh it off as if it’s a joke.
“Go on a date with me.”
I would add a “please” to the end of that, but I already sound desperate, begging like this. But let’s be honest, I am.
“You said you just wanted to hook up again.” She slightly shakes her head in confusion. “This was just physical, and it was supposed to be only once.”
“I changed my mind.” I turn around, leaning my back against the bar so I can look at her. “Stevie, go on a date with me.”
“I don’t…I can’t.” Her words stumble out of her mouth without conviction, and I’m not sure that she wants to say them or even that she even believes them, for that matter.
So, I change my tactic. Because even though I know there’s a big part of her who doesn’t understand me or thinks that I’m suddenly changing my mind by wanting a date with her, I have a feeling there’s an even bigger reason why she’s saying no.
And he just so happens to be the guy hanging around her brother all night.
“What happened with your ex-boyfriend?”
“Why are you so fucking observant,” she nervously laughs.
“Eight years of therapy, sweetheart.” I quickly tuck her hair behind her ear to see the earrings that decorate it, but I make my movement quick as to not get caught. “What did he say that your brother doesn’t know?”
Nervous eyes bounce between mine before she releases a shaky exhale. “It’s not even what he said about me. I guess it’s how he made me feel.”
“How did he make you feel?” I keep my tone soft and my eyes locked on her, making sure she knows no one else in this room matters.
“Like I was an option, and not even the first one. Like I would only be his pick if he didn’t have better opportunities waiting for him. I just… I didn’t like feeling like I didn’t matter. I wanted him to choose me.”
I turn around, so we both face the bar again, my shoulder touching hers and our hands grazing, holding our respective beers. Our mutually ring-covered fingers look good next to each other, so I reach one out, skimming hers because that’s all the physical comfort I can offer in this room with too many eyes.
“And your brother, who seems like he’s protective as hell, by the way, he’s still friends with him?”
“Ryan is trying to help him get a job with a sports network here.”
“Here? Chicago?”
Nodding, Stevie continues. “Ryan doesn’t know the details. I haven’t told him. He and Brett played basketball together in college, and they were equally loved on a campus that worshipped the team. Everyone wanted a piece of them, but I just wanted to be chosen by the guy I was in love with, you know?”
I stay silent, coaxing her to continue.
“We were together for three years, and not once did I feel like I was good enough for him. He constantly ended things with me if he had other options he wanted to pursue, then when he was out of said options, he would come crawling back. And I was the idiot who always took him back. I just wanted to be chosen.”
I hate him. Partly for how he made Stevie feel, and partly because he once had what I want so badly and treated her as if she didn’t matter. As if she wasn’t his first option.
She nervously twirls the ring on her thumb before I place my hand over hers, stopping it. The motion causes her to finally look up at me.
“You’re not an idiot. You’re not crazy for wanting to be wanted. For wanting to be loved.”
A deep swallow bobs in her throat.
“And you’re not an option, Stevie, because besides you, there’s no other choice.”
Her entire face relaxes, melting in front of me. “Don’t say that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m trying not to like you.”
Her honesty makes me laugh. She’s used the phrase “I hate you” all too often since I met her.
“Well, good luck, sweetheart, because I’m a fucking gem.”
In my peripheral, Rich motions me over for another fucking interview.
Rolling my eyes, I place my attention back on Stevie. “I have to get back to work, but don’t forget you still owe me a dance.” I give her hand one last sly squeeze before leaving her at the bar.
“Who is that?” Rich’s focus is lasered on Stevie’s back.
“Don’t worry about it.” I continue walking past my agent in hopes of pulling his attention away from my favorite flight attendant.