Roadside Service (7 page)

“Why?” he asked confused.

“I know we didn’t really talk about what would happen after these two weeks were over, but I’d really like to see you again.”

“Violet, I’m…I’m not sure that would work. I have my life here. I can’t just up and leave every time you want to do this,” he winced. I knew that was going to be his answer, but I had to try.

“It’s okay, I understand.” I smiled sadly as I slipped out of bed.

“These last two weeks have been amazing, Violet, but come on! I don’t exactly fit into your world, do I?” Blake chuckled. “And I’m not looking for a casual hook up now and then.”

“That’s what you think this has been?” I questioned, feeling completely deflated.

“What else could it be? Violet, we hardly know each other. It’s been fun, but I don’t think we should continue this long distance,” he said with a shrug. “I can’t see this ever going anywhere when we’re so different. We’re from completely different worlds.” Well, at least I had my answer. Our two-week fling was just that—a fling. It hadn’t meant anything to Blake, and the love I felt for him was a complete waste.

“I’m glad we’re on the same wavelength, then,” I said as I forced a smile. “Anyway, I need to get ready now.”

“Of course.” Blake jumped out of bed and got dressed quickly. I stood with a towel wrapped around me and waited until he was fully dressed. This was it—our goodbye.

“Thank you, Violet.” He smiled shyly while cupping my face with his hand. “Entering your world these last few weeks has been amazing.”

“I loved every second of it,” I whispered, forcing the tears to remain at bay.

“Don’t ever change. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

“Did you just quote Bruno Mars?” I sniggered half-heartedly. Blake chuckled back, shaking his head before pressing his lips against mine in a soft, sweet kiss.

“Goodbye, Violet Weathers,” he whispered against my lips.

“Bye, Blake,” I replied before he released me and left. I wanted to run after him and tell him how I felt, but he was right: it could never work between us. More importantly, it was now clear that he didn’t feel the same way about me as I felt about him.

“Have you got everything?” Allie asked once she joined me in the back of the limo. Did I have everything? No; I didn’t because I’d lost Blake, but Allie didn’t need to know that.

“Yeah,” I sighed deeply, looking out the window as cameras flashed from every direction.

“Pure Desire was really impressed with you, Violet,” Allie stated, looking at her laptop. Oh, great—more work chat. Was it going to be like this the entire trip to Paris?  I decided to tune her out, only nodding occasionally all the way to the airport.

“Violet,” Allie nudged me. “Are you even listening?”

“Sorry,” I sighed, looking over at her.

“You have a really tight schedule this week. You need to focus.”

“I’m aware of that. I just need a few days to get my head straight.”

“You don’t have a few days!”

“I know,” I winced.

“You really liked that mechanic, didn’t you?”

“His name is
Blake
,” I glared. “And it doesn’t matter if I did. We wanted different things.”

“Men are a distraction, anyway. You’re better off without him.” Allie had no idea what she was talking about. She hadn’t dated in years; she was too focused on her career. “You’d need a guy who would give up everything to be with you, and Violet, those men don’t exist. They’re all selfish pricks.” I got the feeling Allie had been burned by a man in the past. She was ruthless with any man, which was one of the main reasons I hired her as my agent.

“Not all men are pricks, Allie,” I chuckled, shaking my head.

“Then where is your mechanic?” I looked around the airport, silently hoping that he would suddenly appear in front of me. We were almost at arrivals at that point. “He hasn’t made any attempt to rush to you and admit his feelings. He already got his fill of you, and by next week, he’ll be moving onto the next woman.” My heart deflated at her words. I didn’t want Blake to find anyone else, but what could I do about that? He’d made his feelings very clear earlier. He hadn’t even asked for my number or a way to get ahold of me once I was gone. Maybe Allie was right.
Had
Blake used me?    

The one perk of being a Supermodel was the quick check-ins at airports. There wasn’t much I loved about my job, but that definitely made traveling easier.

I was about to collect my personal belongings when I heard my name being called behind me, and for once, it’s didn’t sound like a crazy fan.  

I turned, feeling slightly dazed at the sight that greeted me—it was
Blake,
and he was making his way toward me. Not trusting my eyes at first, I tried to shake myself. Was I dreaming? That kind of thing only ever happened in movies.

“Blake?” I breathed when he was finally standing in front of me, completely out of breath. “What are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t…let you…leave this…way,” he panted, trying to catch his breath.

“I’m fine, Blake,” I sighed, turning away from him. If that was all he had come for, he shouldn’t have bothered.

“I know we decided it was just a fling,” he continued, grabbing my arm softly and making me face him.
No, Blake. Y
ou
decided that, not me.
“But, well…something my sister said to me made me think that I might mean more to you than that, Violet.”

“What would it matter if you did?” I whimpered. “It could never work.”

“Why not?” Blake’s voice broke as he spoke. Oh my! Was I reading the situation all wrong, or was he really trying to tell me something?

“Blake, I’m not someone who can settle down yet. To be with me means traveling the world, never staying in one place for more than a few weeks. Long distance relationships don’t work for me, and I won’t ask you to be someone you’re not. Nebraska is your home. I can’t ask you to leave all that behind for me.” I knew I was making my feelings for him too clear, but I didn’t really care at the moment. I figured I might as well lay it all out on the table.

