him.
About ten minutes later my Cristal arrives, chilled to perfection, with two flutes. The server opens the bottle and pours a glass for me. I thank him and pass him a generous tip.
I step onto the patio and look out at my view. The sun is lower in the sky and starting to cast long shadows along the white sand and royal blues of the ocean. The view is beyond amazing, nearly taking my breath away.
While I sit on the balcony, in the quiet, alone, I start to think about some of the decisions I know that I will need to make over the next few months. I'm under immense pressure from Trinity and Vincent to begin stepping into my role as CEO of Bold International, Inc. The argument before the board meeting was proof enough of this fact. I know deep down that the roll of CEO will not be anything near what I fear it to be. I know that a large part of my fear has more to do with the fact that I will be giving up my freedom to do as I please when I feel like it.
Eventually the exhaustion of traveling and the emotional turmoil of the last forty-eight hours overcomes me, and I crawl languidly between the nice, crisp, white linen sheets on the king size bed.
The next day I wake around four in the morning, cursing life because it’s so early. I stumble to the bathroom, where I indulge in the eight shower heads. All these shower heads reach places that I didn't even know existed. I don't think I've ever been so clean. I wrap up in a fluffy white bath robe and grab to the bedside phone to order room service.
Once that's done, I sit down on the couch to read through the many amenities the hotel has to offer. I'm pleased to discover that the fourth floor contains several shops, including Gucci, the Gap, a couple of other high-end stores, and a commissary of sorts that sells the kinds of things guests maybe forgot to bring or run out of during their stay. Perfect. I haven’t unpacked yet after settling into my room yesterday, but looking at the hotel's amenity list reminds me that I barely packed a thing Tuesday evening on my way out the door. Sticking to a few changes of clothing makes traveling faster and easier, but it also makes a trip to the commissary necessary.
While I'm waiting for my breakfast to arrive, I power up my iPad. Four new emails. Two from Mick, one from Beau and there’s even one from Trinity.
They're all wondering what happened and why I took off so suddenly. Mick and Beau let me know they've tracked me to Tarah. I take strange comfort in the fact that they worry enough about me to track me. I reply to all of them, letting them know everything is fine, and I let Beau and Mick know that I will probably be bringing them out to Tarah next week sometime. The thought of spending a weekend with them in Tarah puts a smile on my face. I just need some time alone before I let their invasion begin.
But the questions about what happened and why I left remain unanswered. I've been avoiding thinking about it, but I need to figure it out. Then maybe, with luck, I can explain it to my friends.
I put aside the iPad and pick up a pad of paper and a pen from the desk in the sitting room. I begin by writing down a list.
Reason One: I could not and did not want to deal with Reed and his infidelities, now or in the future.
Reason Two: I was disturbed by the fact that I was turned on at seeing Reed with another woman.
Reason Three: I knew in that moment, when I was turned on and not wanting to make a scene, that I don’t love Reed. Reed and I have been on and off again for the last six months. Yes, the sex is amazing but beyond our bedroom compatibility we have nothing in common with one another.
Reason Four: Bobbie.
Over the last week I've felt off, felt wrong about something. Like a change was coming, and it scared me. I know now that change was Reed and whatever we had going. But it‘s not just that. Over the last year so much has changed, and in such a short time. When Bobbie died, I was