by E. L. Todd
“I’m actually showcasing another artist.”
“Really?” she said in surprised. “He must be talented to catch your notice. I’ll have to take a look.” She walked away after shaking his hand.
Nancy looked at him. “What is she talking about?”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her to the next painting. “You’ll see.” He looked at the artwork. “I like this. What do you think?”
She looked at it. “It’s sad.”
“Yeah. It is.”
“But I like it.”
He led her to the next piece. The artist practically fainted when she saw Thatcher looking at her painting. Thatcher nodded to her. “Wonderful.”
“Thank—thank you.”
Nancy smiled at her and they continued on.
She enjoyed looking at the artwork with him. They didn’t always speak, but she felt they agreed on everything wordlessly.
“My lifetime goal is to visit every major art gallery in the world,” he said.
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he said.
“That’s an amazing goal.”
“We should do it together. It would fun.”
She smiled at him then drifted to the next painting. She tried to dissipate the obvious heat and desire between them. It wasn’t working very well. When they moved further to the back, she gasped.
“Thatcher, why are my paintings here?”
“I brought them,” he said as he grabbed her hand and led her forward.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I knew you would say no.”
“Damn right, I would. This is your event. This is about you.”
“And I’m passing the torch to you.”
A small crowd was gathered around her paintings, whispering to one another while they pointed at the details. She was so nervous, her palms started to sweat.
“Don’t be nervous,” he said into her ear. He approached the front and pulled her alongside him.
“How much?” one elderly woman said.
“I’m sorry,” Thatcher said. “They aren’t for sale.”
She raised an eyebrow. “50k for this one.”
Nancy almost fainted. A woman just offered a fortune for her beach picture.
Thatcher smiled. “I’m sorry. None of them are for sale.”
“100K.”
“I’m sorry,” he repeated.
“Who is this artist? Erikson? I’ve never heard of him.”
Thatcher pushed Nancy forward. “Because he is a she. And she’s new.”
The woman looked at Nancy and extended her hand. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
Nancy smiled. “You too.”
The woman asked Nancy a million questions about the painting. After a few minutes, Nancy had a crowd of people listening to her. Thatcher moved away and stood in the back, right in her line of sight. When she got nervous, she looked at him, taking courage in the calmness of his eyes. She never had so much attention on her. Everyone seemed fascinated with her and her artwork. She was overcome with happiness.
By the end of the night, she had twenty different offers for the painting. She turned them all down since Thatcher was the owner of her work. When they were taking apart the stands, Thatcher grabbed the paintings and placed them in a protective box.
“I told you that you were talented,” Thatcher said.
“I can’t believe you did that,” she said.
“I can.”
“Thank you.”
He smiled at her. “I’m glad you appreciate it. Let’s head back.”
He brought the paintings back to the hotel and they walked into his room. She was high from the night of her success. All those people thought she was talented, inspirational. It was unbelievable.
Thatcher grabbed her and brought her to his chest, holding her while he swayed from side to side, dancing with her.
“What are you doing?” she asked
“Dancing.”
“There’s no music.”
“I can hear it. Can’t you?”
“No.”
“Hmm.” He held her close while he looked into her eyes, making her feel faint from the intensity of emotion. Thatcher gave her everything that she needed. He was so perfect, it was surreal. In the short amount of time she had come to know him, he had broken down all her walls, seeing her for exactly who she was. He knew everything about her, things she never even told Sydney. Against her will, she had fallen for him. She had to stop this. It was wrong. She pulled away, crossing her arms over her chest. “I can’t do this anymore.”
He dropped his hands to his sides, staring into her eyes. “Can’t do what, exactly?”
“This.”
“What’s this?”
“I can’t work for you anymore. I can’t see you every day.”
“You’re breaking up with me?”
“We can’t break up. We aren’t together.”
“Yes, we are.”
She stepped back. “I’m sorry. Whatever this is, it’s over.”
He placed his hands in his pockets, looking calm. “Tell me why you stay with him.”
She sighed. “He’s different.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit,” he snapped. “Be straight with me.”
She’d never seen him get angry before. “He made mistakes but he’s finally become what I want him to be. I said I would work it out with him. I’m in a relationship. I can’t just walk away and run off with you.”
“Yes you can! You don’t owe that piece of shit anything.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter if he’s changed, Nancy. He still hurt you, treated you like shit, and cheated on you. I know you’ve never had someone really love you, but that’s just unacceptable. I won’t let you settle for him just because you think you deserve it.”
“I’m not settling.”
“You are! You’re afraid to be with me because you think I’ll hurt you. You can deal with Derek hurting you because you don’t love him, but you couldn’t handle it if I broke your heart. That’s the truth. Don’t deny it.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked down.