“You think I wouldn’t want to follow you?” he murmured. His eyes were bright with a new understanding.

“Don’t, Blake. You have no idea what this life is like for me. Guys like you only show up once in a lifetime, and in my line of work, I can’t offer you what you deserve. Yes, I’m a supermodel. I have this fame that follows me everywhere and opens doors for me, but that’s not who
I
am. You saw the
real
me these last two weeks, and I’ve never felt so alive. I know I would be asking too much of you, though, by asking you to come with me.”

“Violet…” Blake took my hands in his. “Beautiful, I would follow you anywhere. Why the
hell
do you think I’m here?”         

“What?”

“You think I’d want to be stuck in a garage over spending every single day with you? Violet, I
fell
into my career. It’s not something I chose for myself, and the only reason I didn’t fight harder earlier, was because I didn’t think you’d feel the same way about me as I feel about you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was worried. What the hell can I offer the woman who has everything? Violet, you’re a supermodel. I can’t compete with that.”

“Blake, I—”

“Then I realized there was something I
could
give you,” he interrupted, pulling me flush against his body. My arms instantly wrapped around his neck as my heart skipped a beat in anticipation of his next words. “I can give you
me
, if you want it.” My heart began to race as he cupped my face. “I can give you love, and a promise to never leave your side. I’ve fallen in love with you, Violet.” Blake loved me. My heart swelled at his declaration, filling my body and all my senses with elation.

“I’m in love with you, too,” I sobbed. My words made Blake’s face light up before he pressed his lips passionately against mine.

“You can keep me for a long as you want,” he smirked, pecking my lips.

“I might want to keep you forever,” I giggled, hugging him tight.    

“That’s just fine by me,” Blake whispered, stroking my face softly. “Now, I was wondering…” I looked up at him, hanging on his every word. “Did you want some company for Paris Fashion Week?”

“You’d really come with me?” I beamed, gripping his shirt tightly with both hands.

“That’s why I’m here,” he winked.

I turned to Allie, who was standing there gawking at us. “We’re going to need another ticket for Paris, Allie,” I beamed before crashing my lips against Blake’s.

We lost ourselves in the kiss, both giggling as he spun me around in his arms. Fashion Week in Paris suddenly didn’t seem so bad with Blake firmly by my side.

“You can wipe that smug look off your face,” Allie teased while we watched Blake walk back over with drinks for us.

“What was that you were saying earlier about all men being pricks?” I giggled.

“Okay, I’ll admit it—Blake isn’t a prick. That was like a scene from a movie or something.”

“I know, right?” I laughed before Blake reached us.

“I’ll give you guys some time alone before we board,” Allie winked as Blake handed her a coffee.

“Why do I get the feeling your agent doesn’t like me?” he laughed, sitting next to me.

“She’s warming up to you, trust me. Before you arrived, she thought all men were pricks. At least now she has excluded you from that statement.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment…I think,” he frowned.

“It is,” I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder. “Are you sure about this? The press will be out in full force for Paris Fashion Week.”

“Violet, I want to be wherever you are. I don’t give a shit about the press or what they say. All I care about is you and making you happy.”

“What did your sister say to change your mind?”

“She noticed the way you looked at me when you came for dinner. She said I was blind if I couldn’t see that you’d fallen for me. I’ve been fighting with my feelings all day, Violet. I mean, I don’t handle rejection very well and I never have. Then I realized that if I didn’t at least try, I’d spend the rest of my life seeing your face everywhere I went while regretting that I didn’t fight for you harder.”

“You have no idea what you already mean to me, Blake.” I leaned in to peck his lips, noticing a few people gawking at us. It made me want to give them something to really stare at.

“I meant what I said, Violet. I’ll follow you anywhere.”

“It’s not going to be easy,” I admitted, running my hands through his hair.

“What relationship is?” he grinned. “
You
are who I want to be with, and
this
is where I want to be. I can’t imagine any other possibility.”

“I feel the same way. I can separate my life from my modeling career to. I feel like I actually
 have
a life with you.”

“I’ll never let you lose yourself, Beautiful. You’ll always have a home in me.” Blake had a way of saying all the right things exactly when I needed to hear them. I’d been searching for exactly that—a home in someone—for so long I’d almost forgotten.

Blake saw the side of me that no one else could and I knew that with him by my side, I didn’t have to fear what lay ahead for me anymore.

“Our flight is ready to board, guys,” Allie called, breaking into our little bubble we had created around ourselves.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” I grinned, watching him stand up.

“More than ready. Come on, Beautiful,” he smirked. “Let’s do this.” He pulled me up into his strong arms, crashing his lips against mine.

My arms automatically wrapped around his neck as I lost myself in his kiss. I didn’t care anymore who might be watching. All that mattered was that I had Blake by my side.

“Guys,” Allie scolded, “come on! It’s not the best start if we miss our flight because you’re making out in the terminal.”

“Is she always like this?” Blake whispered as we followed her to board the plane.

“You’ll get used to her,” I giggled as Allie turned and shot me a glare.

“How many weeks until we get some free time?” he questioned, pulling me tighter to his side.

“Three weeks,” I beamed. “And I’ll be counting down the days.”