Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
I flicked my gaze to his, and he looked at me closely, waiting for me to speak. I wanted to tell him about my parents and what my sister told me, but I’d never spoken to anyone about that situation. It was too personal—too fucked up—and though that was a major reason why my head wasn’t in the training, it mostly had to do with someone else.
“It’s this girl,” I said, sitting up straight again.
“Ah.” Javier fought a smile. “I had a feeling.”
“I know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t about Giselle.”
That caused his smile to slip. “No?”
“No. It’s this woman I’ve been working with. Her skin care company endorsed me, and when I met her, there was just something about her that I liked. I couldn’t pinpoint it, but it was something, you know? I mean, yeah, she’s sexy as hell—more than a ten, in my opinion—but that’s not what kept me wanting to know her. When we talked, we had this automatic connection. It was like our dynamic wasn’t forced. Conversation was easy with her. You get it, I’m sure. About forcing conversations for the sake of it?”
“Oh, trust me. I do get it,” he said. “So you like this woman?”
“I do like her . . . but she’s a little complicated and hard to read sometimes, especially through text. We’ve been emailing back and forth for a good month and a half, but I sent her my number a few days ago so we could text or call, even, and ever since then, I feel like our dynamic has changed.”
“Well, why wouldn’t she want to call you after all those emails?”
“Because we’re only supposed to be friends. I can tell she doesn’t want more than that.”
Javier scoffed. “Why the hell not?”
“I told you her situation is complicated, man.” I paused, prepping myself to tell him the worst part. “Look, she lost her husband sometime last year. He died from spinal cancer.”
Javier’s dark-brown eyes stretched while all his other features collapsed. “Oh.” Then his eyebrows dipped as he said, “Shit, Deke.” I had a feeling this was striking a chord with him by the way he hunched forward.
“Yeah. I know. I’ve been checking in with her, and I know she’s not ready to move on from him. I mean, he was her husband, right? She needs that time to process, so I get it, I really do, but at this point I’m thinking I need to back off, because I can’t be just a friend to her. I’m greedy, Valdez. I want more.”
“Yes, well, I agree about backing off. She needs time to heal herself,” he said.
“I know.”
“Because I can tell you, after I lost Eloise, I did not know who I was or what the point of living was. I still feel that way sometimes, but Aleesa keeps me going. Perhaps that is what this woman is feeling too. You cannot make a person move faster with something like this.”
“But I’m not,” I countered. “I want her to process it. I want her to acknowledge it. I don’t even mind being there while she does. Don’t ask me why, but I care about this girl and her well-being. I can relate to her in so many ways, and yes, I do want to know more about her, but I can’t do that if she doesn’t let me in.”
“Okay, okay. I get it.” Javier raised his hands in the air, a gesture for me to slow it down. “But you need to listen to me, Deke. You say you do not want to be just friends with her, but what if that is what she needs right now? A friend. And perhaps all those emails you shared made her feel like you were a friend she could talk to. It proved that you did care. Sending her your number probably made her realize you are seeking more from her, and she does not want to hurt you, so she’s keeping quiet. Her emotions are all over the place. She probably doesn’t even feel like herself. I think you should just keep being that friend to her. If there is true chemistry, it will be one day. And when she is ready, she will call.”
I nodded and sighed, dropping my head again.
“Bishop! Valdez! Get off your asses and start these drills!” Ken shouted across the court. “It’s not my money you’re wasting!”
Javier capped my shoulder before rising to his feet, and I followed suit. As we walked across the polished floors, he asked, “Have you ever been friend zoned before?”
“Hell no, Javier! Are you serious? Look at me.” I gestured from my face to the rest of my body. “Not a single woman I’ve met has ever attempted to put me in the friend zone!”
“Ah, that is right. Because you are Deke Bishop,” he said, chuckling.