You're the Only One Read online

  Matteo snapped his fingers in front of my face, and I flinched.

  “Damn, dude. Where did you go?”

  I picked up my glass and finished my beer. “I have a lot on my mind.”

  “Yeah, I bet. How’s your mom doing?”

  “The same. Stubborn as ever.”

  Matteo nodded. He assumed that was the thing on my mind, and I wasn’t going to correct him.

  “You going back down there soon?”

  “I keep trying to, but every time I tell her I’m coming, she cusses at me and tells me she’s fine. She wants me to stay here and live my life.”

  “I’m sure she doesn’t want you to worry too much about her. Doesn’t Sky’s mom live close to her?”

  “Yeah, and honestly, that’s the only reason I haven’t gone back down there. She checks in with my mom every day and keeps me updated.”

  “Good.”

  Lifting my hand to get the bartender’s attention, I asked for two more beers.

  “So, what do you need me to do to make your job easier?”

  His eyebrows lifted in surprise. “My job?”

  “Yeah, as my manager.”

  His face lit up with a smile. “For real?”

  “For real.”

  It was important to me that Matteo knew I believed in him just as much as he believed in me. He’d been working his ass off to advance my career while getting nothing in return.

  “As soon as I get some regular income, I want you to take twenty percent commissions. I did some research and read that fifteen to twenty percent was the standard for managers.”

  He shook his head in disbelief. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me, man. I have so many ideas you wouldn’t believe. While you’ve been off, fucking around, your numbers on YouTube have been skyrocketing. I think we could get some crowdfunding going and earn our own money to produce an album.”

  My eyebrows furrowed. “You think that’s a good idea? I thought we were looking for record deals.”

  “Nah, man. I’ve been doing my research, too. Labels have been taking on fewer new artists lately because of all the digital media and shit. We have to prove ourselves to them first. Look, I have a cousin who has contacts in the industry, and I think I might be able to pull some strings. If he can get us a legit producer and studio time, we can earn enough money to do this on our own. Make those record labels come find us.”

  “You think we can really do that?”

  “Fuck yeah, man. As soon as my cousin sees what you can do, there’s no way he won’t help. I just need you to keep writing and doing your thing.”

  “I wrote three more songs this morning.”

  His eyes widened. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. They’re pretty damn good, too. I’m still working out the music, but—”

  “You’ll figure it out. I’m telling you, Dillon, this is what we were meant to do.”

  He lifted his new glass of beer, and I did the same.

  “Here’s to dreams and the motherfuckers who make ’em happen.”

  I could definitely cheers to that.

  SKY

  I went into work early on Monday morning. Frederico wasn’t going to be back in time to help with the models’ fittings, and he was leaving me and Joanne, my coworker, to handle everything. He’d been passing his responsibilities to us more and more over the past few months, and I didn’t like it. We did all the work, and he got all the credit. These weren’t even my designs. If I was going to work so hard, I should at least love what I was doing, but the passion I’d once had for Frederico’s clothes was fading.

  Dropping my purse down on my desk, I turned around and spotted my blindfold on the floor. It must have fallen out of my purse the other night. Walking over to it, I leaned down to pick up the strip of black cloth and twisted it between my fingers. It still hurt, knowing Logan had chosen Sasha over me, but this time, things were different. I realized it was my pride that hurt more than my heart. If I had really been in love with Logan, I thought he had successfully killed that love. I wasn’t angry anymore. I was indifferent.

  I went back to my desk and stuffed the blindfold into my purse as Joanne walked into the studio. She was dressed in her usual black leggings and baggy button-up shirt, her glasses hanging around her neck from a beaded cord. Joanne was in her late fifties but still dyed her hair a bright color every few months. She must’ve gone to the salon over the weekend because her hair had gone from blue to purple.

  “I can’t believe that bastard isn’t going to be here,” she grumbled, dropping her satchel of a purse onto her workstation.

  Joanne had brought me on as an intern three years ago. Since then, I’d moved up to design assistant and then to an assistant buyer. Joanne was Frederico’s right hand, and honestly, he would be lost without her. I would, too. She’d taught me everything I knew about the fashion industry, and obviously, she was feeling as fed up as I was.

  “What time will the models be here?” she asked, pulling out her planner.

  “Noon. I have Danny picking up the last of the shoes, and Lydia should be here any minute to get the clothes sorted.”

  Joanne nodded. “Good. Let’s take a look, shall we?”

  Walking over to the clothing racks full of Frederico’s latest designs, I couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged. There was a time when his clothes had inspired me, but these were disappointing, and no matter how much Joanne and I had tried to give him our opinions, he’d refused to listen. His show at Fashion Week had received less than stellar reviews, and by the looks of it, things were only going to get worse.

  “I don’t think his heart is in it anymore,” Joanne said, pulling on a shirtsleeve and looking over the front of it. “It lacks vision.”

  I nodded. It was sad really.

  “Well, not much we can do about it now. Let’s just fix what we can and try to dress up what we can’t.”

