Page 15 of David's Love

I’m making it anyway.

“I will be in Colorado for Christmas.”

“That’s a big announcement. And commitment. There’s still a lot of time til Christmas.”

“Yes, there is. But I’ll make it work this time. I promise you.”

A few moments pass.

She seems sunk in thought.

“Julie?”

“Yes,” she says. “Thank you,” she adds softly.

“What are you thanking me for?”

“Your promise.”

A lump forms in my throat, and I suddenly realize that something has to change in my life.

3

ELIZABETH

It’scold as fuck when I answer his call, yet the moment I hear his voice, I forget about the blades of ice moving down my legs.

“Elizabeth?” he murmurs, his voice a flurry of emotions.

I don’t know what happened, but he sounds different.

“David…” I say quietly.

“Where are you?” he asks, noticing the slight quiver in my voice.

I give him a quick update on where I am and who sleeps inside.

“You can be sitting outside,” he argues.

“I’m fine,” I say. “I want to be able to talk to you.”

A few moments pass.

“Okay. We won’t be long then,” he says while I’m thinking of ways of sneaking back inside, cuddling under the blanket, and falling asleep with him on the phone.

“There’s no rush,” I say. “How was your evening?”

“It was good. I talked to James, and, uh…”

He stalls, and I begin to wonder what it is that he can’t share.

“Something happened?”

“No, no. We’ve discussed my schedule through the end of the year.”

His voice is firm like steel.

There must be a reason we’re talking about this.

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