ELEVEN

Derek

I was relieved that this week was half finished. I was unsure of my capacity for more. Skye and the conclusion I had reached while playing golf with her father had been on my mind nonstop. Since, deep down, I truly didn't want to end things with her, I hadn't been able to summon the courage to call her over. Nevertheless, there were a lot of things at risk, and our connection could absolutely destroy everything.

My phone was vibrating on the side table next to the couch, so I sighed and went to get it. The moment I saw Skye's name on the screen, my chest began to tingle. I didn't want to pick up the phone, but I knew I couldn't ignore her.

“Hey,” I said, answering .

“Hey. I wanted to see if I could come by,” she said .

“Sure,” I replied. “The door will be open .”

“Okay,” she said. “Be there in five .”

I smiled and looked up from the couch when she entered the room. In a small T-shirt with a rainbow on the front and a pair of short knit shorts, she looked adorable. She strutted over to the living room, hopped up on top of me, and kissed my neck while she was straddling me. I briefly closed my eyes as I came to the conclusion that I needed to intervene before things got out of hand. I pushed her to the side after pulling her back by her shoulders, then I stood up and took a long breath.

“What’s wrong?” she asked .

“Skye,” I said, rubbing my face, “This is something we can no longer do. For everyone involved, this is far too risky. Your father appeared to be out of sorts and genuinely concerned for you when I went golfing with him. Both I and him merely want the best for you. I'm concerned that if we continue in this manner, we will all suffer since I want what's best for all of us. You must obey your father's advice. .”

“Derek, where is this coming from?” She looked perplexed and hurt. “My dad wants to have control over me. He may be my father, but it doesn't necessarily mean he is managing my life well. It's common to threaten to cut me off if I start dating someone. My entire life, he has governed through instilling terror, and I don't care any more. Without a doubt, I adore my father, but he would have made a lot more sense if he had spoken to me on a mature, emotional level rather than as if he were the police. .”

“I know,” I said, shaking my head. “This could, however, have an impact on more than simply your life. I've had your father here with me for years. I don't want to see him harmed or betrayed in any way. It would simply not be fair to him. .”

“Derek,” she said, her voice lower, as she stood up and walked toward me, “However, what about our happiness? I understand that you don't want to hurt my father. Why don't we have the opportunity to have a happy life together? I want to be with you and no one else. .”

I couldn't help but melt at her feet as I stood there gazing at her gorgeous face and her hurt eyes. She was accurate. Why should Spencer's severe overprotectiveness and theatrical excess compel us to forfeit our happiness? I had grown to care about Skye much more than before, and I also didn't want to be with anybody else. I raised my arm and traced my fingers down her arms.

“You’re right,” I said, leaning in and kissing her. “I don’t want to let you go .”

We went back to the bedroom, where we made ourselves at home and curled up in bed, and I grabbed her wrist and lead the way. This time, there was no flirtation, no dirty talking, and no sex. We simply laid next to one another while sensing our proximity to one another. I stroked Skye's beautiful blond hair as she snuggled up next to me with her head resting on my chest. With her in my arms and the silence all about us, I drew the blankets over us as I reflected on how beautiful the situation was. Everything I required to know about the choice I had just made was revealed to me in this instant.

I wasn't only physically drawn to Skye, though. We genuinely shared a lot of things, in addition to the simply mind-blowing sex we frequently engaged in. We were both visionaries who were unable to live up to the expectations of the outside world. We focused on the future, outlining every section of the path we wanted to take, rather than being stuck in the past. My attraction to Skye was sparked by the fact that we both had aspirations that were bigger than our minds could comprehend. Our minds functioned in a similar manner, and we shared a desire that was unstoppable. .

The majority of the girls I dated and I had always had financial differences. I had basically stopped dating because it seemed like every girl I met was more interested in my bank account than me. Skye came from a wealthy background, but even more significantly, she didn't give a damn. Yes, she enjoyed shopping and other activities, but her father's wealth didn't concern her. Even though it wouldn't give her the luxurious lifestyle she was used to, she wanted to support herself. Skye's motives for participating in this were never in doubt in my eyes. She had made it abundantly obvious that there were no conditions on her involvement in this; she was simply in it for me. In particular, someone who had so much to lose by being with me, I found it difficult to believe I would ever meet someone with that mindset.

Skye was exceptionally smart, even though she worked in a café to please her father. We were able to have a thoughtful discussion about the world, politics, and life in general while we sat down together, and I enjoyed it. Not only from college, but also from her own willingness to learn for herself, I haven't yet discovered anything about which she is not informed or aware. She was self-reliant in that she never relied on others to teach her anything she could learn for herself. I could sense that she was fiercely independent in every aspect of her life and that she wished to be free at any costs. She was, in the end, just a very kind person who cared more about others than she did about herself. It was quite adorable.

There was always witty banter going back and forth when we were together. She had a response to every question I posed, and it had almost turned into a competition to see who could be the first to be perplexed. When we were by ourselves, we would laugh so hard that we forgot everything around us that wasn't important. She was really caustic, hilarious, and clever, which fit me just well. I never had to worry about offending Skye or saying something that was over her head since she had such a great sense of humor.

I didn't even realize I was getting closer to a conclusion I had pushed to the back of my mind as I laid there next to her thinking about all the wonderful things I was feeling. I shook my head as I slowly stopped petting her and lifted my palm to my brow. I understood that this wasn't a sexual or romantic desire. I was really starting to enjoy Skye.

The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. My heart was cheering “yes” while my brain was screaming “fuck!” With any normal relationship, If it hadn't been for Skye and me, I would have been ecstatic to realize I was falling in love. I wouldn't be able to end our relationship if I were in love with Skye. The truth would eventually come out, it was only a question of time. All hell would break out if it occurred, and not just for me. Before I was forced to decide whether to support our relationship or put it off, I had to be one hundred percent certain that we were meant to be together. But I already knew that I wouldn't be able to push her away.

Skye's head was currently resting against my chest as she dozed off, and I glanced down at her. She was stunning and had a serene face. I didn't care if all hell broke loose anymore because I knew I couldn't live without having this woman by my side. No matter what would happen, she had solidified herself as a part of me.