Misty by Allison Hobbs Page B

“But you became comfortable with yourself in college,” she said encouragingly. “You found friends with similar interests who accepted you as a gay man.”
    â€œThat’s so true. You’re amazing. How do you see these things? Do you read minds?”
    Misty chuckled. “No, I get visuals and feel your sensations during the time period I’m viewing. It’s kind of hard to explain.”
    â€œYour process is interesting,” Gavin said, crossing his legs. “So tell me, what else did you see?”
    Unable to give a full smile due to the bandages, Misty lifted one side of her mouth and tried to inject warmth into her eyes. “I saw you fall in love for the first time in Paris. The language barrier between you two was not an obstacle. You communicated with your eyes, gestures, and the fiery passion you shared in your hotel room.”
    Gavin placed a hand upon his heart and dramatically said, “Philippe, oh Philippe. Mon amour, mon amour. How I loved that man. You are spot on, Misty. Philippe couldn’t speak a word of English and my French was terrible, but that didn’t stop our great love affair.”
    â€œYes, I sensed that you two were deeply in love.”
    â€œYes, we were deliriously happy,” Gavin said with emotion, his eyes closed as if enraptured.
    â€œWell, what happened; why did the romance end?” Misty asked, deliberately avoiding any discussion regarding Gavin’s disastrous future.
    â€œOur story is as tragic as Romeo and Juliet.” His eyes became watery as he reminisced about his first love. “It was time for me to leave Paris and return to school, where I was studying international finance. What a bore,” Gavin said disdainfully. “But it wasabsolutely impossible for me to leave my beloved behind, and so I decided to drop out for a semester, telling my parents that I needed more time in Paris to study art, which was my true passion.
    â€œThey indulged me for one semester only, and then insisted I return to the States, threatening to cut off my allowance if I didn’t. I couldn’t survive without my parents’ money, and so I had to tell my dear, sweet and beautiful Philippe goodbye. It was heartbreaking and I despised my insufferable parents for forcing me to abandon my true love. It was as if they’d ripped out a piece of my heart.”
    â€œBut you survived and found true love once again, right?”
    â€œOh, yes. Many times but nothing could compare with the love I shared with that dear, sweet boy.”
    â€œNot even Randolph?”
    Gavin’s face hardened. “What Randolph and I had was different. He’s much older than me, and to be honest, he pretty much stole my youth. I wasted ten good years of my life with that man, and for him to abandon me the way he did is unconscionable.”
    â€œI’m confused; I thought you wanted to find him because you love him.”
    â€œI do love him, but I’m furious with him at the same time. I need an explanation from him.” Gavin dabbed at his eyes, which had filled with tears, again. “What did you see in my future? Do Randolph and I have a happy ending?”
    â€œI’m not sure who the groom was, but I saw you getting married. The wedding was fabulous—really over the top; a platinum wedding and no expense was spared,” Misty lied, telling Gavin something she hoped would delight him.
    â€œOh, my God, I’m getting married? Who is the lucky groom?”
    â€œNo idea.”
    Gavin let out a happy laugh. “Can you tell me when is the wedding supposed to take place?”
    â€œSorry, I didn’t get a sense of the date.”
    â€œDo you at least know the season?”
    â€œUm, it appeared to be an autumn wedding.”
    Gavin’s mouth turned down. “I don’t like autumn colors. I’m more into pastels; I’m a spring-and-summer-type guy.”
    Misty shrugged,