“What’s that?”
“Nothing,” I say while continuing on my walk, leaving him to catch up.
He does so easily, again placing his hand at the small of my back. I resist the desire to shake off his touch, in part because I don’t mind it as much as I wish I did.
“Didn’t look like nothing to me. Was it a gratitude list?”
It seems silly to deny what was obvious.
“Yes. I write a list of five things every morning.”
“Why?”
My stomach twists.
A former therapist recommended it,doesn’t fall easily from my lips. Instead, I tell him, “It’s good for you.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “How so?”
I adjust my shoulder bag from my right to my left shoulder, though I never carry things on my weaker shoulder.
“It helps start my day with a positive outlook. Sounds, I don’t know, woo-woo or whatever, but a gratitude practice can help shift a negative perspective.”
“Not super woo-woo,” he comments. “Sort of like visualization.” A contemplative expression crosses his handsome features. “I’ve used visualization off and on for years. A lot of athletes do.”
“Does it work?” I find myself asking.
He shrugs. “Honestly, I don’t know. I think so. It doesn’t hurt picturing myself crossing the finish line first. Gives me something concrete to aim for and helps provide muscle memory because we run through scenario after scenario.”
For a few minutes I forget about the fact that Travis is talking about racing and admire him as a highly skilled professional speaking about what helps keep him at the top of his game.
The segment of my brain that loves to pick things apart and figure them out, wants to ask more questions. I long to know about his process and what drives him to want to win so badly.
But I don’t ask about those things because inevitably it’ll lead me back to the fact of what he does for a living.
The ringing of Travis’ phone breaks the short silence between us. This time he answers, “Yeah, Norm? … I remember. … Nine-thirty. I’ll be there. Annalise already scheduled it. I’ll call you after the meeting.”
“That sounded important,” I say casually.
“Business. Norm’s my agent.”
I nod. “Pros need agents.”
“So they tell me.” He pushes out a heavy breath.
“You’re going to be traveling again this weekend, right?”
He nods, but a frown mars his face. “Japan. But I’ll still be able to make it to your appointment with Dr. Dupas next Monday.”
My steps falter because I hadn’t even thought about my doctor’s appointment scheduled for later this week. It’s my first in-office appointment with the new doctor Travis found for me here in Monaco.
She’s connected to the main hospital. Travis set it all up when he assumed I would be living here in Monte-Carlo.
I did my own research on the side and already had a video call with Dr. Dupas. I immediately felt safe with her, so I’ve chosen to keep her as my main OB-GYN for the duration of this pregnancy.
“Oh, I wasn’t … If you’re buy, I don’t mind going on my own.”
“I’m not too busy,” he says, suddenly stopping in front of me. “I want to be there.”
