Better than Perfect

by Simone Elkeles

  He finally puts his fork down. “What?”

  “Do you have your hearing aids on?” Sylvia asks him. After he nods, she repeats in a louder tone, “Tell Derek here why he shouldn’t let the girl of his dreams get away!”

  Irving brings Sylvia’s hand to his lips, kissing it softly. “When I saw Sylvia for the first time, I was hired to paint her house. She had a boyfriend who she was expected to marry, but I knew from the moment I laid eyes on her that she was the one. She probably wasn’t supposed to talk to the help, but she’d watch me paint and chat with me while I worked. I’d fallen madly in love with the girl and knew she was the girl of my dreams.” He stops to look into Sylvia’s eyes longingly. “So when it was time to paint Sylvia’s room, I painted MARRY ME on her wall.” He laughs. “She wrote her answer on the wall so I’d find it the next day.”

  “What happened?” Ashtyn asks, completely into the story as if it’s a fairy tale.

  “Obviously she said yes, because they’re married,” I tell her.

  “Actually, Irving never saw what I’d written because my parents found out what he’d done and fired him,” Sylvia says. “They didn’t want me marrying a painter.”

  “But I never gave up. I came to her house every day, asking for her hand.”

  “Eventually my parents gave in.” Sylvia pats Irving’s hand. “And we were married six months later. That was sixty years ago.”

  Ashtyn sits back and sighs. “That’s a wonderful story. So romantic.”

  “That’s why you don’t let the girl of your dreams get away, Derek.” Sylvia wags her finger at me.

  I think about what Ashtyn would look like sixty years from now sitting across the table from me. I bet she’d still have that same sparkle in her eyes and those kissable lips. She’d be grateful someone finally stuck by her all those years when everyone else failed her.

  But I can’t be that guy.

  I might not make it past thirty-five, the age my mom was when she died. Right now, as I look across the table at the girl who could very well be the girl of my dreams, I know I won’t marry her. I’m going to let someone else be her Irving, someone who’ll be able to sit across from her sixty years from now and look into her eyes as if his would have been a horrible existence if not for her.

  “Yeah, well, Ashtyn here is bossy and controlling.” My food threatens to come up as I add, “Since I don’t like bossy and controlling girls, she ain’t the girl of my dreams.”

  “Derek is actually the most annoying boy I’ve ever met,” Ashtyn chimes in with a fake smile. “So if he painted MARRY ME on my wall, I’d put a circle around it and slash a line right through it.”

  Chapter 36

  Ashtyn

  I’m not going to let Derek think his comments weigh heavily on my mind or my heart. Back at our campsite, I announce that I’m tired and want to go to bed.

  Tonight I won’t freeze my ass off, because I put on two pairs of socks, two pairs of sweats, and two jerseys. I must look like a puffed-up marshmallow, but I don’t care. I don’t want to be weak in the middle of the night and ask him to hold me.

  The entire time Irving was telling his story, I thought about the boy of my dreams. I imagined Derek looking at me across a dinner table sixty years from now.

  But Derek doesn’t want to be my boyfriend. He says he couldn’t be with me because I’m controlling and bossy. But could I be someone else for him? If I change, will he want to love me?

  The problem is that last night, knowing he was near and wouldn’t let go of me, made me feel something I haven’t felt in a long time. When he told me he wouldn’t leave me, I believed him. I found myself wanting to fall in love with him.

  Truth is, I think I already have.

  It hurts, because I have to either give up on ever having my feelings reciprocated or become the kind of girl Derek wants. Ugh, I don’t know what to do.

  I hear wood crackling and leaves crunching underneath his footsteps as I lie in the tent. A few minutes later Derek peeks inside.

  “You sure you don’t want to sit outside for a bit?” he asks in that deep voice that penetrates the cool night air. “It’s warm by the fire.”

  If I look at him, my heart will skip a beat and I might be tempted to tell him how I feel. I can’t do that. “I’m fine. Just go to the fire and leave me alone,” I bark, trying to push him away so I can be alone in my misery. I’m so conflicted.

