If I Can't Have You

“You’re not. Haven’t you been listening to a thing I’ve said? I did too.”

“Yeah, but there’s a difference.”

“How so?”

“He wants you.”

“No he doesn’t.” Or maybe he does and he’s playing some sort of game with me. I close my eyes and replay the image of him when he saw me with Elliot earlier. I remember the anger. I remember seeing the pain in his eyes.

“Robin, he does though.”

“Yesterday he told me he didn’t like me like that.” And then he went and got into a fight with his brother because he kissed me.

Sadie shakes her head. “I don’t know why he told you that. When I talked to him he told me he couldn’t hook up with me anymore because he had the hots for you.”

My eyes widen. “He told you that?”

Sadie nods. “He did.”

When I first came on this vacation that’s the only thing I really wanted. For the last three years every time I thought about guys or relationships Drake was the first name that popped into my head. But now, after everything that’s happened I’m not really sure what I want.

The clinking sound of rocks hitting a window fills my ears and I glance around Sadie, keeping my eyes on the back of my beach house. Standing quickly, I face Sadie and she stands too. “I have to go, Sadie. Are you going to be okay?”

“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” She smiles softly. “I guess I’ll see you around, Robin. I’m glad we’ve had this talk.”

“Me too.” I stun Sadie when I pull her in for a long hug. She tenses up at first then relaxes, wrapping her arms around my back. I pull out of the hug and say, “You know we still have a few days of vacation left. If you want you can hang out with me and Whit.”

Sadie’s eyes light up. “Really?”

“Absolutely.” I turn away from her and peek at her over my shoulder. “Good night, Sadie.”

“Night, Robin.”

Then I listen as the back door to Sadie’s house slams shut and keep my eyes straight ahead. Clinking rocks tap against the window on my house and I pick my pace, jogging as Elliot pelts my window with another rock.

~23~

Trip over love, you can get up. Fall in love and you fall forever.

~Author Unknown~

I’ve been standing six feet away from Elliot watching him for the last ten minutes and he has yet to notice me. I’m amazed at his stamina. He’s been chucking rocks at my window for the last thirty minutes and he’s not even winded. That’s impressive. I keep my gaze on him as he bends over and picks up another rock out of a pile he’s secured at his feet. The taunt muscles in his back flex when he flings his arm back and tosses the rock.

A ping rings out in the quiet night air. I laugh softly to myself and hope that he can’t hear me. He doesn’t and just as he bends over to pick up another rock I take a few steps closer and say, “You know I’m surprised Whit hasn’t stuck her head out that window and given you a piece of her mind.”

Elliot spins around, eyes wide, and clutches his chest. “Jesus, Robin!” he gasps. “You scared the shit out of me.” He exhales. “You know subtlety is necessary when you’re sneaking up on someone from behind.”

“Well, I was only kind of sneaking.” I take a few more steps closer. “I’ve been standing here watching you for a while.”

Elliot rests his hands on his protruding hip muscles that are poking through the bottom of his wife-beater. “And how long is a while?”

I shrug. “Close to ten minutes.”

“And you didn’t say anything?”

“You looked deeply involved in what you were doing.” I giggle now only inches away from him. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Elliot shakes his head with a smile and rests his forehead against mine. “I’m sure you know I was trying to get your attention.”