Page 80 of Get A Fix

“Because it’s what you do.”

“Why?”

“It’s suffocating otherwise.”

“Is it?”

“Yes! Normally, yes,” he nearly shouted.

“Okay.”

“And a lot of times, I’m going one way and they’re going another.”

“Sure,” I said, moving to the wall, leaning on it, still watching him. “People are busy, especially in your line of work.”

“Without question,” he agreed. “And then our paths will cross again, or not, or I’ll call when I get a moment, or they will, and sometimes we reconnect and sometimes we don’t.”

“Got it.”

“Now the thing is, even if we really liked each other, had a good time, a great time even, there’s still that learning curve when you’re finally back in someone’s physical presence. When we reconnect, there’s an amount of time it takes to get comfortable again, and then once we are, things are fun and light and easy until it’s time to part.”

“Again.”

“Yes. Again,” he barked at me.

“Okay. Got it.”

“But see,” he said with a deep sigh, “with you, here we are on the second day, and there’s been horrible news about my friend, and we had that amazing night and when I woke up you weren’t there… I just, it’s been real life happening here. It’s not some fairy tale, and we’ve talked, and I’ve told you more things than…than I normally share, and I feel connected.”

“Good. I feel the same.”

“But what about when I have to go back to Malibu?”

“I thought you were flying back to⁠—”

“No, not right now. I mean later. Down the road. When we’re doing our bicoastal dating. What about when I have to go back home then?”

“I don’t understand the question.”

“I mean, what happens to that connection?”

“When you go home.”

“Yes!”

“Because you love it so much, and when you think of home, that’s it, right?”

“What?” He stopped pacing.

“Your house in Malibu, that’s home.”

“Of course.”

“Of course because yes, it is, or of course because that’s what you think the answer should be, so you’re saying it?”

“You’re confusing me.”

“Fine. Tell me this. Do you love Malibu?”