“Then I guess we better come up with a plan.”
fifty-two
David
Somehow David expected Dallas to be warmer.
Granted, it was the middle of December, but in his mind Texas was always warm. Not today, though: it was actually snowing. Snowing! Big, fluffy flakes were twirling right outside his hotel room window.
He stared at them as he inhaled the steam from a mug of hot water.
His test was in two hours.
This was it: five years of studying (the last more intense than anything he’d done in his life), over two thousand flash cards and just as many bottles of wine (maybe more—he’d only started counting last year).
He was already dressed in his favorite suit, the blue and lavender plaid. He’d cleaned and polished and brushed his shoes: the black ones with gold floral print. He was even wearing his favorite pair of underwear.
Yeah, it was the same thing he’d been wearing when he met Farzan. But that had been one of the best days of his life. He just hadn’t known it yet. And despite the heartache that had come since, he didn’t regret it. In fact, it was only the beginning. Because he still wanted Farzan. And once he got back home, he’d find a way to tell him.
After talking to Ayesha last week, he’d thought about just showing up at Shiraz Bistro, or at Farzan’s apartment, getting down on his knees and begging, but he didn’t. Not because of pride—he’d easily give that up for Farzan—but because it didn’t feel genuine. He needed to show Farzan that he was committed to building a life together. And part of that meant showing that he was staying in KC, regardless. He hadn’t quite figured everything out yet. He had this damn test first.
For now, though, wearing his favorite suit—and with a fresh lineup—David felt like Farzan was with him. Wishing him luck. Despite the things they’d said, David knew Farzan wanted him to succeed. Wanted it bad enough to let David go.
But success wasn’t worth it without the man you loved by your side.
David’s phone chimed.
Ayesha
You got this!!
And beneath, a photo of her and Janine with their boys, all cheesing and giving him a thumbs-up.
David took a selfie to send back, smiling with the snow behind him. He was already looking forward to visiting next summer. And hey, it wasn’t hard to get from KC to Chicago.
He got a few more texts as he watched the snow: his mom, his dad. Rhett.
Rhett
Good luck bud
I’m proud of you
David
Thanks Rhett
I’ll come visit again soon, promise
Rhett
Bring your mans with you
I could use another show
“Asshole,” David said aloud. But he smiled.
Rhett had been more forgiving than David deserved, when he’d finally called and said no, he couldn’t take the job. He wanted to stay in Kansas City. With his family, and his friends, and maybe, just maybe, with Farzan.