  “What’re you wearin’?” he asks.

  “Practically everything in my entire duffel.” I fluff my pillow and turn away from him. “I won’t be cold tonight, so you don’t have to worry. You can rest easy knowing I won’t ask you to keep me warm.”

  “I don’t . . .”

  “You don’t what?”

  There’s a long silence. “Forget it,” he finally says. “Good night, Ashtyn. See you in the mornin’.”

  Tears form in my eyes. This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be when you fall in love. As controlling as he says I am, I wish I could control the way he feels about me. But I can’t. I know there’s more between us than just a game, but how do I make him see it?

  I wish I could control my emotions as I squeeze my eyes shut and will them to stay dry. But I can’t. Silent tears start streaming down my face and fall onto my pillow.

  One-sided love sucks.

  Chapter 37

  Derek

  I’m sitting alone in front of the fire. Irving walks up, holding a can of beer.

  “You’ve got a nice fire going there,” he says.

  I gesture to Ashtyn’s empty chair. “Want to join me? Ashtyn went to sleep a while ago and I could use some company.”

  He settles into the chair and takes a swig of beer. “Ashtyn seems like a nice girl. Spunky.”

  “She’s trouble. For me, at least.” I toss a stick into the fire. “My dad married her sister, so we’re kind of stuck together . . . at least for a while.”

  “You could do a lot worse than being stuck with a pretty girl on a road trip.”

  “She drives me nuts.”

  Irving chuckles as if sincerely amused. “Every worthwhile girl drives a man nuts, Derek. Just think what a boring world it would be without girls who keep us on our toes. My Sylvia is a feisty ol’ gal, but we complement each other. For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health . . . we’ve been through it all, which just made us stronger.”

  I think about all the shit that’s happened in the short time I’ve known Ashtyn. “We made a rule that we’re not supposed to, you know . . .”

  “Did you agree to it?”

  “Well . . . yeah.”

  He shrugs. “Seems to me that might’ve been your first mistake.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe it was.” And maybe it was an excuse to stay far away from her so I wouldn’t have to deal with the consequences.

  We spend the next twenty minutes staring into the fire. Irving was in the military, so I tell him that my dad is deployed. He tells me that he’s an Army veteran. When I ask if it was hard for Sylvia when he was in the military, he said it was, but they kept in touch with letters and the rare phone call. When he was deployed, you couldn’t communicate through e-mail or Skype.

  He finishes his beer and stretches his legs out. “Well, I’m gonna get some shut-eye. Have a nice evening.” He gestures to our tent. “Keep an eye on her, because if you don’t, I’ll bet you some young buck is gonna snatch her up.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  When he leaves, I stay in front of the fire. Do I sleep next to Ashtyn? Fuck, I’m so aware of her I can’t go in there and be next to her.

  I sit in the chair by the fire, cross my arms on my chest, and close my eyes. It’ll probably be the most uncomfortable night I’ve ever had, but that’s okay. Today I’m not doing anything to shake up my life.

  But tomorrow . . . well, tomorrow’s another day.

  Chapter 38

  Ashtyn

  I wake up in the middle of the night, burning up and drenched in sweat. Derek isn�
�t in the tent. I strip off one of the jerseys and kick off my sweatpants and socks, then go back to sleep. A little later I wake up to the sound of rain tapping on the tent. Derek still isn’t here and it doesn’t look like he’s been here all night. I figure he went to the bathroom, but after fifteen minutes there’s still no sign of him. Worry settles in my chest.

  What if he got attacked by a bear?

  Or slipped in the mud on the way to the bathroom and hit his head on a rock?

  Rain is coming down steadily as I grab a flashlight from my bag and walk outside. Derek’s sitting with his arms crossed on his chest and a baseball cap perched on his head.

  “Are you crazy? It’s pouring,” I say.

  “I know.”

  “Then why aren’t you in the tent, where it’s dry and warm?”

  “Because I was too tempted to break our no-touching-or-kissing rule.” He looks me up and down. “Bein’ here with you . . . you’ve really got under my skin.”

