April 21, 2021
Well, it’s been a month and I just learned you and your team were in town this past weekend. No calls? No texts? I don’t bite, Reese.
Sorry. I meant to. Just have a lot going on right now. Transitioning to a new company and all. I promise when I have time, I’ll let you know.
So does that mean you’d like to see me, too?
Yes, Madison. I would like to see you.
*
Reese continued to stare at the screen, skimming the messages for the months following. There weren’t all that many, and yes, that was mostly his fault because he’d come up with one excuse or another as to why he couldn’t meet up with Madison while they were in Dallas.
If he was honest with himself, he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Not because he worried what he might do. He would be faithful to Brantley for as long as they were together. That wasn’t something he questioned. However, he wasn’t sure he wanted to risk what might happen when he saw her again. The feelings that she might evoke.
Again, it wasn’t that he’d been in love with her, but Reese had loved her. More importantly, he’d been attracted to her. Possibly more so than any other woman from his past. What happened if he saw her again, and it stirred those old feelings? Namely, lust. For a woman. Would that be enough to conjure up the insecurities he’d had when he’d first gotten together with Brantley? Would he begin to question everything again?
On the other hand, Reese wondered if that was something he needed to know. Did he still have the ability to feel something for a woman? Was this thing with Brantley temporary? A curiosity that needed to be sated?
He glanced back down at the phone, found the start of the last thread they had between them.
*
September 8, 2021
I think I’ve got it figured out. Looks like you come to Dallas on the third Friday of every month. That means you’ll be here in a couple of weeks, right?
Yes, I’ll be up there on the seventeenth.
Oh, wow. Barely over a week. Does that mean you’ll have some free time while you’re here?
I expect I can, sure. Why? What did you have in mind?
Dinner. My treat. A chance for the two of us to catch up.
Where?
You really are committing to this, huh?
I’d like to see you, too, Madison. And I can’t say no to dinner. Where did you have in mind?
Jason’s Deli.
Why did I know you were gonna pick that place?
Because it’s my favorite and we used to have a good time just sitting around and talking while we were there.
We did have a good time.
So that’s a confirmation you’ll meet me? What time?
I’ll let you know when my schedule’s clear.
Don’t you dare ghost me again, Reese.
I won’t. I promise.
*
