Page 17 of It Had to be You

"You’re a prince among men, Alexander Wen. A true gift to others."

He shook his head and sighed. "I try my best."

"I bet you do." She nodded and the look on her face shifted, showing concern. "I’m just sorry you’re not getting to spend enough time with Blair. Tomorrow, we’ll be in San Juan. I hope you’ll

take advantage of that time and get her off the ship for some one-on-one time."

He had to shrug at her comment. "Well, we were supposed to talk about the schedule for tomorrow, but-"

"She’s putting out fires at home?"

Alexander nodded.

Martina’s tone dropped into a deeper ‘concerned’ tone. "You two haven’t signed up for activities? I thought I saw your names on the list?"

Alexander dropped his gaze to the floor before he met her curious gaze. "She signed us up for everything."

There was more than a hint of shock on her face. "You okay with that?"

That was the question that he’d been mulling over since Blair had caught up to him before the dinner on the first night. Looking at Martina he remembered the mood that he’d been inwhen he’d made his video for her. Being a man with a love for words he remembered a good deal of what he’d said that day.

"Well, I did ask for a woman who knew what she wanted."

Martina’s smile said she remembered it as well. "True, very true, but it sounds like you might be second guessing that character trait."

He shook his head and then nodded it. “A little." He held up his hand. "Please don’t think that I’m trying not to get along with her, we’ve known each other for years."

"With you both being in the same field, I had a feeling. We saw pictures of both of you at different events in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, but neither of you listed the other in your past relationships."

"Like I said, we’ve known each other for years, but neither of us had really said anything to each other about the possibility of dating. So, I have to say it makes a lot of sense. We do understand the work aspect of our lives, but I’m wondering if we’re both on the same page about finding ‘the one.’"

Martina nodded thoughtfully. "I can see that, based on the fact that she’s not really here at the moment and skipping out on a dance class she signed you both up for. Still, I think she is looking for a real relationship-"

"I’m not doubting that either." He realized he had probably made a mistake in wording his answer. There was no editing software that worked on words already out of his head. "I just think that we’re in two different places in our heads. I thought it was going to be hard to set down my phone and leave it behind in my room, but once I closed the door and went off to the class this morning, it wasn’t really an issue.

"I managed to get back after lunch and check it. Answered a couple of questions. Signed a contract or two that needed it, but that took maybe a half-hour. Leaving to get here tonight, I set

it aside on the desk and walked away."

"You sound surprised."

"That’s the truth of it," he explained. "It was a big enough step to take the time away, somehow I’ve always felt like I was neglecting things if I took more than a day or two off here and there."

"I can see how that might be the case, but you look like a vacation agrees with you."

He smiled back, honestly. "I think it does."

Alexander looked around the room and there was no sign of Blair. "I should probably go look for her. If I don’t talk to her I won’t know where to show up tomorrow."

Martina thought about it for a moment. "If you need your schedule you can talk to my staff. They’ll be happy to print off a copy for you, but I know one thing that you’re signed up for

tomorrow without having to check."

It only took a moment for him to realize what it was. Smiling, he shrugged. "Dancing?"

"You have a good night, Alexander. If you need anything-"

"Thank you, but I’m sure I’ll be fine."

---