Page 102 of Damien
Putting my truck in park, I stay in the vehicle so I can give him my full attention. “Okay. What’s up?”
“I’ve got a major gig lined up that’s gonna be all I need to venture on my own. Like I think I’m gonna put in my two-week notice and head to Denver so I can work closely with this client.”
“Whoa, this is huge,” I agree.
“I’m not stupid, am I? I mean, I’ve got over a year’s worth of salary stalked away because I’ve been trying to venture out on my own and needed the start-up capital. But with this opportunity, I’d be a fool to stay with my current company. I still need to work out things like health care and depending on how long I stay down there, I might put my things in storage and rent out my home, but those are minor details. I can always fly home later to take care of it—if it turns into a long-term thing. For now, I’ve just gotta be there for the next few months or so as they get their branding in order company wide.”
“Uh, what exactly do you need from me? It seems like you’ve already got it worked out.”
“Yeah, I guess I do,” he agrees quietly then adds, “There—I hit send. I’ve officially put in my notice.”
“Well, that was quick. What the hell did you even call me for?”
“To make sure I wasn’t losing my mind—to be my voice of reason.”
“Dude, you already work remote—and from what you told us this weekend, you’ve had this plan in place for some time. I’m sure you’re gonna kill it on your own.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s just a huge risk to walk away from the benefits of this job. I have a feeling they’ll want me to stay on as a consultant to finish some major projects they had planned for the next year, but if not, I’ve got plenty of other clients to keep me busy.”
It takes a hell of a lot of guts to bet it all on yourself, but if anyone can do it, I’m sure it’ll be Derek. “I’m proud of you, man. I am.”
“How’s your trip to Seattle? Is Jules enjoying the sights?”
“Yeah,” I sigh as the events from today replay in my mind. “We went to the aquarium today and walked around Pike Place Market.”
“What’s going on, Dame? You don’t sound like the man who was on top of the world—just yesterday.”
I chuckle with no humor at his description. “I guess I was, wasn’t I…”
How do I explain so he’ll understand?
Concern echoes through the phone as he prompts, “Dame, what’s going on?”
“Vanessa ran into Julia’s biological father at the aquarium.”
“No shit,” Derek says in disbelief. “I got the impression he hasn’t been in the picture. Was I wrong?”
My chest feels heavy as I admit, “No, D. This is the first time she’s seen him since before Julia was born. She went to get a latte and relax after thinking she saw him—and when I returned with Jules from exploring a bit, I found them sitting at a table, talking.”
“Okay…” he draws out, hoping I’ll explain more.
I’m silent for a moment as I come to grips and release my biggest fears from the day. “Fuck. I feel like this is Amber all over again.”
“It’s not the same, Dame. It’s not the same, trust me.” Derek’s voice is stern.
“How can it not be?” I ask, then proceed to tell him the unfortunate events of this morning. When I get to the part about Zach giving Vanessa his number and her saying she’ll reach out, I ask, “What do I do, Derek?”
“I may not be the smartest man when it comes to a track record with women, but have you considered talking to her?”
“I haven’t been able to with Jules around. So, I have to wait until we’re alone or back at home,” I sigh heavily.
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think this is the same as Amber—at all.”
“You know…” I draw out, wondering where to start with the similarities. “I was thinking about proposing to Amber right before we ran into Xavier—her ex. Then they started talking again and within a month or so, she’d moved on and was living with him.”
“Shit. I knew something happened, but I can see why you’re freaking out now. Why didn’t you share those details at the time, bro?”
Ignoring his question, I focus on Vanessa. “The thing is, D, I’d do anything for those girls. I love Julia as much, if not more than I love her mom. They’re a package deal. But is it a dick move to not encourage her to be with the father of her child?”
