Read Online Vegas to Varanasi (Fortytude Series Book 1) by Shelly Hickman - Free Book Online
Authors: Shelly Hickman
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any brothers or sisters who will be coming?” I ask Kiran.
“No siblings. It’s just me.”
“Same here. We’re the ones others accuse of being spoiled rotten because we didn’t have to share our parents’ affections.”
To my surprise, David enters Starbucks, looking as if he’s searching for someone, and that someone happens to be me. He spots me and gives a quick smile, then his gaze darts randomly around the place as he makes his way over.
“Hey,” he breathes. “Teresa said I would find you here.” He quietly acknowledges Geena. However, when his eyes fall on Kiran, they widen in such an obvious way, I almost let out a snort of laughter despite my bad mood. Recalling the reception when Luke said he would go after Kiran if he had the chance, I can’t help but wonder if David is thinking the same thing.
David’s attention shifts to me. “What?” he asks, a puzzled expression on his face. I don’t realize I’m smiling.
“Nothing.” I force a more serious demeanor. “David, this is one of my clients, Geena, and her son, Kiran.”
“Nice to meet you.” David shakes Geena’s hand, then Kiran’s. “That’s right,” he suddenly remembers. “You’re the one who went to school with Anna.”
“Yes.”
For a few moments, David looks back and forth between the two of us without saying anything and then produces a stiff grin.
“So what’s up?” I ask, trying to seem as if we didn’t just have this huge disagreement the night before.
“I uh... I just wanted to see if you were available for lunch today.”
This is more than about lunch. Otherwise, he would have just texted me. I want to point that out, but I’m not about to embarrass him in front of the others.
“You weren’t picking up,” he adds nervously. “And I was in the neighborhood...”
Geena takes a sip of her coffee as her gaze shifts elsewhere and Kiran makes a point to look at something on his phone. I have no doubt they’re aware that my bleak mood involves David.
Before I have a chance to answer, Kiran says, “We’ll leave you two. I really have to take Mother home so I can get to work.”
“No, I’m leaving.” David holds up his hand. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s fine,” Geena says as she rises from her chair. “Kiran’s right. We really should be going. It was very nice to meet you.”
“You as well.” David shoves his hands in his pockets, and he and Kiran exchange nods.
“Good-bye, Anna.” Kiran momentarily touches my arm. “I hope the rest of your day is better.”
David waits for them to leave and then frowns at me. “You didn’t... You didn’t talk to them about us, did you?”
“Of course not!”
He clears his throat, only to stand there silently, and I feel uneasy.
“Can we talk?” he asks. “Back in your office?”
“We can’t just talk here?”
“I’d rather have some privacy, but if you have patients, I can wait until your lunch hour.”
This is not going to be good. “I was just planning to catch up on some paperwork today, so come on.”
After not having said another word to each other during our walk back, we’re sitting across from one another in the two chairs in front of my desk. I wait quietly for what he’s about to say.
David hesitates, leans forward, and pinches his bottom lip. “I know I’ve been making you unhappy.”
I’m absolutely dismal at this opening, but I say nothing and keep staring, expressionless, at his face.
He rubs the middle of his forehead and closes his eyes. Then he holds his fist against his mouth. It feels as if he’s waiting for me to interject, to finish what he wants to say. I won’t.
“Am I right?” he asks. “Do I make you unhappy?”
“David, you’re the one that’s unhappy.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “No. I love you more than anything.”
I want to say he loves writing more than anything, that the kids and I come second, but I don’t, because honestly, I can feel how tormented he is in
“No siblings. It’s just me.”
“Same here. We’re the ones others accuse of being spoiled rotten because we didn’t have to share our parents’ affections.”
To my surprise, David enters Starbucks, looking as if he’s searching for someone, and that someone happens to be me. He spots me and gives a quick smile, then his gaze darts randomly around the place as he makes his way over.
“Hey,” he breathes. “Teresa said I would find you here.” He quietly acknowledges Geena. However, when his eyes fall on Kiran, they widen in such an obvious way, I almost let out a snort of laughter despite my bad mood. Recalling the reception when Luke said he would go after Kiran if he had the chance, I can’t help but wonder if David is thinking the same thing.
David’s attention shifts to me. “What?” he asks, a puzzled expression on his face. I don’t realize I’m smiling.
“Nothing.” I force a more serious demeanor. “David, this is one of my clients, Geena, and her son, Kiran.”
“Nice to meet you.” David shakes Geena’s hand, then Kiran’s. “That’s right,” he suddenly remembers. “You’re the one who went to school with Anna.”
“Yes.”
For a few moments, David looks back and forth between the two of us without saying anything and then produces a stiff grin.
“So what’s up?” I ask, trying to seem as if we didn’t just have this huge disagreement the night before.
“I uh... I just wanted to see if you were available for lunch today.”
This is more than about lunch. Otherwise, he would have just texted me. I want to point that out, but I’m not about to embarrass him in front of the others.
“You weren’t picking up,” he adds nervously. “And I was in the neighborhood...”
Geena takes a sip of her coffee as her gaze shifts elsewhere and Kiran makes a point to look at something on his phone. I have no doubt they’re aware that my bleak mood involves David.
Before I have a chance to answer, Kiran says, “We’ll leave you two. I really have to take Mother home so I can get to work.”
“No, I’m leaving.” David holds up his hand. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s fine,” Geena says as she rises from her chair. “Kiran’s right. We really should be going. It was very nice to meet you.”
“You as well.” David shoves his hands in his pockets, and he and Kiran exchange nods.
“Good-bye, Anna.” Kiran momentarily touches my arm. “I hope the rest of your day is better.”
David waits for them to leave and then frowns at me. “You didn’t... You didn’t talk to them about us, did you?”
“Of course not!”
He clears his throat, only to stand there silently, and I feel uneasy.
“Can we talk?” he asks. “Back in your office?”
“We can’t just talk here?”
“I’d rather have some privacy, but if you have patients, I can wait until your lunch hour.”
This is not going to be good. “I was just planning to catch up on some paperwork today, so come on.”
After not having said another word to each other during our walk back, we’re sitting across from one another in the two chairs in front of my desk. I wait quietly for what he’s about to say.
David hesitates, leans forward, and pinches his bottom lip. “I know I’ve been making you unhappy.”
I’m absolutely dismal at this opening, but I say nothing and keep staring, expressionless, at his face.
He rubs the middle of his forehead and closes his eyes. Then he holds his fist against his mouth. It feels as if he’s waiting for me to interject, to finish what he wants to say. I won’t.
“Am I right?” he asks. “Do I make you unhappy?”
“David, you’re the one that’s unhappy.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “No. I love you more than anything.”
I want to say he loves writing more than anything, that the kids and I come second, but I don’t, because honestly, I can feel how tormented he is in
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