25.
ELIZABETH
Barbara’s admonishment of me made me question my every action from last night. She was right though. I wasn’t the same girl who had once dated Ben. I had grown, and I shouldn’t even think about handling Daniel the same way I would have handled this sort of situation eight years ago. I needed to suck it up and give him a chance to explain.
If it turned out that he was nothing more than a lying sack of shit, then I could hang his nuts from my rearview mirror. But I wouldn’t do anything rash before knowing the facts.
Whatever the truth was needed to wait because of my busy schedule for the day, but it really couldn’t wait too long because of my pounding heart. I needed to get my head out of this crap and focus on my job, but dealing with Daniel would be the only way for me to do that. He had twisted me up since the day I met him, and I needed some clarity.
My legs shook under my desk as I reached for my phone, nervousness and anxiety screaming through me all at once. It would be one thing if Daniel were the one calling, but it was me calling him, and that very fact freaked me out. I scrolled through my contacts until I reached his name. Pressing Send, I held my breath and pressed my lips together as I waited for the call to connect.
“Elizabeth.” My name sounded so beautiful coming from his lips. “I’m so glad you called. Can you give me a second?”
“Sure,” I answered, my throat feeling instantly parched.
Daniel yelled in the background for someone to give him ten minutes, and I heard the distinct sound of a door shutting before he was back.
“You there?”
“I’m here,” I breathed out, wishing I had some water.
“So, about last night—” he started to explain before I cut him off.
“Me first. I’m sorry I ran away without even giving you the chance to talk to me about it. I know that was immature of me, but I was so upset, and I just honestly figured that you’d lied to me.”
His breath heaved through the phone as I waited for him to speak, yell, chastise me, or something.
“Listen to me, Elizabeth. I’m not going to pretend to be happy about the way things went down last night, but I realize that we both have our own issues when it comes to relationships.”
“You can say that again,” I said, mostly speaking for myself.
“I’m not done,” he snapped.
I immediately quieted.
“This is all new to me, too. Having a girlfriend isn’t something I’ve done in a long time. It’s not something I’ve ever wanted to do lately, but I want to—with you. You have to trust me though. I know that trust is earned, but I’m not a liar,” he emphasized, making his point crystal clear. “I’ve never lied to you, and I never will. You have to believe that in order for this to work.”
“You’re right. You’re so right, and I’m sorry. I just saw that picture of you and Kate, and I couldn’t breathe. The way I feel about you frightens me.”
“How do you feel about me?” he questioned, his tone lightening up.
“I like you.” I paused. “A lot.”
“I like you a lot, too,” he mimicked.
“I’m not done,” I pretend snapped. “Thinking that you were still dating someone or that you lied to me about calling off your other women was so hurtful. We’ve just started dating, but I feel things for you that I’ve never felt before. You have the power to wreck me, Daniel, completely fucking wreck me, and that absolutely terrifies me.”
“Welcome to the club.”
“Huh?” I questioned.
“You think you’re the only one risking getting hurt here?”
“I don’t know. I have no idea if you have the same feelings that I do.”
“I’m the one who’s been pursuing you. I’m the one chasing you down and making new rules because I can’t stand the thought of being without you.”
“I’m making new rules, too.” I added. Not too long ago, I’d sworn that I’d never date anyone, let alone him.
“Then, stop acting like you’re alone in this. We’re in this together.” His tone was more than reassuring.
As I listened to him, my heart swelled, the shriveling organ matter it had become last night slowly refilling again.
“Is there anything else?” he asked.
“What do you mean, anything else?”
“Do you have any other concerns?”
“Aside from you annihilating my very being?” I tried to tease, but I wasn’t kidding.
“Yes, Elizabeth, aside from that.” He huffed out a laugh.
I chewed on a pen cap, wondering if I should say the first thing that popped into my head.
“What are you afraid of? Tell me, so I can prove you wrong.”
“I’m scared of you, of losing myself in you and forgetting who I am,” I admitted, feeling weaker than I’d ever felt. It was one thing to be a strong businesswoman in an industry filled with men, but it was something entirely different when my heart was on the line, and emotions were involved.
“I’ll never let that happen, and you won’t either.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you’re too strong of a person to lose everything you’ve worked for, and I’ll never let you. I won’t allow you to fall or lose focus. I want you to be great. I want you to be successful.”
His words made me feel like I was floating on air. I swore, if I looked down, I’d see my desk and lamps below me and the ceiling at my fingertips.
“Is this how real relationships are supposed to work?”
“I think so. What are your thoughts so far?”
“Healthy communication, reassurance, building each other up instead of tearing each other down?” I paused. “I like it.”
“I love it. I’ll see you tonight.”
“What?”
“You think I’m staying up here after our first fight? How will we have make-up sex if I’m five hundred miles away?”
“Oh my gosh. You really are presumptuous. Good-bye, Daniel.” I laughed before ending the call.
I was excited. Daniel hadn’t lied to me, he wasn’t dating anyone else, and I was getting laid tonight. Maybe. I only hoped Barbara wasn’t right about my hoo-ha being broken or out of business or any other strange thing she’d suggested was wrong with it because apparently I’d need it later. Was I really ready to take this step with him? I’d know for sure once I saw him later.