  “You want to break the rule?”

  He nods slowly. “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m tryin’ to push you away when all I want to do is hold you. I know you say you don’t want a hero, but damn I’d like to be that guy who’ll save you from spiders and whatever and whoever else hurts you.”

  His words seep deep into the core of my heart. With our eyes locked, I straddle him on the chair. “I want to break the rule, too.”

  My heart pounds rapidly and I grab his shoulders so he can steady me. I’m dizzy with wanting him to love me as much as I love him. He’s soaking wet and now I’m soaking and rain falls on us and around us. I don’t feel hot or cold . . . I’m too caught up in being with Derek, here in the dark in the middle of the night.

  I’ve dropped the flashlight, so I can’t see much. But I can feel. I can feel Derek’s strong thighs beneath mine and his large hands circling my waist. I want to feel more, much more. The road to this moment was full of arguments and misunderstandings, but now we’re in perfect sync.

  He cups the back of my head and urges me to kiss him. When our lips meet, my insides get all tingly. He places little teasing kisses across my lips until I moan and want more . . . I want him to let go and stop trying to protect me from himself.

  I open my mouth for a more intimate kiss in an attempt to make him lose control. Our wet lips and tongues tangle around each other’s.

  I break the kiss and lean back. “I don’t want to pretend I don’t want this, Derek. Not tonight.”

  “Me neither,” he admits.

  Ever since I touched his muscular chest, I’ve wanted to run my hands over it again and again until I’ve memorized each ripple. I slide his shirt over his head and lightly brush my fingertips over his shoulders, then move down and feel the rapid rhythm of his heart beating against my palm. I trace the muscles on his stomach, and lightly rub his nipples until I hear him groan.

  I like hearing his voice change. It means I’ve broken through that macho facade and his true emotions are exposed.

  Through the darkness, I feel his eyes on me. He lifts my jersey over my head. I close my eyes as I let the rain drip on me and enjoy the sensation of Derek gently and slowly tracing the droplets traveling across my body with his fingertips. He replaces his fingers with his tongue. I start moving against him because it feels amazing and I don’t want to stop. I want to keep going, to show Derek what it means to have a connection that’ll last more than one night.

  “You’re beautiful, you know that?” he whispers.

  I look away. “No, I’m not.”

  “I can’t imagine a more beautiful girl,” he says, then adds, “Even if you are controllin’ and bossy.”

  I lick the crook of his neck and he moans. “Maybe you’ll learn to like controlling and bossy.”

  “I think you’re right.” He laces my hand through his, but stills as my charm bracelet brushes his wrist. He feels for the clasp and unhooks it, then tosses it across the campsite. It hits the ground with a clatter.

  “That was expensive. London bought it for me.”

  “I know. I’ll buy you a new one.” He laces his fingers through mine again.

  We kiss for what seems like forever. When he licks the rain off my neck, I swear my body is on fire. I need something to put out the flame. I need Derek to touch me, to hold me.

  I look in his eyes and without saying a word he knows what I’m asking. Love me.

  “You’re cold,” he says.

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Then why are you shivering?”

  I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tight. He takes me into his arms and carries me to the tent. The tent is cold, too, but at least it’s dry. He kicks off his wet jeans. Soon we’re both under the covers completely naked, skin to skin. His strong, capable arms wrap around me. My heart stops racing and the heat of his body makes me stop shivering.

  He wipes the wet hair away from my eyes with slow, gentle fingers. “I can’t promise you everythin’ you want.”

  “Just promise me tonight, Derek.”

  Chapter 39

  Derek

  Ashtyn has no clue the effect she has on me. When I opened my eyes and saw her standing in front of me in the rain, I thought I was dreaming. Now she’s lying next to me, her body pressed against mine, and I’m defenseless. I want to make love to her. I want to tell her about my past, that football used to be my life. It defined who I was and who I wanted to be. I want to make this night last forever.

  But it can’t.

