Wanted Distraction(21)

I cringed. I’d been humiliated enough the previous evening. It sucked that the mortification had to continue. “No, he didn’t make a move. I did.”

“Whoa, Cherish,” she said, clearly taken aback. “What happened?”

There was no point in beating around the bush. Taylor had a way of dragging things out of people. And she was my best friend, after all.

Slumping into my chair, I spilled, since there was no one currently around to listen in on our conversation. “I am hopelessly and disastrously in love with Carter.” Tears sprang to my eyes and I absently swiped at them as I told her, “He is everything I’ve ever wanted and so much more. And apparently, the feeling’s mutual.”

This brought on a serious bout of waterworks. I folded my arms over my leather blotter and dropped my forehead to the backs of my stacked hands as body-racking sobs ensued.

Taylor reached over and placed a hand on the back of my head, smoothing my hair the way Carter had the night before.

“Oh, Cherish,” she said on a sigh. “I have no idea what’s going on, but come on. Honey, it can’t be all that bad if you’re both crazy about each other.”

“Yes, it can,” I wailed, the words barely enunciated.

She moved around the desk and knelt beside me as she rubbed my back. “Okay, let it all out and then tell me what’s going on.”

I lifted my head and wiped my face with my hands. I hadn’t bothered with much makeup this morning, because I’d suspected I’d be in misery all day.

Droplets continued to roll down my flushed cheeks as I said, “He wants his sole attention on his career. He told me that up front. And then I came on to him and propositioned him with a brief affair, and Oh my God… We were spectacular together. So much so…he changed his mind.”

Taylor stared at me as though I’d grown a third eye. “But, isn’t that what you’d want?”

“Yes, of course,” I said. Then quickly added, “But no.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m trying to keep up here. I’m just really confused.”

“Yeah, so am I.” I dropped my forehead to my hands again. Rolling my head back and forth, I mumbled, “He has a really good reason for wanting no distractions. And I’m a huge one, according to him. If I cause him to get off track, he’ll hate me for it. I’ll hate myself. I can’t do that to him. To us.”

Taylor stood. I straightened and settled in my chair as she sank into the one in front of my desk. “Yet you really like each other.”

“I’m in love with him,” I told her while reaching for a tissue from the box sitting on the corner. “No doubt about it. And he definitely feels things for me. I just have the shittiest timing in the world and I adamantly refuse to cause him any problems with his career.”And then I suddenly thought of mine. “Oh crap.” I groaned.

Taylor’s brow jerked up. “What?”

“I still have to interview him.” I pressed my fingertips to my temples as a throbbing headache built. Giving her an imploring look, I asked, “Would you consider taking the story back?”

“No.” Her tone was decisive. “I’ve immersed myself in baseball, damn it. I am not going to let that be a wasted effort. Besides, you need to work out whatever this is with your loverboy.” She stood and added, “Cherish Westerly, I’ve never seen you back down from a story, and you’re not going to do it now. Nor are you going to ruin what sounds to be a match made in heaven. Shit!”

She threw her arms up in the air and stalked off. I jumped up and followed her.

“What is your problem?” I demanded. “Why are you so pissed at me?”

Whirling back around, I saw something in Taylor Whitney’s vibrant blue eyes I’d never seen before. Pain and lonesomeness. It was excruciating to witness.

She said, “Ever since we started these sports articles, I’ve watched Claire fall in love with The Perfect Millionaire, Giselle run off with Mr.-Mechanic-Turned-Championship-Trophy-Truck-Driver, and you fall for The Hometown Hero. Meanwhile, I’m just drifting along, with no Mr. Right in sight.”

Tears pooled in her eyes and I suddenly felt two-feet tall for having unloaded all of my drama on her.

“Taylor,” I said as I put my arms around her. She wasn’t the touchy-feely type, but she let me hold her. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she sniffled. “Just don’t be stupid. Recognize what you have and go after it, Cherish. At least you have a shred of hope. I have…nothing.”

This choked me up even more. “You don’t have nothing. You have me.”