𝐎𝐟𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟 - 𝐩𝐭.𝟐
𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐀𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐦!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏, 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞
I get home exhausted. After lunch, the office was in chaos with one demand after another, phone calls, and an unnecessary meeting about organization. Seriously? That’s the basics of any job.
On the bright side, I hear a knock at the door. It sounds familiar. At least he kept his word, I think. I open the door looking tired but ready to welcome him.
“Wow, you look beat,” Mike says as soon as I open the door. “But you’re still the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“A compliment coming from a critic isn’t usually very kind,” I retort. I look at his hands and see… flowers. Obviously, it’s his classic move. “Orchids?”
“Your favorites, remember?! On our first date you—”
“Yes, Mike, on our first date I said I loved orchids, and after that day you never stopped giving them to me.” I’ve heard that one before. – I say sarcastically
– Can I come in? I know you’re mad, but you know I always try to make it up to you. – He says, with that abandoned puppy look on his face. Shit. Before I know it, I’m already making room for him to come in, and he does.
Mike approaches and kisses me on the cheek, lightly touching my waist as if trying to test the waters. I was so tired at that moment that I just did the same: I surrendered to his touch, leaning in and giving him a peck on the lips. I close the door and look at him. – I’ve been waiting for you…”
– I know, my love. I’m sorry, one stressful thing led to another, and I just needed to get away from there. Do you understand how stressful this has been for me? I want to be the best, and to do that… I’ll need to give it my all there. I know you understand, and I’m just asking you to put yourself in my shoes.
– I always put myself in your shoes, but we’re in a relationship… we have plans, we have a future, I just want a little consideration. I wish you’d just told me, that’s all. It’s not the first time…
– I know, honey. I know! But please, let’s not make a big deal out of this, okay?! – he says, kissing me and now squeezing my waist – I love you so much. I like how understanding you are. – he says, gently. Before I know it, I let this argument, once again, be resolved in bed.
I’d been warning him for a whole week, and he was running late. The publisher decided to organize a promotional event for upcoming releases. It was a big deal, and I was put in charge of leading everything—which meant double the work: renting the venue, checking the guest list, making sure there were enough chairs, and arranging for food. I spent the week on the edge. And all I asked Mike was to show up to support me—something basic.
I checked our conversation for the third time, with a few messages asking where he was and if he was still going to show up. Nothing. Meanwhile, the event was going on with a few hiccups, but I managed to resolve them quickly. Journalists, writers, librarians, bookstore owners, and publishing partners were mingling, chatting, laughing, and drinking. Everything seemed fine, until I sensed a familiar presence approaching:
– s/n? – Beau approaches, drink in hand
– Sheriff Arlen? – I say, surprised by his presence – I can’t believe you’re here!
“Mike mentioned the event a few days ago. He was proud to emphasize that ‘my girlfriend is organizing everything.’ So I came to check out the hard work and… from what I can see, it looks amazing.” He says, admiring the space until he looks back into my eyes.
– Oh, come on. I did what I could… Mike must have been tired of hearing me complain about the same things, so that’s probably why he mentioned it.
– You’re being modest. I wouldn’t mind hearing you talk about it, especially since organizing a big event like this is a huge headache for one person. But you’re tough, I can see that. – he encourages me – I’m impressed with your work, honey – he says naturally.
My shy smile gives me away. Again. But before I can say anything, one of the catering staff comes to alert me to yet another problem in the hall. Great, one more problem to solve. “Excuse me? Duty calls,” I say, and he smiles.
“Sure! I’ll be around,” he says.
After resolving yet another problem, I realized it was time to go on stage to host the upcoming book launches, which would be presented by the authors themselves. That’s when I was able to grab my phone and see the disappointing message:
Mike: Sorry, I have to stay late! See you later.
Great. He did it again.
The event had come to an end. After that message, I pushed any sadness aside because it was nothing new. It was my moment of glory; I couldn’t let the same feeling Mike always stirred in me get to me again.
I was grabbing my bag to leave when I realized I wasn’t going home alone and depressed after all. Beau was leaning against his truck, enjoying the late afternoon as the evening stars began to fill the sky. I smiled when he came over to me.
“I know you must be exhausted, but I’d love to have a moment alone with the star of the show. Want to grab a drink?” he says, unpretentiously. I smile because my answer was simply to get into his truck and let him take me wherever he wanted.
After talking about the event, we started to loosen up in our conversation. I laughed at the story of an incident he told—“And then, the guy just tripped on his skateboard and fell right into the cop’s arms. We were working so fast that day that we thought the universe was giving us a chase like that as a gift.” He added, and I burst out laughing, taking another sip of my drink.
“How can this be the worst chase in history and the fastest arrest ever made?”
“Yeah, I thought it couldn’t get any better, but that day was the best.” he says as he drinks his beer. He sets the glass on the table and looks at me with those same eyes I still can’t quite figure out. “There’s one thing I still want to understand.”
– About what?
– You being so modest.
I laugh – Okay, go ahead.
– I saw you look at the door about ten times today. But at the same time, I saw you command everyone’s attention in the room. I mean… you’re beautiful, smart, confident, but you wait for someone so pathetic to give you less than you deserve.
“Wow, you’re direct, aren’t you?!” I say, almost choking, without looking away from him.
“I believe alcohol has a great effect on people. I just… see that he doesn’t care. And you accept it.”
I run my finger around the rim of the glass, lost in thought. Actually, I already knew all this, but hearing someone from the outside talk so openly about it is painful.
– You know it’s not that easy, right?!
– I’ve been through this before, Y/N. I know what it’s like to be with someone who has no interest in what their partner likes or who just throws all their consideration in the trash. Nothing in life is easy, but it’s up to you to keep accepting what you think you deserve or not.
“Okay, so you think I should end a relationship that’s lasted years and be with you?” I retort.
“Maybe.”
“Great, we don’t even know each other.”
“I’m not like your boyfriend.” I won’t cross your boundaries, and I know what I should—
– I think we should stop here. – I say, cutting him off. I finish the rest of my drink and get up from the table. I walk out first, and he catches up to me after paying.
– Yes or no, please—
– I’m at my limit, Beau. Do you think I don’t know how much I hate myself for still being with Mike? Do you think it didn’t hurt me not to see him on a day as special to me as today? – I say.
– But I was there. And I want to be there for you at every damn event you organize, I want to celebrate your victories, I want to take you to my place, I want—he trails off. He takes a deep breath and then looks at me – I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have meddled in your life. Let me at least take you home. It’s the least I can do. – I sigh as I hear all that.
The ride was silent. As soon as we arrive, he drops me off at my front door. I look at him, trying to figure out what all that was about. I mean, was it the alcohol? All that confession to someone I’ve known for such a short time but who hasn’t left my side until now.
“Beau, I—”
“No.” He cuts me off. “We don’t need to talk about this.” “If you’re happy with him—”
“I’m not.” I say it so quickly that I even surprise myself. “I’m just… confused. About everything. About you, about my feelings.”
“I like you. And I’d love it if you’d give me the chance to get to know you better. But I can’t cross the line, out of respect for you.”
I realize how close I’m getting to him, how I let my gaze linger too long on his face, his eyes, his mouth. But before I can do anything, I hear a familiar voice:
– Y/N?” Mike interrupts, looking at Beau and me—standing close together, our expressions giving us away to anyone passing by.
