Vegas to Varanasi (Fortytude Series Book 1) by Shelly Hickman Page B
Authors: Shelly Hickman
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date go with Kiran?”
“It wasn’t exactly a date, but it was good.”
“Do you like him?”
“Psh! Of course I like him! What’s not to like? That’s what worries me.”
Luke’s laugh streams through the line. “Why does that worry you?”
“We’re just so different. His family is wealthy and successful. He’s kind of formal and reserved, and I am neither of those things.”
“So what?”
“And then there’s his looks. How can I possibly date someone who’s that good-looking?”
“Good God!” I can almost see the roll of Luke’s eyes. “You really need to stop fixating on that. What’s it got to do with anything?”
“Well, I know it shouldn’t, but it does.”
“Why? Why does it?”
“Because the only reason he’s interested in me is because of some lame memories he has of me in high school.” I prop my feet up on the ottoman in front of my chair.
“Are you hearing yourself right now? If Carly were talking like this, you’d give her a ration of shit.”
I let out a sigh and rub my forehead. “You’re right,” I admit. “You’re right.”
“Anna, you’re a good person. That’s what he remembers about you, and apparently, that’s why he likes you now. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made an effort to continue seeing you once you’re finished treating his mom. How much longer will she be coming to you anyway?”
“Actually, tomorrow’s her last scheduled visit.” Suddenly, I hear a tapping sound coming from the front of the office. “Luke, hold on a sec.”
I take a few tentative steps into the hallway, trying to see who’s there without them seeing me. I can’t imagine who would be coming around here at seven in the evening. As I get closer to the glass door, I see that it’s David standing outside.
“Luke, I’m gonna go. David’s here.”
“Okay. Good luck.”
I shove my cell in my pocket so I can unlock the door.
“David, what’s going on?” His face and eyes are red, and I’m hit with a twinge of panic.
“I’m sorry, but Carly said you were here. I really need to talk to you.”
“Come on back. I was doing some work in my office.”
He quietly follows me down the hallway, and I invite him to sit in the chair I was in and lean against my desk to face him. “Okay, you’re kind of freaking me out. What’s wrong?”
His shoulders slouch and he now looks a bit pale. “My dad died today.” He bursts into tears and brings his fingertips to his eyes.
“David, I’m so sorry!” I find it kind of sad that he wants to talk to me . Then again, none of his family lives here, so I guess I’m the closest thing to family he has. I pull the ottoman away from his chair so I can sit across from him. “What happened?”
He shakes his head, still shielding his eyes. “Massive heart attack. He didn’t even make it to the hospital.”
I take his hand that rests in his lap. “Sweetie, I’m so, so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
He regains his composure and takes a deep breath. “No. I just wanted to talk to you. I’ve got a flight out to Minneapolis tomorrow afternoon.”
I’ve only met David’s father twice. The past couple of summers, we took trips together to visit both of our parents, his in Minnesota, and mine in San Diego. This is definitely a shock. His dad seemed so fit and healthy.
“Can I give you a ride to the airport?”
David groans and hangs his head between his knees. “Will you just hang out with me for a while?”
“Of course. Do you want me to go next door and get you some coffee or something?”
He says nothing for a moment and rubs his head. “I’m staying at the Santa Fe right now. Would you come have a drink with me?”
I straighten in my seat. “The Santa Fe? I thought you moved in with a colleague.”
“I did, but his lease expired.” He runs his hands up and down his pant legs. “It’s a long story that I don’t feel like getting into now... So, will you?”
Just what he needs. A drink.
I rise and
“It wasn’t exactly a date, but it was good.”
“Do you like him?”
“Psh! Of course I like him! What’s not to like? That’s what worries me.”
Luke’s laugh streams through the line. “Why does that worry you?”
“We’re just so different. His family is wealthy and successful. He’s kind of formal and reserved, and I am neither of those things.”
“So what?”
“And then there’s his looks. How can I possibly date someone who’s that good-looking?”
“Good God!” I can almost see the roll of Luke’s eyes. “You really need to stop fixating on that. What’s it got to do with anything?”
“Well, I know it shouldn’t, but it does.”
“Why? Why does it?”
“Because the only reason he’s interested in me is because of some lame memories he has of me in high school.” I prop my feet up on the ottoman in front of my chair.
“Are you hearing yourself right now? If Carly were talking like this, you’d give her a ration of shit.”
I let out a sigh and rub my forehead. “You’re right,” I admit. “You’re right.”
“Anna, you’re a good person. That’s what he remembers about you, and apparently, that’s why he likes you now. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made an effort to continue seeing you once you’re finished treating his mom. How much longer will she be coming to you anyway?”
“Actually, tomorrow’s her last scheduled visit.” Suddenly, I hear a tapping sound coming from the front of the office. “Luke, hold on a sec.”
I take a few tentative steps into the hallway, trying to see who’s there without them seeing me. I can’t imagine who would be coming around here at seven in the evening. As I get closer to the glass door, I see that it’s David standing outside.
“Luke, I’m gonna go. David’s here.”
“Okay. Good luck.”
I shove my cell in my pocket so I can unlock the door.
“David, what’s going on?” His face and eyes are red, and I’m hit with a twinge of panic.
“I’m sorry, but Carly said you were here. I really need to talk to you.”
“Come on back. I was doing some work in my office.”
He quietly follows me down the hallway, and I invite him to sit in the chair I was in and lean against my desk to face him. “Okay, you’re kind of freaking me out. What’s wrong?”
His shoulders slouch and he now looks a bit pale. “My dad died today.” He bursts into tears and brings his fingertips to his eyes.
“David, I’m so sorry!” I find it kind of sad that he wants to talk to me . Then again, none of his family lives here, so I guess I’m the closest thing to family he has. I pull the ottoman away from his chair so I can sit across from him. “What happened?”
He shakes his head, still shielding his eyes. “Massive heart attack. He didn’t even make it to the hospital.”
I take his hand that rests in his lap. “Sweetie, I’m so, so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
He regains his composure and takes a deep breath. “No. I just wanted to talk to you. I’ve got a flight out to Minneapolis tomorrow afternoon.”
I’ve only met David’s father twice. The past couple of summers, we took trips together to visit both of our parents, his in Minnesota, and mine in San Diego. This is definitely a shock. His dad seemed so fit and healthy.
“Can I give you a ride to the airport?”
David groans and hangs his head between his knees. “Will you just hang out with me for a while?”
“Of course. Do you want me to go next door and get you some coffee or something?”
He says nothing for a moment and rubs his head. “I’m staying at the Santa Fe right now. Would you come have a drink with me?”
I straighten in my seat. “The Santa Fe? I thought you moved in with a colleague.”
“I did, but his lease expired.” He runs his hands up and down his pant legs. “It’s a long story that I don’t feel like getting into now... So, will you?”
Just what he needs. A drink.
I rise and
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