Page 46 of Sheltered
“He’s the best man I’ve ever known,” I told my best friend. “And I feel like he’s been perfect with me. He responded and reacted to what I shared last night in a way I think I’ve only ever dreamed a man would. Blaze is so good to me, and the way he makes me feel leads me to think he’s the one I want to finally experience this with.”
Olive didn’t hesitate to tell me exactly what she thought of that. “Oh, Harlow, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you. And excited. Something tells me you’re hesitating, though. What’s the problem?”
“I don’t know if I can explain it in a way that doesn’t make me sound like I’m losing my mind,” I warned her. “I think Blaze is wonderful. He really is amazing. But I wonder if I’m jumping the gun or about to make a mistake, because I don’t think I can hold myself back from him much longer. He makes me want to experience so much more with him, and he does it without even trying. Am I just wanting it because Blaze has made every single new experience for me unforgettable?”
“Are you?” she countered. She barely gave me a second to consider that when she added, “Harlow, I don’t think that’s a question I can answer. I’ve not met him, but I know what you’ve told me about the way you feel when you are with him. I love how happy he’s made you, and I think it’s so sweet he’s taken on this role of seemingly wanting to be the man to show you all these things you’ve missed out on to this point. And that’s not just about the sex.”
“But it’s only been three weeks,” I reasoned. “Isn’t that too fast?”
Olive let out a laugh. “You’re thirty-two. It’s the opposite of fast.”
“You know what I mean.”
She settled herself down and, following a beat of silence, she said, “I think you know what you feel. I think you’ve spent your entire career listening. People come into your salon, sit in that chair, and talk to you about things happening in their lives, the vast majority of which has not always been good. You might not have the relationship experience, but that doesn’t mean you don’t know what constitutes a good one. This man stepped in when he didn’t have to at the beginning, and judging by everything you’ve told me, he’s been unbelievably good to you ever since. He isn’t pressuring you, is he?”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “Quite the opposite. He insisted there’s no rush and that he has no expectations about it happening.”
“That should tell you something.”
“I think I’m falling for him,” I confessed.
“And I think that’s beautiful,” she said, her voice soft and reassuring. “I’m not going to be the one to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. You have to make that decision for yourself. But I will say that if you truly feel that way about him, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be able to communicate it to him with more than just words, whenever you’re ready for it.”
I took in her words and considered them.
Olive was right. I hadn’t made some decision early in my life not to have sex or to save myself for marriage or anything like that. It was just that the choices I made in my life about how to live hadn’t made it possible for it to happen before now. The only thing I’d ever promised myself was that I wanted it to happen with someone who meant something to me, someone who felt I was just as important to him.
So, if I decided Blaze was the guy I ultimately wanted to have that experience with, I didn’t think it would be wrong. Because not only was I feeling something for him, but I wholeheartedly believed he cared a lot about me. He proved it repeatedly with all his actions.
“Thanks for listening to me, Olive.”
“You know I’m always here for you. Do you feel as though you’ve got some clarity on this now?”
Nodding as I held the phone up to my ear, I confirmed, “I do. I think Blaze might be getting luckier sooner than he thinks.”
I could hear the smile in her voice. “Just as long as you remember that it’s him who’s going to be lucky.”
I smiled as I rolled my eyes.
While I believed that was the case and was convinced Blaze would feel the same, the truth was that he wouldn’t be the only one. If what I knew about Blaze was true, I’d be just as lucky as him.
On that thought, and running out of time, I said goodbye to Olive and ended our call. Then I cleaned up my space with just enough time to spare before my next client walked in.
FOURTEEN
Harlow
My mind was focused on the discussion I’d had with Olive earlier that afternoon when I finally pulled into my driveway after my day at work. Though I loved my best friend dearly, my concentration wasn’t on her necessarily.
It was on Blaze, much like it always was.
So, when I brought my car to a stop and glanced up in my rearview mirror to see his truck pulling in behind me, I found myself a mix of emotions.
As shocked and curious as I was to see him there, I was just as delighted by it. Because I was quickly learning that any day where I had the opportunity to see Blaze was something to be happy about.
But since I hadn’t been expecting him and was eager to find out why he was here, I quickly turned off my car and exited it. Then I stood beside it while I waited for him to bring his truck to a stop and come in my direction, and as I did that, I considered the reason he could be there.
When my client, who’d come in immediately following my phone call with Olive today, had left, I’d shot a text off to Blaze. I was still on the hunt for a riddle that would stump him. So far, I’d been unsuccessful. Perhaps this was my lucky day.