  A few hours later, the studio was full of models, and Joanne, Danny, Lydia, and I were all busy, trying to make sure everything fit. I hadn’t even realized Natasha was there until she walked over to my desk while I wrote measurements down.

  “Oh, Natasha. Hi,” I said, smiling at her.

  She smiled back, but it seemed sad. “Hi, Sky.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. Did he not tell you?”

  My eyebrows furrowed. “Tell me what?”

  “Dillon and I broke up.”

  “What? Why?”

  She glanced down at her feet before meeting my gaze again. “I’ll let him tell you. I wanted to say that I hope there are no hard feelings between you and me. I appreciate you intervening yesterday. I hope I didn’t offend you. I was feeling…vulnerable.”

  “No, not at all. I’m so sorry things didn’t work out. I haven’t talked to Dillon since that morning. I hope you guys are still on good terms.”

  “We are. He’s a good guy. It just wasn’t meant to be, I guess.”

  “Well, I’m sorry.”

  I stood up to hug her, and she hugged me back.

  “I’m sorry to hear about you and Logan, too.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Well, I guess I’ll see you around?”

  “Yeah, for sure. Let me know if you need anything.”

  Once she walked away, I sat back down on my chair as my mind drifted from work to Dillon.

  I guess this means we’re both single again.

  I chewed on my bottom lip as a flurry of anxiety and excitement passed through my gut. I closed my eyes, trying to suppress it.

  I’d just broken up with one guy. I shouldn’t be falling for another one already. Even if that guy was Dillon.

  At nine o’clock that night, Joanne and I were the only ones left. We sat on the floor, organizing the last of the lineup for Frederico’s next runway show, exhausted and frustrated.

  “This asshole owes both of us a raise,” she muttered, tossing a scrap of paper in the trash.

  I didn’t respond,
too focused on finishing.

  “Are you still selling clothes at that hippie store downtown?”

  I was surprised that she’d remembered me mentioning Whitney’s store. “Yeah—although I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to. Logan and I broke up this weekend.”

  “What does he have to do with it?”

  “I met the owner through him. They’re friends.”

  There was no way I was going to tell Joanne the whole story. Besides Dillon and TJ, I had kept Logan’s polyamory a secret from my friends. I had been too embarrassed to admit that my boyfriend had other girlfriends. If that hadn’t been a red flag, I wasn’t sure what was.

  “How have they been selling?”

  “Great actually. I’ve sold out twice.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “Really?”

  “Yep.”

  “So…what are you doing here?”

  I stopped moving. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, why aren’t you out there, making your own clothes? Having your own fashion shows? Making a name for yourself?”

  I glanced around the room before meeting her intimidating stare again. “I don’t know.”

  “That’s it? You don’t know?”

  “It’s scary, Joanne. I don’t know what to do. I have no idea where to begin.”

  “Have you not learned anything from working here?”

  “Of course I have, but—”

  “You know every part of the industry, Sky. I know because I taught you myself. You know all the right people, and you’ve already got a great reputation.”

  “I do?”

  She laughed at me and shook her head. “You’re so blind, I want to slap you sometimes.”

  My jaw dropped. “Hey!”

  “Don’t hey me. You’ve got talent, and you’re wasting it. I’m tired of seeing you do all of this for Frederico when you could be doing it for yourself. So, grow some goddamn balls, and do it.”

  I sat there in shock, surrounded by scraps of material, shoes, and ugly designs. She was right.

  Why am I wasting my time? What am I waiting for?

  When Joanne saw my expression, she smirked and got up from the floor, groaning as her knees cracked. She held her hand out for me, and I stood up, too.

  “Go home. I’ll tell Frederico you’ve put in your two-week notice.”

  My heart was racing, and adrenaline flowed through my veins as I stood on the edge, wondering if I should leap. I thought of all the times Dillon had told me to stop being so scared and to chase my dreams. Perhaps it was time I took his advice.

  Leaning forward, I gave Joanne a big hug, and she awkwardly patted my back a few times.

  “You’re the best, Joanne.”

  “I know, I know.”

  I helped clean up the mess we’d made and walked out with a new enthusiasm coursing through me. I’d spent so many years encouraging and supporting my friends and their dreams. Maybe I should start to believe in myself.

  Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I searched for Whitney’s name in my Contacts.

  “Hello?”

  “Whitney, it’s Sky.”

  “Oh, hey, Sky. I was hoping I’d hear from you.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “Logan told me what happened. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  That’s a surprise.

  “I’m okay.”

  “Sasha has some serious jealousy issues. We’ve had problems in the past, too, but she must have felt really threatened by you. To give him an ultimatum like that…it’s ridiculous. I can’t believe Logan let her get away with it.”

  Damn, Logan told her a lot. I couldn’t help wondering if she knew everything.

  “It’s all for the best.”

  “He told me about this weekend,” she said with a hint of humor in her tone.

  I stopped at a crosswalk and put my hand over my eyes. “He did?”

  “Yeah, and I have to tell you…it’s the funniest fucking thing I’ve heard in years. I laughed so hard, Sky. You have no idea.”