  Dammit, I know I’m getting in too deep. I should run away from this, from her, but that’s not about to happen. Our connection is too powerful and impossible to ignore. She traces my jaw and lips, looking at me as if I’m the answer to everything. I’m not, and I shouldn’t pretend I am.

  “Stop analyzing this,” she says.

  “I can’t.” There’s too much that’s unsaid between us.

  “I know how much you hurt inside,” she tells me. “I see it in your face, your eyes.” She places her hand over my heart. “Right now I see the real you, Derek. The one you try to hide.”

  She doesn’t know the half of it. Her words sink in. I’ve never felt this way, but then again, I’ve never been with a girl like Ashtyn.

  I kiss her, the soft fullness of her lips sending bolts of electricity throughout my entire body. Her leg wraps around me and I trace the contour of her hip with the tips of my fingers. When she purrs at my touch and arches her body against mine, I feel myself losing control.

  “You make me feel so amazing,” she says in a breathless whisper against my chest. Her words seep into my heart.

  Shit, this isn’t the way it’s supposed to go. I’m supposed to keep my emotions in check and only hook up with girls who want a good time, not girls who are desperate to make this something more than it could ever be.

  But she’s not asking for forever or asking for me to play football again, two things I’d never be able to promise. She’s asking me to be with her tonight, nothing more. I need to just take what she’s offering. I grasp her wrist and bring it to my lips, kissing it gently and feeling her pulse pounding against her warm, soft skin.

  I trace the contours of her body with my fingers and follow with my tongue. Her heart races, matching mine, as she moans and pulls me closer with urgency. Ashtyn is amazing and hot and sexy. My fingers play with her body and I kiss her sweet lips as she moves against my hand.

  I place her hand on me and she brings my body to a new, heightened frenzy. Now I’m the one moaning. I feel like I’m about to burst.

  “You ready to do this?” she asks me.

  “Hell, yeah. You?”

  She nods. “Yeah.”

  I tell myself to calm down. This is just sex with a girl. There are no commitments or expectations beyond tonight, so why is my body reacting like this’ll change the course of my life forever? That’s insane. We’ll have fun tonight and move on tomorrow.

  She leans down and kisses me tenderly
as her hair falls like a curtain around us. The rain taps on the tent and thunder barks in the distance.

  “We’re really gonna do this,” she whispers against my lips. Something suspiciously like a teardrop falls on my chest. It’s dark and I can’t see much, but my sense of touch is super alert.

  “Are you cryin’?” I ask.

  She doesn’t answer.

  I swipe my thumb against her cheek. More tears.

  Damn. I can’t do this.

  “This isn’t gonna work, Ashtyn.” I sit up and run a hand through my hair in frustration. I was an idiot to think we could hook up for one night and forget it happened in the morning. She might pretend she can be that girl, but she’s not. “I’m fixin’ to leave in January and move back to Cali when my dad gets back. I can’t . . . I can’t be that guy you want me to be.”

  She doesn’t say anything.

  “Ashtyn, say somethin’.”

  “I don’t want to say anything. Just leave me alone.” She sits up and reaches into her duffel for dry clothes.

  “Sorry,” I say dumbly. Fuck. I want to say more, but what? I’ll be there for her forever? I’ll be the one she can always count on? It’ll be bullshit, empty words she’s heard before.

  She turns her back to me and gets dressed. “Go to sleep, Derek.”

  I lie back and sigh. When sunlight streams through the tent, Ashtyn is sleeping soundly with her back still to me.

  Chapter 40

  Ashtyn

  When I wake up, Derek looks like he hasn’t slept at all. His hair is mussed and he’s sitting up and rubbing his eyes with his palms. I feel weird and awkward about last night. I went through every emotion, ending with sadness that he couldn’t even pretend to love me for one night.

  “Hey,” he says in a scratchy morning voice.

  “Hey.” I try to hold in my emotions before they overflow and give me away. Before he says anything else, I hold up a hand. “Don’t ask me if I want to talk about last night, because the answer is no. I never want to talk about it, so just do me a favor and keep whatever you want to say to yourself.”