Megan snorted.“That’s bullshit.You are whoever you want to be, Abs.You wanted to sell your own artwork, and now you’re doing it.You wanted to start your own business, and you did.”Megan pointed at Abbie and continued, “You put your mind to something, decided what you wanted to do, wanted to be, and did it.That’s huge.”Megan had never once made their friendship feel like work or like Abbie wasn’t good enough.
“It’s not like I’m supporting myself with it.I still need to keep my day job.”Indeed, her day job as a paralegal in a law firm was boring as hell but it kept a roof over her head and food in her fridge.
“Okay, so what?There are people who live their entire lives working a job they hate, dreaming of doing something creative but are too afraid to try.You did it.So don’t tell me that you can’t find a way to solve your concerns and be with the man you clearly love.”
According to her therapist, Abbie’s desire to be better stemmed from growing up in an environment where her family always compared her to others who were always a step ahead.It was obvious after hearing it come from someone else, but she’d never realized it before.There was always competition, usually not very subtle, and it drove Abbie to strive for perfection.If she couldn’t achieve it, what was the point?
Until Megan had convinced her to sell her artwork.
But Abbie knew that Derek’s life in front of the cameras demanded perfection – social media and tabloids had all but ensured that anyone who dated a celebrity would be under scrutiny and any flaws exposed would be mocked.
That was the last thing Abbie wanted.It was bad enough her own family felt she wasn’t good enough, that she didn’t measure up.If the world said the same thing, Abbie didn’t know how she would bear it.
At least, that was how she felt before she met Derek.Now she wasn’t so sure.It had been so easy with him, not just physically.Abbie had never once felt like she didn’t measure up in any way with him.If she could get over that issue, maybe she could get over the fear of having her private life in the public eye.
Megan got up to get a cupcake and leaned against the counter.“Abbie, trust me when I say that man is head over heels for you, as he should be.”
“How could you know that?”
“Because you told me what he said – that he questioned how he was going to give you up.A guy doesn’t say that to someone he isn’t emotionally involved with.”Megan took a bite of her dessert.“You went after your dream of being an artist and selling your work.You did it – yes, it’s small right now but you’re doing it.So why not go after your dream guy?”
Maybe Megan had a point.She was usually right.It was infuriating even as Abbie was grateful for her friend’s insight.
Abbie smiled.“I’ll think about it.”She blew out a breath.“In the meantime, I need to prep for tomorrow’s show.I got in some boxes I need to sort through and organize.AndI have to make sure everything is packed.”
“I wish I could keep you company, but Tucker is coming into town tomorrow and asked if one of his friends could crash on my couch.I’ll be cleaning tonight and playing hostess all weekend.”
“Tell Tucker I said hi.”Abbie hadn’t seen either of Megan’s older brothers, Tucker and Liam, in a while.Liam had moved to Virginia to pursue a job after college and Tucker was a teacher somewhere in NYC.“Do you know what friend he has coming over?”Abbie threw out her cupcake wrappers and followed Megan out of the kitchen.
“No clue.But it’s Tucker, so it’s likely a girl he’s dating that he’s too scared to bring home.”Megan grabbed her bag from the couch and headed to the door.
“Good luck with that.”
“Call me after the convention and we’ll catch up.”
“Will do.Bye, hun.”Abbie gave Megan a squeeze and closed and locked the door behind her.
She eyed the stack of boxes next to the door and sighed.Thoughts of Derek and their weekend together swirled in her head.
Abbie had felt more empowered and confident in herself that weekend than she had with anyone else she’d ever dated.She’d accredited it to the fact that it was one weekend, and they’d never see each other again.
She almost took her phone out to text him, but she hesitated.Abbie had to focus on the convention tomorrow, hopefully make some sales.Then she would reach out to him.
She set about organizing her things for the next day and two hours later, everything was packed, organized, and in the back of her car.Ready to collapse, Abbie undressed, set her alarm, and climbed into bed.
Exhaustion was heavy, but thoughts of Derek and their weekend together kept her from sleep.He’d never outright said that he wanted a relationship with her.That should be enough of a hint, right?It shouldn’t matter that she couldn’t stop thinking about him and kept having dreams of him and their weekend, should it?
There were plenty of celebrities who were able to keep their relationships private.The only thing Abbie needed to do was decide.If there was a way to address her privacy concerns, to keep her life as far from the spotlight as possible, would she want to be with him?
The answer was staggeringly easy.
Yes.
Megan’s words from earlier rang in Abbie’s mind.“You went after your dream of being an artist and selling your work.Why not go after your dream guy?”
Megan was right.Fear shouldn’t stop Abbie from going after what she wanted.Love was worth the risk.
* * *