  “Oh God. It was an awful idea. I kind of feel like an asshole for doing it to him, but—”

  “He deserved it,” she said, cutting me off. “Logan could use a taste of his own medicine. I don’t think it’s always intentional, but he’s careless with women’s emotions. He underestimates the influence he has on us. And, sometimes, he’s a selfish asshole.”

  “Yeah, well, I couldn’t take it anymore.”

  “Me either.”

  “What? You guys split up, too?”

  “Things were falling apart between us anyway. We were spending less and less time together. It was inevitable. Especially after I heard what he’d done to you. He’s an idiot. I would have chosen you over Sasha any day.”

  I smiled, feeling flattered and slightly awkward. “Thanks.”

  “Of course. Oh, wait. Why did you call me? I’m sorry. I’ve been going on and on.”

  “No, it’s okay. I was actually calling to ask you about the store. I wasn’t sure if you’d still want to sell my stuff after you heard about me and Logan breaking up.”

  “Are you kidding? Your stuff is out of this world. I’d be stupid not to keep selling it. As a matter of fact, I was hoping I might be able to get more next time.”

  I perked up. “Really?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Well, it’s funny that you ask. I put in my notice at work, so I can concentrate on finally making my own line.”

  “Get out! Are you serious?” she practically shouted into my ear.

  Her excitement got me smiling.

  “I’m serious.”

  “Sky, that’s amazing. I’m so happy for you! What can I do to help?”

  “I, uh…I don’t know. Keep selling my clothes?”

  “I can do more than that. Do you need money? I could give you an advance on my inventory. You tell me what you need to fill half of my store with your clothes, and I’ll give it to you.”

  I froze on the sidewalk, earning a few curses and snide remarks from the other pedestrians heading to the subway. “Are you shitting me?”

  She giggled through the phone. “No, I’m not. I love your style, and your clothes have been flying off the shelves.”

  “Whitney, I don’t even know what to say. Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  “No thanks needed. Just get to work, and bring me more clothes!”

  “Okay, I will.”

  DILLON

  “How’s my mom?”

  “She’s doing all right. She seems to be more tired, but she’s still in good spirits. Brad and I have been going by after work to make sure she’s eating and to help out around the house.”

  I rubbed my hand over my hair in frustration. “I should be there.”

  “The nurse is coming tomorrow, Dillon. She’ll have someone with her all day, and I’ll keep going to spend time with her.”

  “I know, and I appreciate it, Cathy, but she’s my mom. I should be there, helping.”

  “She told me how hard you’ve been working on your music. She’s so proud of you, and she doesn’t want you to stop on her account. I promise, I’ll keep you posted, and if I think things are getting more serious, you’ll be the first one I call.”

  I closed my eyes and sighed. This was killing me. “Okay.”

  “Keep your head up, Dillon. Your mother only wants what’s best for you. Try to understand this from her perspective. She doesn’t want you fussing over her, being scared and worried every time something minor happens. It makes her happy to know you’re out there, trying to accomplish your goals.”

  “I know, Cathy. And thank you. I’m grateful for everything you’re doing for her. Give my thanks to Brad, too.”

  “I will, but don’t even worry about it. She’d do the same for me. I love you both like family.”

  “I know.”

  “And, when you see my daughter, give her a hug for me, would you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Bye, Dill
on.”

  “Bye.”

  I hit the End button and dropped my phone on the couch. It had been over a week since Natasha and I broke up, and I’d been holed up in my apartment, working on music, every day since. It was as if I were possessed by it. Notes and words occupied my brain twenty-four/seven. I still hadn’t talked to Sky about my breakup with Natasha. I was surprised she hadn’t called me to find out what had happened.

  Picking my phone back up, I started to call Sky but hesitated. Over the past week, I’d been telling myself I was too busy to talk to her, but I knew it was more than that. The truth was, I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be able to avoid the attraction I felt for her, and I was afraid of what might happen.

  Love could be the end of us or the beginning of forever.

  I decided to face my fears and call her.

  “Hey, stranger.”

  I smiled, hearing the joy in Sky’s voice again. It had been a while.

  “Hey. You sound good.”

  “I am good actually. Even though my best friend hasn’t bothered to call me in, like, a week.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I’ve barely even left my apartment.”

  “Oh, Dillon, I’m sorry. I should have checked on you after I left the other day, but I thought you and Natasha would make up. Do you need me to come over?”

  I chuckled and shook my head. “I’m fine. Really. And how did you know we split up?”

  “I saw Natasha. Why have you been hiding out in your apartment then?”

  “I haven’t been hiding, Sky. I’ve been writing.”

  “You have?” she shouted excitedly.

  “I have. I guess this breakup was good for me.”

  “Why did you guys break up anyway? Natasha said you should tell me. And, apparently, you’ve been too busy to.”

  I fell back into the cushions and sighed. “We wanted different things. She wanted me to think about the future and find a reliable job, just in case ‘this music thing’—as she called it—didn’t work out. I know it makes sense, but it hurt. I wanted her in my corner, rooting me on, not planning for the worst.”

  “I get it.”

  I knew she did.

  “That’s why I cut my hair. I actually went to an interview at Grant Insurance.”