her bout of tears.
“What did ya expect, that a cry on my shoulder was gonna fix this mess?” At the startled look on Hope’s face, Destiny’s look of impatience returned.
“I hear you, Des. I just don’t know what to do.”
“Seems to me you only have one recourse left to you. Honesty... and luv, I’m talking about the type of honesty that lets someone know that when it comes to loving them, there’s no room left for shame.”
Chapter 8
“Hey, man, what's going on?”
“Jason, where are you?”
“We're on our way to the airport. What's going on, Steve?”
“I'm in London. I knew you were heading this way, so I thought we could hook up.”
“What are you doing here, Steve?”
He could hear the suspicion in Jason’s voice and didn’t know how to answer. If truth be told, Steve was still kicking himself for making this mad dash across the Atlantic because he was concerned for Hope’s wellbeing. “Um... I'm here on a personal matter I had to attend to.”
“I hope you're not here doing what I think you're doing!”
“What shouldn't I be doing, oh Lord and Master, Jason King?”
“Whatever, man. I'm not doing this right now. All I'm gonna say is, I hope you know what the hell you're getting into.”
“Oh, I know, Jason. Believe me, I know.”
“When are you back stateside?”
“I'll give you a call when I get back. Is everything okay with you?”
“Aviva’s here with me, we’re heading home… everything’s perfect.”
“Good, I’m glad for you both. Give her a kiss for me and I’ll see you all soon. Peace out.”
Disconnecting the line, Steve sat back in his seat as the taxi sped towards his hotel.
Linking all that Destiny had told him and the message she left, Steve was concerned enough to hightail it to London. Unable to fool himself any longer, he rapped on the glass that separated him from the driver and changed the address of his destination.
**********
Hope pulled open the front door and seemed ready to give whoever stood outside incessantly ringing the bell a piece of her mind.
Steve could see her shock at seeing him standing on her doorstep. He also noticed the way she pulled her robe around her narrow body as though to hide her appearance.
“So is this what suicidal looks like on Hope Richards?” Steve asked, unable to hide his shock at her unkempt appearance. In all the time he had known this woman, he had never seen her look anything other than perfect.
Pulling her robe even tighter around her slender shoulders, Hope stood back. “Will you come in?”
Gripping the handle of his travel bag, Steve fought the emotions he was experiencing. Now that he could see she was alive, he seriously thought about getting the hell away from her. But he knew he needed answers to the countless questions that tormented his every waking moment. Having travelled all this way, Steve thought that time might as well be now.
Attempting to maintain his most nonchalant expression, Steve walked into the apartment and Hope closed the door behind him. For a moment, he felt as though he were trapped in a spider’s web. His survival instinct told him to run. Knowing that hearing what she had to say might well be the breaking of him. But he also knew he would stay. Just as he knew, even though he had hung up the phone on Destiny, he would be standing in this very spot eventually.
“Please come through. May I get you something to drink?”
“Thank you, no.” Steve responded with extreme formality, unwilling to give even an inch.
“Would you like to sit down, Steve?”
He didn’t respond. Rather, he placed his bag on the floor, pushed his hands into his pockets and looked Hope up and down with expressionless eyes. He saw the moment his regard began to take its toll on her and derived a modicum of satisfaction. Even in her disheveled state she looked beautiful, and that was part of the problem. This beautiful woman placed too much importance on her outward appearance and the way
“What did ya expect, that a cry on my shoulder was gonna fix this mess?” At the startled look on Hope’s face, Destiny’s look of impatience returned.
“I hear you, Des. I just don’t know what to do.”
“Seems to me you only have one recourse left to you. Honesty... and luv, I’m talking about the type of honesty that lets someone know that when it comes to loving them, there’s no room left for shame.”
Chapter 8
“Hey, man, what's going on?”
“Jason, where are you?”
“We're on our way to the airport. What's going on, Steve?”
“I'm in London. I knew you were heading this way, so I thought we could hook up.”
“What are you doing here, Steve?”
He could hear the suspicion in Jason’s voice and didn’t know how to answer. If truth be told, Steve was still kicking himself for making this mad dash across the Atlantic because he was concerned for Hope’s wellbeing. “Um... I'm here on a personal matter I had to attend to.”
“I hope you're not here doing what I think you're doing!”
“What shouldn't I be doing, oh Lord and Master, Jason King?”
“Whatever, man. I'm not doing this right now. All I'm gonna say is, I hope you know what the hell you're getting into.”
“Oh, I know, Jason. Believe me, I know.”
“When are you back stateside?”
“I'll give you a call when I get back. Is everything okay with you?”
“Aviva’s here with me, we’re heading home… everything’s perfect.”
“Good, I’m glad for you both. Give her a kiss for me and I’ll see you all soon. Peace out.”
Disconnecting the line, Steve sat back in his seat as the taxi sped towards his hotel.
Linking all that Destiny had told him and the message she left, Steve was concerned enough to hightail it to London. Unable to fool himself any longer, he rapped on the glass that separated him from the driver and changed the address of his destination.
**********
Hope pulled open the front door and seemed ready to give whoever stood outside incessantly ringing the bell a piece of her mind.
Steve could see her shock at seeing him standing on her doorstep. He also noticed the way she pulled her robe around her narrow body as though to hide her appearance.
“So is this what suicidal looks like on Hope Richards?” Steve asked, unable to hide his shock at her unkempt appearance. In all the time he had known this woman, he had never seen her look anything other than perfect.
Pulling her robe even tighter around her slender shoulders, Hope stood back. “Will you come in?”
Gripping the handle of his travel bag, Steve fought the emotions he was experiencing. Now that he could see she was alive, he seriously thought about getting the hell away from her. But he knew he needed answers to the countless questions that tormented his every waking moment. Having travelled all this way, Steve thought that time might as well be now.
Attempting to maintain his most nonchalant expression, Steve walked into the apartment and Hope closed the door behind him. For a moment, he felt as though he were trapped in a spider’s web. His survival instinct told him to run. Knowing that hearing what she had to say might well be the breaking of him. But he also knew he would stay. Just as he knew, even though he had hung up the phone on Destiny, he would be standing in this very spot eventually.
“Please come through. May I get you something to drink?”
“Thank you, no.” Steve responded with extreme formality, unwilling to give even an inch.
“Would you like to sit down, Steve?”
He didn’t respond. Rather, he placed his bag on the floor, pushed his hands into his pockets and looked Hope up and down with expressionless eyes. He saw the moment his regard began to take its toll on her and derived a modicum of satisfaction. Even in her disheveled state she looked beautiful, and that was part of the problem. This beautiful woman placed too much importance on her outward appearance and the way
Similar Books
