Page 12 of Knight

“I can’t wait to see how spectacular.”

“We’ll see. I don’t know that you’ve won me over just yet.” I have.

CHAPTERSIX

DARIAN

FRIDAY

“Hey, baby. It’s been kind of an interesting week since I last saw you. I haven’t seen the girls at all. They’re crazy busy, but we’re having dinner together on Sunday. We’re meeting down at school so Skylar doesn’t have to take the train. I still need to give Harley yourWhen You Become A Doctorletter. She’s really excited to read it.”

I kick a few stones nearby, nervous for what I’m about to tell Scott. “I kind of met someone, and I’m thinking about having dinner with him tomorrow. He’s really nice. Everyone seems to think I should go out with him. Even the girls gave me the green light. Do you have any thoughts?”

I look around for a sign. Nothing. “One day you’ll let me know your thoughts when I ask,” I mumble to myself. “I miss you. I’ve been so lonely. Maybe I need to think about not being so lonely anymore.” I look up and take a breath. “Bye baby. I love you always. I’ll see you next Friday.”

Tonight will be our last call before our proposed date. Our conversations have been fun. They’ve gotten a bit flirtier and dirtier. I’ve enjoyed talking to him. He’s a nice guy.

I haven’t completely decided whether I should go out with him, but I’m leaning toward yes. I feel like I need to see this through to continue my healing process. I’ve been stuck for a long time. I’m nervous though. I’m scared too. This has been so much easier on the phone. No physical expectations. That’s what’s got me the most nervous. I’m definitely attracted to him, and I like his personality, but I don’t know that I’m ready to get physical with another man yet.

FRIDAY NIGHT

“Hey there”

“Hey, sugar.” I love when he says that. It makes me smile. No one has ever called me sugar. “Are you excited for tomorrow night?”

“What’s tomorrow night?” I tease.

“You know what tomorrow night is.”

“I haven’t yet agreed to go out with you tomorrow night. I’m still deciding if I like you.”

“You like me, I can tell. We’re going out. It’s been decided.” Cocky bastard. “I’ll let you in on a secret. It was decided the second I laid my eyes on you last Friday night. You were always going to go out with me.” He’s in a mood tonight.

I let that go for a moment. “So… Cassandra kept telling me to Google you but I didn’t want it to cloud my judgment this week, so I didn’t do it…”

“Good.”

“…until today.”

“Oh boy. Here we go. Don’t believe everything you read.”

“You’re kind of a big deal, Jackson.”

“I’ve made a few smart investments. It’s meaningless.” It’s more than a few smart investments. He owns half of Philadelphia.

“It’s not just your obvious career success, which is amazing. You’re listed as one of the top ten bachelors over forty in Philadelphia.” I nearly fell out of my chair when I read that.

“It’s hardly an accomplishment. My assistant made me do that photo shoot. I think there are only like eleven single guys over forty in Philadelphia, and the eleventh is a bit of a troll if you ask me.” I laugh. I do like that at times he’s confident, yet at other times there’s at least some humility and self-deprecation in there.

“Ha, ha, very funny. I don’t think I can compete with your fan club. It must be quite large.”

“There’s no fan club and no competition. If there was one, you would have already won it.” He can be so sweet sometimes. He’s good for my ego.

“I have to tell you, in all honesty, I’ve jerked off more this week thinking of you than I have in the past ten years combined.” I almost spit out my drink. So much for sweet. That’s quite a statement. Though, I’m all of a sudden finding myself a bit flushed. Even turned on. So much so, that I can’t manage to reply to that. I don’t know why the thought of a man that looks like Jackson touching himself to thoughts of me is turning me on, but it is.

No doubt he can hear my breathing get heavier. He breaks the silence. “Darian?

“Yes, Jackson.”

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