For Farzan, he’d have to try.
thirty-six
Farzan
So you’re the one who’s trying to steal David, huh?” a short woman with boulder shoulders asked, doing her level best to glare at Rhett as they got their coats on at the door.
“Only after you stole him from me,” Rhett teased back. “Jeri, right?”
So this was the mysterious Jeri. Farzan hung back and let them tease each other. David’s hand was warm against the small of his back.
David leaned in to whisper, “Sorry.”
“What for?”
“For all this. I really did want to spend the day with you.”
“It’s fine,” Farzan said. “This was important.”
“So are you.”
Farzan’s chest gave a painful squeeze at that.
Because yeah, he and David had apparently moved into pet-names territory, but when it came down to it, David’s dreams were bigger than Farzan. Bigger than Kansas City. And today had been a painful reminder that despite what they told each other, about figuring out the future when it came, there wasn’t really going to be a choice to make.
David had a brilliant career ahead of him. He’d probably become themost famous sommelier in the United States. He’d pour wine for rich assholes that made more money in an hour than Farzan would in his lifetime. He’d go to fancy parties and travel the world and be featured in wine magazines and websites.
Farzan wasn’t jealous of all that; he didn’t want it. He wanted his restaurant to succeed. He wanted to prove to his parents he could do it. That he wasn’t a fuckup.
He wanted to hang out with his best friends and not be the one who hadn’t made anything of his life. To go to family dinners and not be reminded what a failure he was.
He didn’t want to prove himself to strangers. Just to the people he loved.
Jeri and Rhett finished bickering, and Jeri turned her gaze to Farzan, her gray-green eyes kind. “And you must be Farzan. I’ve been wanting to meet the guy who put a smile on David’s face.”
“Jeri,” David pleaded, but she waved him off.
“You must be a good influence on him, if you’re getting him to leave the house and not work. Though this barely counts.”
Farzan chuckled. “I don’t know about that, but I do like spending time with him.”
David’s hand shifted to the side of Farzan’s waist, giving a soft squeeze and pulling Farzan in a little closer. “It’s nice to finally meet you. David’s told me how great you are.”
“He’s pretty great himself,” Jeri said. “The hardest worker I know. And a good friend. When he gets his head out of his ass.”
“Hey!”
But Jeri’s gaze softened. “I knew him when he was a scrawny college kid—”
“Oh my god, you were a twink?!” Rhett said, but Jeri ignored him.
“And I’ve never met anyone as passionate as him. When he wants something, he goes after it with his whole heart.”
Jeri held Farzan’s eyes, like she was trying to say something more. But Farzan already knew that. He’d seen how driven David was, how passionate he was with each tasting, how diligently he studied his flash cards.
David had big dreams. And Farzan would never forgive himself if he stood in David’s way. Even if that meant they’d have to say goodbye.
All he could do was enjoy this while it lasted.
