Page 48 of David's Chase

He fixes our drinks in the kitchen while I lean back in the lounge chair with my hands tucked in my pockets and listen to the rustling of the trees.

Somewhere nearby, chimes join in with the warm clinking of metal. How beautiful this place must be in the morning. Or the summer. Or any season.

I bet the ocean is close too.

Maybe this is what Rain had in mind when she said she’d love to live by the beach.

Maybe she wasn’t thinking about him.

Maybe she was thinking about James.

Not him.

David.

Can you imagine waking up with him? Having breakfast in bed? Drinking coffee? Making a trip to the beach?

‘Haha… No one lives like that,’the voice inside my head mumbles, a bit groggy.

Maybe she has a hangover fromnottalking to me these past few hours.

‘I didn’t miss you at all,’I toss back at her, and she makes a face at me.

‘You seemingly need me more than ever. You’re wagging your tail at him harder than a puppy about to get a snack.’

‘Stop it.’

‘You stop it.’

Footsteps ring not far from me.

“Are you cold?” David asks, setting his glass of wine on the small table and handing me mine before pulling a lounge chair close and sitting next to me.

He claims his drink.

“No. I’m good,” I say with a smile, shushing the voice in my head.

We clink our glasses, our eyes connected.

“You seem impressed,” he says, and I tame my smile while bringing my drink to my lips and taking a sip.

“It’s a beautiful place. What’s the story behind it?”

“There’s not much of a story,” he says, evading my eyes.

He takes a swig and looks in the distance.

“Too bad,” I comment. “I see you living here.”

“You do?” he asks, amused.

“Yes.”

He shifts his eyes to me.

“I can’t live here.”

“I didn’t say you could. All I’m saying is, this place represents you.”

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