“I don’t go after girls in relationships, honestly. That isn’t my style. I respect monogamy and a girl’s wishes. If you’re in love with him, happy with him, and he treats you right, it doesn’t matter how I feel. I’ll bow out. But that isn’t the case with you, Nancy. You aren’t in love with him, you aren’t happy with him, and you don’t trust him. You deserve to be with me, the better man. My fiancé left me because she loved someone else. I respected that decision and left her in peace. Believe me, I’m not a fighter. But with you, I can’t give up.
“When I saw you on that beach, I knew I had to be with you. Moments like those don’t happen for me. I’ve never had a divine experience like that, where I saw your face and knew I had to cross your path, making up a story about losing my keys. Then when I saw your painting, realizing you were the same person, I knew then that we were meant to be together. I’m not a religious person, but I’m very spiritual. Our souls come from the same stem, our hearts from the same cells, because we are the same. If there is such a thing as soul mates, you are mine. I really believe that, Nancy. You’re just as in love with me as I am with you.”
“I never said that I loved you.”
“Because there was no need! I saw it in the painting you drew for me. You can’t stand there and lie to me. I see exactly what it is. You push me away but I’m not going to let you. I’m not going to let the most amazing, beautiful, perfect person end up with garbage, a man who cheats on her and has the nerve to beg for forgiveness.”
“He didn’t cheat on me.”
He shook his head. “Fucking another girl is cheating, Nancy. I don’t know how he talked his way out of that one.”
“He didn’t have sex with anyone else. He just flirted, signed their breasts, and licked the salt off their chests. It’s still horrible,
but he didn’t cheat on me.”
He shook his head, his eyes hollowing. “He lied to you.”
“What?”
He sighed then ran his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t know you didn’t know. I—I didn’t want to be the one to tell you that. I thought you knew.”
She felt her heart race in her chest. “What are you talking about?”
“The night of the surf competition, he fucked some girl. I know about it because the guys told me.”
She shook her head, feeling the blood pound in her ears. “No, you’re wrong.”
“Nancy, I want you to leave Derek and be with me, but I would never lie to make that happen. I wish I was wrong.”
“Derek is one of my closest friends. He wouldn’t lie to me.”
He sighed, the sadness creeping into his face. “I’m sorry.”
She turned around and wrapped her arms around her waist. “Derek is an asshole. I admit he’s done horrible things, but he isn’t a liar. He wouldn’t do that to me, to anyone.”
Thatcher rested his hands on her shoulders. “Talk to him.”
She stepped away.
“This is proof that you don’t belong with him, Nancy. You’re in love with me, spending the weekend with me, but you still won’t make a move. He doesn’t deserve you. You’re too good for him.”
She left the room then slammed the door behind her, locking it.
Thatcher didn’t reach for the door and she felt relieved with the privacy. She turned on the shower then sat under the falling water. Her thoughts echoed in her head. Derek wouldn’t do that. He couldn’t. Nancy couldn’t believe he would lie to her face like that. It wasn’t possible. He might lie to someone else, some other bimbo, but he wouldn’t lie to her, his closest friend. She held herself tightly as the tears streamed down her face. She was scared that it was true, that Derek really did that. Tomorrow she would find out.
17
Thatcher and Nancy didn’t talk much on the way home. On the plane, he didn’t hold her hand or touch her. She didn’t reach for him, thinking about Derek the entire time. She didn’t call Derek or question him about it. She would wait until she saw him in person.
When they landed, Thatcher turned to her. “Is Derek picking you up?”
“No.”
“Can I take you home?”
“Please.”
They got in the car and drove to her house. She was surprised that he knew exactly where she lived.
“How did you know that?”
“I know your dad. We have the same lawyers.”
“Lawyers?”
“For tax purposes and contracts.”
She didn’t get out of the truck even though he was in the driveway.
Thatcher grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “You know where to find me if you need me.”
“I know,” she whispered.
He leaned toward her, moving his fingers through her hair. “I wish I was wrong, Nancy.”
“I know that too.”
“Will you allow me to break my word to you?”
“What?”
“Please let me kiss you.” He looked at her forehead. “Here.”
She nodded.
He leaned in and pressed his warm lips against her forehead, letting them stay there for a long moment. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of his touch. When he broke apart, she didn’t want him to go.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.
“Thank you for taking me.”
“Thank you for coming with me.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
She got out of the truck then carried her bags to her car. She threw everything in the trunk then got inside. After she started the engine, Thatcher drove away. She wasn’t planning on going inside her house. The only place she wanted to go was Derek’s.
She drove there with the music off, too upset to concentrate on anything. She didn’t remember the drive. When she arrived, she didn’t know where the time had gone. She pulled out her phone and called him.
“Baby?”
“I’m outside,” she said quietly.
“Is everything okay?”
“Just come outside.” She hung up then got out, waiting in the yard for him.
