Chapter 30

Steve

It’s a Saturday night, and I’m sitting at a black-tie fundraiser dinner for the Vancouver Symphony, watching as my friends mingle with their partners, laughing and chatting the night away. I’m the only one of us without a date, and while my friends are doing their best to make me feel included, I’m still the odd man out.

I glance around the room, searching for a familiar face, and that’s when I see her—or so I think. For a moment, I could’ve sworn Eliza was walking toward me, her long hair cascading down her back in loose waves. But as the woman gets closer, I realize it’s not her. My heart sinks, and I’m hit with a surge of disappointment. I should have asked Eliza to come with me tonight. Though I’m not sure she would have said yes. She’s not responding to my texts and messages, other than to tell me she resigned from the Tigers. I knew she was serious about not letting her dad control her life, and I guess he knows she’s serious now too. I hope things work out for her… I don’t know what else to do.

I try to shake off the feeling of regret and turn my attention back to my friends, but it’s hard to ignore the nagging sensation that I’m missing something—or someone—important.

Over dinner, Paisley and Nadine regale me with the story of running into Eliza at a dress store last weekend. Evidently, she was buying something to wear for a Pelicans fundraiser in San Diego. That’s where she is now, and I know exactly who she’s there with. Vince Harding was aggressive enough when I was standing right next to her. The thought of Eliza going to an event with him is unbearable, especially when I have no idea what’s going on with her.

I know she has to be devastated by what’s happened, but I don’t know why she’s shutting me out. Our relationship wasn’t real, but I thought our friendship and connection were. Could I have done something more to support her? Does she think I don’t want to be in contact anymore? I truly have no idea, and I don’t know how to fix that. I don’t even know where she’s living, or I’d stop by.

I stew about this a little while longer as the meal concludes and my friends get up to mingle again. I’m completely ignoring everything around me, lost in my own world, and then I realize how different this is. I’m the guy who kept women at arm’s length, always. I never needed a date, much less a partner, to feel complete or included. Why is Eliza different?

I look up and see Davis and Paisley laughing together across the room. Then my eye catches on Michael swooping Nadine into some sort of crazy ballroom dance as the orchestra plays. I want that. I miss Eliza. I want her to be part of my life.

I’m in love with her.

Time slows for a moment as that sinks in, but admitting it to myself doesn’t scare me as I expected it would. It just seems obvious. She’s so strong, so determined, and yet she’s playful and fun at the same time. I miss the way her eyes sparkle when she’s passionate about something. For a moment, I’m grateful to her dad and his ridiculous plan for her life because I think it gave both of us reason to take a chance on something we never would have otherwise. Now, I just need to show her that that plan has nothing to do with how I’ve come to feel about her, and I don’t need a goal or a fake relationship to have a reason to be with her. For the first time, I want to pursue a relationship just because…it’s actually what I want. Eliza is my one and only, and I need to get her back.

When I wake up the next day, I’m ready to spring into action, but I still have the basic problem of not knowing where Eliza is—probably still in San Diego right now—and no way to get her to communicate with me. This seems like a lot to send in a text. But giving up is not an option, and I have to believe I can show her how much she means to me, to remind her of the connection we have. I’m determined to win her over, no matter what it takes.

I decide to work from the stadium today. I know Eliza resigned from the team, but that means her dad’s in charge, and maybe she’ll have reason to come by. When I arrive, her office is dark, but then I spot her friend Tanya headed down the hall.

“Tanya!” I call, probably sounding like a crazy person.

She stops and turns back, giving me an odd look. “Are you looking for Eliza?”

“Yes, do you know when she’s due back?”

Her brow furrows. “Well, she’s not working here anymore. ”

I nod. “Yes, she told me, but she hasn’t told me much of anything else. I don’t know how to find her, and she’s not returning my calls.”

“Why are you calling her?” Tanya asks.

I take a breath. If I say it out loud, there’s no taking it back. But deep down, I know I don’t want to. “When she gave up on trying to meet her dad’s requirements, she ended our relationship. I think she thought she was doing me a favor, but she wasn’t.” I look Tanya in the eye. “I want to be with her, no matter what. I need her to understand that. Can you help me get in touch with her?”

Tanya smiles, but she still doesn’t seem willing to divulge any information.

“I’m in love with her, and I want her in my life. Where can I find her?”

She finally seems satisfied that I’m serious. “She rented a furnished place down on Hastings, but she’s still out of town right now.” She writes the address down and hands it to me.

“When is she due back?”

“Tonight.”

“Thank you.”

This paper feels like gold in my hands. I consider going to the airport to try to meet her flight, but the chances of missing her are too great. Instead, I go to her building and wait for her across the street at a coffee shop, my heart pounding with anticipation. After a couple hours, I’ve had four coffees, and she’s still not here. I’m about to give up when a cab finally pulls up, and I see her get out.

Thank God! I race over, desperate to have her in my life again. “Hi,” I say as I approach her on the sidewalk.

She jumps and hurries toward the door until she recognizes me. “Steve? What are you doing here?”

“I miss you,” I blurt, the words tumbling out of my mouth. “I don’t like it that you’ve erased yourself from my life.”

Her eyes search my face, and I can tell she’s unsure.

“Could we just talk about this for a minute? Please?” I beg.

She pulls her bag up farther on her shoulder. “Come on,” she says. “Follow me.”

She leads me inside and into the elevator. “What is it you want?” she asks. She looks tired. It’s not a jetlag tired, but more a long-term exhaustion.

I take a deep breath. “I miss you. I understand that you don’t need me as your fake boyfriend anymore, but do you not need me at all? Don’t we have something real underneath all the other stuff? I am in awe of your strength and determination, and I’m so proud of you for taking a stand against your father. But do you have to throw all of this away? My house is empty without you. I can smell your shampoo and perfume on my pillows. Watching TSN isn’t the same without you yelling at the sportscasters when they oversimplify things.”

The elevator doors open at her floor, and she walks out. I’m left to follow her down the hall like a lost puppy, which I am.

She waves a key fob over the door, and we walk into a utilitarian apartment. The view is beautiful as it looks at the bright yellow piles of sulfur across Coal Harbor on the north shore.

“Look, I want us to be friends, but I don’t know how to do that right—” she starts.

“Why not?” I yell in frustration. I take a moment to collect myself. “I know your life must feel turned upside down. But just like you decided what your dad wants doesn’t matter anymore, I’ve decided that too. I want to be with you, and not because I’m helping you reach a goal. Just because I want to. And I don’t want to date anyone else. I should make that clear. I want to date you. Let’s start over and see where we end up.”

She was staring out the window, but now, her eyes are riveted to mine. “What?”

Can she really have had no idea how I felt? “No matter why we started doing this, I really enjoy hanging out with you, and I’d like to see where this goes. That’s not usually how I feel about women I spend time with, but I can’t get you out of my mind. I want to date you.”

“Dating?” She looks a little shellshocked.

“Well, that was my thought until I realized where you’re living. This neighborhood has not quite made it. Maybe you can move back into my guest room, and we’ll date from there.”

She shakes her head and crosses her arms, but something in her eyes is different now. “The building is safe, and I have parking, so I drive to work. It’s fine.”

“I’m not going to argue about where you live,” I tell her, sensing victory. “We should argue about where we’re going to dinner.”

She finally smiles. “Do you mind if we order in? I’ve been flying today, and I’m tired.”

“We can do whatever you’d like.”