Chapter 6 A Place For The Night
Brielle's POV
I was just walking and the world around me didn't exist anymore. The headlights of cars shone bright in my face. Five years of my life with Rick is now down the drain. I could've been with someone that loved me better than what Rick gave me. It ended up being one-sided.
I crossed the street only for a car to honk its horn as I now stood glued to my spot in the middle of the road, looking at the car, its lights so bright, I still didn't move. The car door opened, "Brielle!" Daylan got out of the car and hurried to my side. He put his arm around me and guided me to the passenger side of his car, opening the door for me and I got inside as more cars drove by, honking their horns. I didn't give a sh^t about them.
Daylan closed the door and jogged around the front and got inside. He drove away from the impatient cars as we had stopped the traffic. I looked ahead, my chest heaving as I nearly got hit by Daylan, tears stung the back of my eyes as I tried to keep it together.
"What is wrong?" he asked. I could see that he looked at me out of the corner of my eye. "You don't seem good," he said, there was a bit of concern in his voice.
I opened my mouth, but a lump formed in my throat, tears started to blur my vision. "I-I just." I bit my bottom lip, trying my best not to cry, but tears ran down my face and I tried to keep the sobs at bay, but I managed quietly. He looked over at me.
"What did Rick do? Was he there?" he asked and I just couldn't speak as it was gutwrenching as the images flooded my mind of what I had seen in Rick's office. "I will take you home, and we can talk," he said.
"No... I cannot go back there tonight." I shook my head, my tears blurring my vision.
"Okay, I will take you to my place. You can leave when you are ready," he said. I was just grateful not to be going back to that apartment, reminding me about Rick.
We got to Daylan's apartment and I walked further into the lounge. I could feel his eyes on me as I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. I stared at the moon, it was bright and full.
Daylan's reflection came into view in the window, he definitely looked concerned. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.
I turned around to face him. "I found him with another woman. I knew that there could be something going on, but I chose to think that it was just work," Tears ran down my face again. He cupped the sides of my face, and then he wiped my tears away with his thumbs. My lips parted as I now looked into his eyes. They were dark.
"You don't need that. You are gorgeous, and you have a lot ahead of you. I believe in you and also your ability with your story. He lost a good one, now that I know," he said, never breaking eye contact. "I'm going to make you some hot chocolate. If you want to freshen up in the bathroom, then you can, but you can stay as long as you want," he pulled away.
"Can I stay?" I asked.
"Yeah, of course. There is a guest bedroom. I don't want to be a jerk and make a move on you just because you got your heart broken. That's not who I am. I'm just disappointed in Rick. I will be here for you as a friend as long as you need me," he said sympathetically.
"That was a drastic change from you. Trying to pursue me to being my friend," I scoffed, which took my mind off things.
"I do not take advantage of someone who is going through a break-up," he replied before turning around and moved to the kitchen. I followed after him and took a seat on the bar stool.
I watched him yet again making hot chocolate this time. "I was not a great father," he said, as he turned around and placed the mug of hot chocolate in front of me. "I didn't call much when I moved away and the calls became less until I stopped completely." he sat at the end by the counter. "I was in his life to be a better role model, but he took the bad sides and that is something that I never wanted for him," he said as he looked at the surface of the counter top. I was intrigued by what he was telling me. "I was so engrossed with my own ambition. I forgot I even had a son and I had my fair share of fun. Mostly hard work." his gaze found mine. "You deserve better, and I want you to focus on that book. You don't know where you will end up one day. I really would like to read it if you would allow me to," he said.
"I don't think I'm ready for anyone to read my story. I'm not even done with it. It's something that is so close to me and a part of my life that I shared with Rick. It's something that I haven't shared with anyone else. Rick was my everything, my go-to person and he threw everything away. Can I trust another man after this? I don't think so. I will probably have it in the back of my mind about what I walked into at the office." I let out a breath, as I took a sip of the hot chocolate.
Daylan looked at nothing, guilty. Was there more to this man that perhaps also had pain in life? Was there something more to what happened between him and Tabitha?
"What happened between you and..."
"Tabitha?" he looked at me.
"Yeah," I answered.
"My career was what I wanted to focus on, I got the opportunity to move. The job offer was in London, and she was devastated that I chose to move." he sucked in a breath.
"Why didn't she go with you?" I asked.
"She was already getting established here. She chose to stay," he replied.
"She was heartbroken," I watched him.
"That isn't something that I wish to talk about. We are here because you need a friend. My past is in the past. No use rehashing them," he said.
"There isn't much to talk about my situation either."
"I know, I think it's best that you journal everything that you're feeling so that when you decide to write a different story one day, you have an idea to incorporate it into your story," he advised.
"I think I need a mentor when it comes to writing books," I gave a small smile.
"Are you asking me to be your mentor?" he smirked. He was so gorgeous, my stomach flipped.
I shrugged, "Well, why not? You are already an author. You have written books except for fiction. So I will take the challenge."
"Then you have yourself a mentor. That means I will need to read your books." he continued to smirk. That was something that I didn't like, but if I want to improve, and to know how to do these things, he is the right person as he has experience.
"Thanks," I said before taking a sip of my coffee.
"You can use the shower if you want, and I will give you a t-shirt to sleep in. I want you to feel comfortable. I do have work tomorrow, so I won't be here the entire day if you want to stay further." he said.
"I also have work to attend tomorrow. I will be leaving earlier, so I will be out of your hair before you know," I replied.
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"I can take you home to get changed and drop you at work," he offered.
"I can take a cab and I really want to do it alone. I just need that alone time with my thoughts, please,"
He nodded, "Okay then, you have my card, so just text me whenever you need anything," he said.
"Thank you... and for your hospitality."
"I will do anything for you." he smiled in awe. I looked at the half empty mug in front of me. I still felt hollow on the inside, and still hurt.
Can I move on? This man in front of me still manages to pull me towards him. Is he even aware that, without trying to be relentless to have me, he does it just with his presence? He was being respectful towards me during this heartbreaking time in my life. He simply just wants to be a friend and a shoulder to cry on. I do not even have friends, but he has been great to me thus far. I doubt that I will ever see him again after I leave in the morning.