Page 8 of David's Love

“You might need to go there straight from New York,” James says, and now I understand his hesitation.

It makes sense.

Even for me, who spends most of my life on planes and moving from one place to another, this cuts into the time I might want to spend in one area without thinking about business.

Strangely, any other time, this kind of schedule could’ve worked.

What’s not to like, right?

Jet setting around the world, heading to the most interesting destinations, spending time in luxurious hotels, eating exquisite food, and benefiting from the presence and company of beautiful women.

It’s way better than having everybody spend their time in their lavishly decorated homes, getting ready for the holidays.

Way better.

Or so I thought.

It used to be like that.

Now? Not so much so.

I’m going back to that pestering thought that even now, as he and I are on the phone, speaking, I’d rather be in Colorado, on a certain woman’s couch, her legs locked around my waist, her body naked, her eyes––mystified and curious––trained on me.

I have to make this work.

I don’t know how, but I have to.

“Give me the schedule, and I’ll figure it out,” I say curtly.

“My secretary has forwarded it to Julie,” he says.

I notice relief in his voice, and it’s only natural.

I would feel relieved if I were him.

Maybe I’m no longer cut for this type of existence.

Maybe something else from my distant past started to hover over me.

My memory takes me back to the man who’d never had grandiose dreams aside from building a life with the woman he loved.

Despite being so damn young, I knew what I wanted, yet here I am now. With so much power, so many more things to my name, and so much wisdom, albeit overthinking everything.

“All right,” he says. “Things all right otherwise?” he asks, shifting the topic.

“Yeah. Everything’s fine.”

A few awkward seconds slip by before I speak.

“What made you hesitate?” I ask directly.

His answer doesn’t come immediately.

“You seemed to be pondering something else,” I go on.

“I thought you found someone to spend the end of the year with,” he says. “And Gavin just confirmed it. I wasn’t sure you were willing to travel extensively and be away from Colorado these next few weeks.”

I can’t not notice how sharp he is in his assessment.

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