Can This Be Real?

Chapter 22: Anywhere but here

Derek POV

Walking down the hallway of the Rockefeller Center Building with my head down, my attention was drawn to a familiar scent of perfume as a crowd of people exited the elevator right in front of me. Even from the side, I knew it was her. Debating whether or not I should just let her walk by without saying anything, my mouth betrays me and just blurts out, “Bethany?”

I can sense her surprise as she recognized my voice cause she paused before she slowly glanced back and says, “Derek.”

My gawd, she looked beautiful. In a figure clinging knee length skirt with a matching crop top that revealed her toned stomach, she was stunning. Her hair was down and just slightly curled at the ends. Her beautiful face was just flawless. She looked different, more beautiful then ever and more mature, if that was even possible. I was completely taken aback with her beauty as I mumbled, “What are you doing here?”

She answers, “I just finished a guesting on the Meredith Vieira show and now I’m headed to do some SiriusXM interviews.”

I walked a couple of feet closer so we weren’t yelling across the hallway, as much of her team had dispersed to give us some privacy. I debated in my head whether or not to hug her. I yearned to have her in my arms but was hesitant as I recalled the last time when we were at my apartment and she cringed as I wrapped my arms around her. So I extended my arm to give her a side hug, which caught her by surprise and made things even more awkward. I quickly tried to shift the attention by talking and asked, “How long are you in town for?”

“Um, I’m here mainly for fashion week so a little over a week,” she answers.

Without even really thinking, I ask, “So, you’re here through Valentine’s Day?” I immediately closed my eyes realizing that the mere mention of Valentine’s Day would remind Bethany of her and that text.

She simply nods her head yes and quickly replies, “Look, I should get going, these radio interviews are scheduled back to back and I don’t want to be late.” She reached over to place her hand on my arm and gave me a half smile, “It was good seeing you again.”

Before I could even open my mouth to say anything, she had already turned to run and catch up with her team down the hall. The awkwardness of that interaction is one that I never thought we would ever have. Before, we made talking about absolutely nothing the most captivating conversation ever. Even in our silence, there was always this connection that could not be denied. This time, however, I couldn’t have acted more awkwardly than I already did and she couldn’t have rushed away from me any faster.

I think to myself, at what point do you feel like you keep holding onto something that isn’t there anymore. When do you know now is the time to let go? That now is the time to walk away? To not force things to happen. How do you just let things happen? How do you just throw your hands up and leave it to fate to bring us back together?

I would’ve moved mountains to find a way to spend a week with Bethany. To be in the same city for that amount of time… especially to be with her on Valentine’s Day. But now, I wish more than anything to be anywhere but here. To save each other from the pain of being so close physically yet emotionally being so far apart.

Bethany POV

While I was getting my makeup and hair done for the fashion show, I hear a knock at the door. My mom goes to answer it and walks back with a box. Inside it I found a bouquet of light pink peonies surrounding a single sunflower. Even without a note or a card, I knew exactly who these were from… Derek.

Everyone in the room laughed at the odd combination of flowers but I couldn’t help but smile with delight. My manager searched the box for a card and states, “There is no card, I wonder who these are from.”