Free Better Than Safe by Lane Hayes Page B

“Same. Miami or California. Somewhere warm. I want clean air and a fresh start, you know?”
    “Fresh start? What do you mean?”
    He shrugged and stared up at the ceiling. “I want to lose myself in a new start. No worrying about things I can’t change or people who don’t or shouldn’t matter.” He turned on his side and gave me a smile that clearly said he wasn’t going to reveal any deep secrets. “What time do you have to leave in the morning?”
    “Early.” I closed my eyes. If reality had to invade, I wanted to sleep through it.
    “Hey Paul?” He waited for me to refocus on him before he continued. “I’m not good at this stuff but… when we’re back in DC, call me, okay?”
    I smiled softly and nodded my acquiescence before leaning in to kiss him. Lying naked with a man who was practically a stranger in a hotel room wasn’t the time to make promises you might not keep in the light of day. But this one I would. The unexpectedly awful coffee date I wanted to erase from my memory had turned into something very… promising.

 
    O N THE train ride back to DC the following afternoon, I stared at my cell wondering how soon was too soon to contact Seth. It was Friday. Should I wait till Sunday or give in to impulse and—fuck it. Heading home now. Call me this weekend. Paul. I pushed Send. The text message was fairly tame, but I’d labored over it like I was rewriting the last bloody line of War and Peace . It was friendly but not overbearing. At least I thought so. I wouldn’t be offended if he didn’t call right away, but I hoped to hear from him by early next week. Actually, that was a lie. What I really wanted was for him to call me immediately and tell me he couldn’t stop thinking about last night either.
    I had to laugh. Twenty-four hours ago the knowledge he was boarding the same train irritated me. I’d loathed the idea of making small talk with someone I didn’t care to see again in this lifetime. I’d thought he was self-absorbed and rude but now I couldn’t stop thinking about him. His smile, the arrogant mannerisms he tempered with humor and confidence. He was intelligent, gorgeous, and seemingly driven by his personal quest for artistic excellence. I longed to see his work and get a better glimpse into his beautiful mind. But more than anything, I wanted to be with him. Naked, writhing. Once wasn’t nearly enough.
    I pocketed my phone with a sigh. He’d call when he could.
     
     
    E XCEPT HE DIDN ’ T . The weekend passed in a boring blur. I stayed busy but I couldn’t say what I’d done exactly. I went to the gym, worked from my home office, and even stopped by one of my favorite jazz bars on M Street. It was pleasant, but it didn’t keep me from thinking about Seth. Or incessantly checking my phone.
    By Sunday evening, I was thinking a text message wasn’t enough. A voice message would be better. More personal. And Monday around noon was the perfect time. I would call him when—my phone rang and startled me from my reverie. I scrambled to sit up and answered it without looking at the caller ID.
    “Hello?”
    “Hey, I heard you were back in town. Were you planning on calling me or were you going to let Aaron tell me all about your trip?”
    “Um….”
    A familiar voice chuckled on the other end of the line. “It’s Curt. Remember me?”
    I smiled at his put-upon tone. “Don’t be daft. I’ve had a whirlwind couple of weeks trying to get back to some state of normal. I’m not certain I’m there yet. How are you? How is your sexy boyfriend? I would have called you first but I was afraid he might think I was out of line and kick my arse. I thought I should get my footing on American soil before I chanced it.”
    Curt chuckled. “You’re safe. Jack knows we’re just friends.”
    “You’re sure? The last time I showed up at his bar he looked like he was tempted to throw me to the curb. Literally.” The inside joke was one I occasionally tossed out to needle Curt.