Can't Love You {Sequel to "Not Sherlock Holmes"}

Chapter Thirty

Veronica's POV

I wake to the sun shining through my bedroom window. I squint, then smile, the light feeling warm on my face.

I stand and stretch in my Dr. Pepper pajama pants and my oversized t-shirt. I look in the mirror and slump a bit.

"Crap, I look awful." The process of making myself look presentable begins, starting with a shower.

Fifteen minutes later, my curly brown hair is dry and pulled back into a messy ponytail. I pull on some semi-acceptable clothes and exit my bedroom to find my roommate, Mckenzie, cooking herself breakfast.

"Good morning! Finally," she adds, grinning. I reward her with a small smile. She puts her hand on her hip. "What's your problem?" I shrug.

"Well, I'm probably going to go look for a job today." Kenzie purses her lips.

"Wearing that?" She gestures at my jeans and jacket. I shrug again.

"What do you suggest I wear?"

"Something that will make people actually want to hire you. I think you do this on purpose because you don't WANT a job." I plop myself into a kitchen chair.

"What would make you think that?" Kenzie sinks into the chair across from me.

"Sweetheart, you've been like this ever since... the Ian thing." I snort.

The Ian thing.

The thing where Ian confessed his undying love for me. I stood there and stared at him for too long, and his face fell.

"You don't feel the same?" And the thing is, I think I did. I think I did feel the same. But something about it felt so wrong. So off.

"Kenzie - I'm sorry. I know I've been very high maintenance lately, and I've been sulky. It's just-"

"I know," she says, patting my hand. I cock my head.

"You do?" She nods.

"Of course. We all go through the stage. When we are sort of unsure as to where our life is going. It's that time when we need to start making decisions. YOU need to start making decisions." My face falls.

"That's not exactly how I'm feeling."

"Well then tell me how you feel, darling. I'll listen." She leans back in her chair and gives me an expectant look.

"I feel... like something is missing. Something so important. I can't place my finger on it."

"Could it be a job?"

"Kenzie!" I laugh, throwing a spoon at her. She giggles and goes back to making her eggs.

"I understand, Nica. Really, I do. I just think that once you start getting your life together, things will start falling into place. Okay?" I nod sullenly.

"Fine." I go into the living room and turn the TV on. It's on the news channel.

"You were watching the news again last night!" I accuse, and I hear a laugh from the kitchen.

"So sue me!" I catch my breath when I see that they're talking about Benedict Cumberbatch.

"Kenzie!" I scream. "Come look at this now!" She runs in.

"What, what?!" I point to the TV. "No way." She quickly sits next to me, and I turn the TV up.

"Thank you for agreeing to this meeting Mr. Cumberbatch. I'm sure you know that we're all a little bit shocked to see you." The reporter looks excited sitting next to Benedict, and I can imagine why: the guy's been gone for years, and here he is, still looking as sexy as he did 10 years ago.

Except something seems a bit off about him. Something about him seems very sad and gloomy. But he puts on a smile for the reporter.

"I'm sure you are," comes his deep, kind voice, and my heart flips.

"Oh my gosh. He's so attractive." Kenzie hits me.

"Get a hold of yourself, woman," she scolds, but I drink in the sight of him shamelessly.

"Can I ask where you've been for so long?" Benedict thinks for a moment.

"Well, you can ask. I'm not sure you'll be satisfied with the answer." The reporter laughs, and Benedict's smile remains plastered on.

"Well then: where have you been, Mr. Cumberbatch?" Benedict sighs.

"I, er, had to get away for a while. The celebrity life was getting to me. The pressure. Everything that comes with being in this industry. I just couldn't take it. So, I - uh - left. For a bit."

"Care to tell us where you went?" Benedict smiles softly.

"I'd prefer to keep that bit to myself." The reporter laughs.

"Alright, alright. Fair enough. Benedict, you left quite a few people behind when you picked up and ran away. What would you like to tell these people?" Benedict straightens up and looks into the camera. I feel as if he's peering into my soul. This is the most genuine he has been the entire interview.

"I just want to say that I have a promise to keep. I promised that I would find you. I love you so much, and I promise that I will fix this. I will fix all of this. I love you," he says again.

Kenzie squeals next to me, but I remain silent. My heart does this strange flip-flop, and I stare into Benedict's green eyes, and I pretend that he's saying it to me.