Page 187 of So This Is War
You’ve got this.
I turn back to my computer just as a text comes through my phone.
Levi:Here’s the link. Proud of you, Wylie. <3
I smile down at his text, and with my phone pressed to my heart, I send the email to Patty Ford. Now, only time will tell.
Meanwhile, I might as well check out this link and see what other types of work I can put out there.
“These are incredible,”Sandie says as we sit on the couch with bowls of ice cream on our laps. “Like . . . can you send these to me? I want to show Dale.”
I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “Oh yeah?”
Sandie’s cheeks blush. “Well, I was telling him about Patty Ford the other day and how you were drawing pictures for her. He had no idea who I was talking about, so I showed him, and well, one thing led to another.”
I press my hand to my chest. “Sandie, did you and Dale get off to Patty Ford?”
“We did.” She winces. “And oh my God, it was so much fun.”
“See, she’s fun for everyone.”
“She really is.” Sandie sets my iPad down. “So you haven’t heard anything yet?”
“Not yet,” I say, “but I figure it will take some time. I don’t expect a response right away, especially since it was a cold call and not what she was asking for. She might just hate the idea altogether. But I have been working on those illustration entries for those authors. I think Levi was right. I might be a better fit for the romance author. He was helping me think up some different angles to draw last night.”
Sandie lifts her spoon to her mouth. “He seems . . . amazing. Every time you talk about him, he’s either doing something incredibly sweet for you, or helping you, encouraging you. I’m crushing, and he’s not even my boyfriend.”
I bring my knees into my chest and say, “Sandie, I’ve never been treated like this before. He’s so different from any man I’ve ever had in my life. And we’re not just talking about the sex, that’s a definite plus, obviously, but the way he treats me, the things he says to me. He makes me feel special.”
Sandie tilts her head and smiles. “That makes me happy, Wylie. You deserve someone like him.”
“I do,” I say.
“Are you worried at all what your dad might say?”
“I’ve honestly put it to the back of my mind because I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to think about him. I haven’t talked to him in a while, and it’s not from a lack of trying on myend. I’ve sent him a few texts, and he hasn’t responded. I know he’s busy with the team, and they’ve been off and on with wins, so he’s probably stressed and finding a way to level out the team, but . . . yeah, there hasn’t been much communication.” I shrug. “And I’m starting to see that I’m okay with that. Levi is showing me that I don’t need to win the man’s affection. He either loves me for who I am, or he can miss out on the great things I’m going to do.” I had been ruminating on this a lot after Levi first asked me if it would really matter to my life if my dad didn’t approve of my life choices. And it was a healthy wake-up call that if he can’t believe in me, can’t acknowledge that I want to be on a different trajectory, that I’m okay with that. His validation just doesn’t have the same desired effect as say Levi’s or Sandie’s. I feel freer to be me.
Sandie reaches out and rests her hand on my knee. “Oh my God, look at you. He is seriously good for you.”
“He is,” I say, feeling my cheeks blush. “I think he’s it for me, Sandie.”
“Yeah?” she asks, her hope soaring. “Like . . . you could possibly love him?”
I nod. “Yes. I’m easily falling for him. I don’t see how I can’t. He’s just . . . he’s perfect.”
“Wow.” She shakes her head. “Never would have seen this coming, but I don’t think I could be happier.” She scoops up some ice cream and plops it in her mouth just as my phone buzzes. I glance down at it and see that it’s Levi.
“Speak of the devil.” I answer the phone. “Hey, you,” I say.
“Babe, I need to see that pussy. Undress and grab a toy. I want you coming in seconds.”
Sandie snorts and covers her nose.
I smile at Levi and say, “Uh, my friend Sandie is here with me.”
I turn the phone toward Sandie who waves at him before I turn it back. The look on Levi’s face is priceless.
“I might have to wait to undress unless Sandie wants a show.”
