Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“I need to work. I like working.”
He rubbed his chin. “Right.” He shifted in his chair. “Haven’t seen Kassie around much.”
“She’s busy with her accounting business. Plus, the pie thing. She’s on the go constantly,” I said, keeping my voice even.
It was the truth. She was always baking or had her head bent over her keyboard as she worked on whatever it was she did for clients. All I knew was it was far more involved than I could fathom. We had dinner when we could, and I still spent time with her, but things were different. We were no longer together the way we had been. We were transitioning to friends again, and I knew I had to let it happen. But I hated it. I missed her. Missed the intimacy between us. Missed waking up with her. Feeling her arms around me. I had no idea how I was going to say goodbye to her. Leave her behind. Simply the thought of it caused an ache in my chest that throbbed.
But if friendship was what she needed, I would do that. I owed her that, at the very least. I would leave Richton on a good note, knowing Kassie would still have her life after I left.
What I was going to do without her was another question.
Davis spoke again, interrupting my musings.
“I live in San Fransico.”
“Oh,” I replied.
“I moved there four years ago.”
“I see. Great city.”
“It is. I have freedom there. A real life. I like having that separation—some privacy.”
“That’s…great,” I repeated.
“Yep.”
He stood and smiled. “It took me a while, but I figured out my priorities. And I realized that sometimes, what seems impossible is, in fact, very possible.”
I was totally confused. “Right.”
He studied me for a moment. “If things change for you, call me. I would love to work with you—and not just in front of the camera. I think you’d make an amazing director, and I would be happy to mentor you.”
I was stunned. “Thanks, Davis.”
“You have good instincts. I watched you direct yourself. Subtle changes that made things even better on film. That’s a talent. If you decide to explore that talent, call me.”
He strolled off, leaving me alone and once again mystified.
Everyone was talking about changes. Choices.
I didn’t really have any, did I?
I picked up Wong Man, knocking on Kassie’s door when I got home. She answered, her smile warm, but her expression was one of restraint—and it always seemed to be there now.
“Hi,” I greeted her. “Have you eaten?”
“No. I was just finishing some paperwork.”
“May I come in? I’ll share.”
“Of course.” She stepped back, and I walked past her, stopping briefly to press a kiss to her warm cheek. I would have preferred her mouth, but that seemed to be off-limits the last few days. There was a divide between us. A shifting of our relationship, and I was smart enough to know that it was due to my leaving soon. And that there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I followed her to the kitchen, grabbing glasses and cutlery as she took out plates and unpacked the bag.
“Did you bring enough food?” she teased.
“I won’t get this again until the next time I visit,” I said without thinking.
We were quiet as we helped ourselves to the delicious food from the various containers.
“Will you?” she asked.
“Will I what?” I replied, twirling the spicy beef noodles with the chopsticks.
“Ever come visit?” She met my eyes. “I mean, why would you come here?”
“To see old friends.”
“Ah.”
“To see you,” I added, finally getting the words out.
She shook her head. “I don’t expect anything from you. We agreed to being together while you’re here. I don’t want promises of something that is no good for either of us.”
“Why isn’t it good? We’re great together.”
“As a temporary thing. You have a vastly different life. Glamorous and busy. Another film that Annie said would make you a huge star again. Maybe even bigger than before. You’ll be busy. I’ll be here, baking pies and doing taxes. I can’t compete.”
“I don’t want you to compete.”
“What do you want?”
“Is there no possibility for us?” I asked, laying down my chopsticks.
“No.” She shook her head, her tone gentle. “I’m not leaving Richton. Your life is thousands of miles away. If we tried, one or both of us would be hurt. Can’t we just keep things as we agreed and remember this time as something special?” She met my eyes, hers pleading. “I can’t go through that again, Olly. I can’t sit and wait for you, knowing you’ll never come. Reading about your life in the papers and putting mine on hold. Don’t ask me to. I want to part as friends this time. No promises and no pain.”
Her words stunned me, even as I recognized the truth. We were now. Not forever. In fact, I was certain now was done. The next while, we would be friends. No longer lovers. That was what she needed. And I had to give it to her.