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My phone rang and the shrill sound of my ringtone cut through the moment and made him push away from me. I took my phone out of my pocket, then hurried out of the kitchen because another moment in his presence might mean me losing myself.
It was Danielle calling, and I coughed twice, then slapped my cheeks so I could feel awake again before I took the call.
“Danny,” I said, hoping I didn’t sound as breathless as I felt. “How’s Nashville?”
“Great as always. I miss you already … how’s Dallas? Exciting to be back home, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I replied then laughed a bit. “Very exciting. Did you know your dad was in town? He lives here now.”
“Really?” Danielle asked.
I sat on my bed.
“Yeah,” I replied dryly before rubbing the back of my neck. “How’s Terry and Mike?” I asked, missing the rest of my band members, and wishing I could be in Nashville with them. Ever since the incident that prompted me to leave Nashville, all I can do it think of them.
I miss playing.Danielle, Terry and Mike are the best bandmates any one could ask for.
“Everyone’s great. They don’t want a replacement for you ever. I told you not to leave, Leah. That was a wrong move.”
“I didn’t have a choice, Danny, and you know it,” I answered, then felt tears prick my eyes. I hated that I had to make this choice. Music used to be my life … my everything, but now I wasn’t so sure it was the right choice for me anymore.
“It’s hard,” I confided to my friend. “But I’m pushing through because I know I’m doing the right thing.”
Danny stayed silent for a long time then I heard her play the strings of her guitar before she started singing my favorite song “Love Away from Home’ from our first album.
A tear slid down my cheek as she played, but I wiped it away with my free hand and stilled my heart. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry because of this choice. I did it to save a life … I did it to save myself, so it was worth it.
Tommy
ThenextdayIspent time with my employees at my Dallas branch office here in Lakewood. We had set up base here to start my branching security firm and since I had my major establishment in Dallas, I thought it would be best if I managed the one closer to home myself till it had its standing.
Peter Coleman was the lead security officer, and his intelligence in the field was all I needed. Without my input, he could manage the entire thing, and most importantly, he was a dear friend.
We had lunch together that afternoon, and I hoped that my time away from the house and Leah would help me clear my head and get her out of my thoughts.
“What’s on your mind?” Peter asked fifteen minutes after we arrived at the restaurant. “You usually aren’t this thoughtful when we’re together. You always talk business.”
“I’m a thoughtful person,” I said to him, then picked up my glass of fruit juice and sipped from it. “Or maybe I just have a lot on my mind.”
“You do, I can tell!” he replied. “Is it about the start-up? We have got our first client here in Lakewood, isn’t that a good start? Protecting the office of the town’s council chairman is a big deal. It’s nothing compared to being the mayor’s private man, but it’s a fast way there. As long as we have our employees working in relevant fields, it will be easy to get to the top.”
“I know,” I answered Peter, then checked the menu. “It’s not about work that is bothering me,” I continued. “I just … I haven’t had to think about much in a while so it’s unsettling.”
“Much?” Peter asked. “Much like? Is this about Danielle? I hear their group’s having another Europe tour this year. Did she tell you about it?”
I pressed my lips together and cleared my throat. “I’d rather not talk about Danielle,” I said to him before meeting his gaze. Peter was good at reading people, and we had been friends for a long time because he knows how best to read me.
When I didn’t want to talk about a topic, then he knew he had to back off.
“The steak here is amazing,” he suggested. “Let’s try that.”
We placed our order, and it arrived a few minutes later. After indulging in the lovely meal, I and Peter discussed business in the end till he drove off and left me to my thoughts again.
When I got to my cottage later that evening, I noticed the truck parked out front beside Leah’s sedan. My first instinct was that she was moving in more of her luggage in, but the truck was too big, and I didn’t think Leah would move so many items into this small cottage.
I walked into the house and stopped in my tracks when I saw two men moving the couch out of place. “What do you think you’re doing?” I questioned in a harsh tone and Leah came out of the kitchen.
“Hi, you’re back. I thought of rearranging the living room a little because it’s all old and boring here. I think we need more vibrant colors too.”