He came outside, wearing shorts and a t-shirt. His eyes were wide with fright. When he reached her, he extended his hands, but she stepped back.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
“This can go down in two different ways. If you lie to me, you not only lose me as your girlfriend, but you lose me as your friend. I’ll never forgive you or speak to ever again. If you don’t lie to me, you still lose me as your girlfriend but you get to keep our friendship. The decision is yours.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you cheat on me that night of the surf competition?”
He stared at her, his shoulders tensing. He closed his eyes and bowed his head. His silence rang in the air.
“Derek?”
“Baby, I’ve changed so much.”
She covered her face with her hands and felt the tears fall.
“Please don’t leave me,” he said as he grabbed her waist. “Please. I was an asshole then but I’m different now. I’ve changed. I regret everything that happened. I know you believe me.”
She pushed him as hard as she could, sending him to the ground. “I can’t believe you lied to me! I thought you were my best friend.”
He got to his feet. “I didn’t want to lose you.”
She slapped him across the face. “After all the shit I forgave you for, I could have forgiven you for that if you were honest with me. But I can never be with a liar. That trust is gone forever, Derek. We’re done.”
Tears fell down his face. “Nancy, please. We’re doing so good. I’ve changed so much. I—I love you. I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“I can’t believe you just said that! Fuck you, Derek.”
“I mean it!”
“No, you don’t. I can’t believe anything you say. I can deal with a cheater and an asshole, but I can’t deal with a liar. Go fuck yourself.” She turned to walk away but he grabbed her. She twisted his arm and pushed him back. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
He stepped back. “Please give me another chance.”
“No.”
“Please!”
She climbed into her car then drove away, leaving him standing in the front yard, tears falling down his face. She passed the speed limit as she drove back to her house, tears pouring down her face. She was sick of being treated like shit. She didn’t deserve it.
When she came back home, she stormed in the house, still sobbing.
“Kiddo?” her dad asked, surprise on his face.
She totally forgot about him. He was never home on the weekends, and today he decided to show up. Talk about bad luck.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
“DON’T ACT LIKE YOU GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ME!”
He dropped his suitcase on the ground, shocked by her outburst.
“You have no right to ask me what’s wrong! You don’t care about me, you don’t love me, so cut the shit. You’re a fucking greedy asshole. Fuck you.” She turned and stormed out of the house, her dad following behind her.
“Nancy, stop!”
She slammed the door in his face then jumped in her car, hauling ass. She drove down the road, not sure where she was going or what she was going to do. She wanted to call Sydney and crash there, but now that Sydney was married, Nancy felt uncomfortable intruding on her life like that. She thought of Henry, but he was sleeping with Ren, equally encumbered. Without thinking, she drove to Thatcher’s house and parked outside.
After she stopped crying, she called him.
He answered on the first ring like he was expecting her. “Hey.”
“Can I stay with you tonight?” She heard the sound of the stairs as he headed toward the front door.
“Are you outside?”
“Ye
ah.”
“Come in.”
She hung up then walked to the front door. When she reached it, he opened it, wearing sweats and an old t-shirt. “I’m sorry. I have nowhere else to go. I don’t want to bother you.”
He stared at her, sadness in his eyes. He kneeled down and picked her up, closing the door with this foot then carried her upstairs. She wrapped her arms around his neck while he carried her, trying to crawl inside him so she would never feel pain again.
He walked into his bedroom and placed her on the bed. “You’re always welcome here, Nancy.” He opened his drawers and pulled out clothes before he set them on the bed. “I’ll give you a minute to change.” He closed the bedroom door.
She grabbed the clothes and smelled them, recognizing his scent. Then she changed and crawled into bed, clutching a pillow. He returned a few minutes later and slid into bed beside her. She moved to him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. Thatcher ran his fingers through her hair and down her back.
“You were right,” she whispered.
“I didn’t want to be. Honestly.”
“When I went home my dad was there, even on a Sunday. When he asked why I was crying, I flipped out and yelled at him, screamed. I stormed out. Now I can’t go back there. Sydney is married and I don’t want to bother her. Henry is practically married. I have no one in my life to count on. I only have myself.”
“That isn’t true.”
“Yes, it is.”
“I’ll take care of you.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes and tried not to cry.
His hands continued to rub her everywhere. Thatcher pulled her to his chest and brushed her hair with his lips, breathing into her ear. Now that she with him, she felt a little better. His hands calmed her mind and stilled the tears that dripped behind her eyes.
“I’ll look for an apartment tomorrow.”
“You’re welcome to stay with me until you get on your feet.”
“No, it’s okay. I should get it figured out by tomorrow.”
“I have a truck. I don’t mind helping you move.”
“Thank you. I can’t ask my friends because I don’t want them to know where I live.”
“I figured,” he said. “But I do have an extra bedroom. You can share my office with me.”
