“Beau… let the story leak.”
He sighs. “Romy, Zander has a point. If we’re going to do this, let’s do this right.”
“What’s right? What do you want me to do? This isn’t a life. I don’t have a life anymore. I mean sure, the hours…”
I look at Zander. He sits down and puts his head in his hands. I’ve never seen a man more stricken.
“Beau, can you just give us a second?”
Beau nods. “Yeah, of course.” He steps out of the room, the door shutting behind him.
I go over and sit next to Zander. “I love the hours when we’re here together. I love spending every minute with you that I can. But I can’t live like this. I miss my family. I miss the ranch. I miss fresh air.”
All he does is nod.
“This isn’t working, Zander.”
“I know.” His voice is raw, and he doesn’t pick up his head to look at me.
But does he really understand? I’m not sure.
Is he willing to take the few hours he has with me here because he’s too afraid of losing me?
“I think I need to go home. You finish this out, and then we can talk.”
“Romy…”
I place my hand on his thigh. He doesn’t flinch, doesn’t pull away, but he still doesn’t look at me.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to put you in this position, and I would never ask you to choose me over any of this. I want you to have everything this world has to offer you. You deserve all the success in the world. But… we need to figure out something else.” He still says nothing, so I continue, “Maybe we can try where I stay on the ranch, and you travel without me again. I don’t know. Maybe there’s a compromise somewhere.”
He lifts his head.
Finally.
“I get it, Romy. You can stop now. I get it. We’ll get you on a plane back to the ranch.”
“Zander—”
“No. It’s fine. It’s what’s best for you.”
Zander stands, crosses the room, and opens the door, ignoring my objections to talk. Beau must be waiting outside, forever the protector and faithful friend, because Zander speaks.
“Get a private plane for Romy to go back to the ranch. And DeSoto goes with her.”
Beau steps back into the room. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Zander, DeSoto stays with you. I can get her someone?—”
“No. DeSoto goes with her. End of conversation.”
I stand, and Beau’s eyes flash to me.
“Zander, what are you doing?” I ask.
“You want to end this, right, Romy? It doesn’t work for you. My lifestyle doesn’t work for you.”
“No, I want to talk.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I get that you don’t want to live the way I’m asking you to live. I get it. I understand it. But… where there is no choice?—”
