"I'm sorry. I just saw those pictures and freaked. Wait, did you call me your girlfriend?"
"Bugger off! Yes, Maya, you are my girlfriend, at least, I hope you are. I miss you and want to be with you. Joshua pulled us from the detail and told her father we weren't in the business of paparazzi shots. The father is mad at her."
"Duncan, I'm not sure about this. We've not seen each other since September. I can't do relationships. I've been told I'm bad at them."
"Baby, we will make this work. I promise. Just, next time, let me explain before you try to break it off. Why'd you not let me earlier?"
"All I saw was that model looking at you like I wanted to, she's where I wanted to be. I got so jealous, I actually thought of killing her. I thought you got tired of waiting for me. Plus, every time I've tried to come see you, you make an excuse or change your mind."
"Baby, I didn't change my mind. I want to see you so bad. The client kept having us travel around. Believe me, I want to see you. I'm tired of using my hand to get off because I keep remembering our last weekend together. I want to actually take you to dinner again and walk hand in hand with you in public."
I want all those things too. Maybe more, but I can't tell him. He'll run for the hills and I can't jeopardize his life by being with me. Plus, I can't share my darkness yet.
"Baby, are you there?" he interrupts my thoughts.
"Oh, sorry, I was thinking how nice a date sounds."
"Do you know how close I was to getting on a plane and coming to you today? Joshua made me stop because he has me moving to another detail in Paris so I can have the whole Christmas break off with you. When I saw you on the news and saw your partner, I was so upset and then your text. Baby, don't do that to me again."
"You know Derek is only my partner and friend."
"I know. Have you bought your ticket yet?"
"Got it on hold, I'm trying to figure this all out."
"Figure out what? Just bloody buy it."
"Well, I'm going to have to do the night flights again so I'll be in early in the morning. I want to spend time with you as we planned without the family knowing, but Ana knows the schedules better than I do. Would you like to spend the whole day with me at my hotel before we make an appearance at your father's on Saturday for brunch? That's the day that Ana wants me to fly in."
"Of course, I want to spend the day with you. Tell me when and I'll be there to pick you up."
"Well, I work week on, week off, and I get off at 1700 on Thursday, December twentieth. I'll land the twenty-first at 0730. Okay?"
"Buy it, baby, I can't wait to see you. How long will you be able to stay?"
"If you can stand it, I fly home on January fifth."
"Can you afford to take that much time off?"
"Of course, I have plenty of time banked." I cringe and hope he isn't asking about my money situation, he and I have never discussed money. I don't tell many people I don't hurt formoney.
"I can't wait to see you."
"Okay, I'll get everything booked if you're sure about this?"
"Baby, I've never been more sure of anything."
"Okay, I gotta go. I need to eat and work out. Hopefully, I'll be able to sleep."
"You do sound tired. I'll see you soon. I'll text you tomorrow. Take care, baby." He pauses before the last part.
"Take care, Big Guy."
I'm still sitting on the floor and not sure if I want to get up. I'm actually not hungry anymore. I stand up, put the food away, and head to bed.
"Maya,darling, wake up, there's been an accident."
"Accident?" I ask.
