Just a Taste (Private Relations 1)

Pausing a moment, he added, Miss you already.

Picking up his rental car, he drove to the hotel. He’d never been so happy to see a parking lot in his life. He was ready to eat and then pass out. He’d shower tomorrow. Twenty minutes later, he was under the covers, heat cranked up, watching HBO, waiting for room service when his phone buzzed.

Sara responded, So glad you got there safely. I was starting to worry a little.

Smiling, Deacon asked, Can you talk now?

A moment later, she replied, Not for too long. I can take a break in a few minutes though. Should I call you?

Deacon replied, No. Don’t worry about it if you’re wrapped up in something. Just gonna grab a sandwich and head to bed. Long day.

Sara’s reply came immediately. Tough. I’m calling you in 15 minutes. :p

Shaking his head, he set the phone down and answered the knock at the door. He had just polished off his sandwich when his phone rang.

Picking it up, he said, “Hey.”

“Hey, you. Bad flight?”

Grumbling, Deacon explained the layover, the reroute, how, since he’d had to fly coach instead of business class, his knees hurt.

Pausing, Sara said, “Oh. You’re grumpy. Sounds like you need to just crawl under the covers and sleep.”

He could almost see that little smirk on her face as she said it.

Sighing, he said, “It was a long day. I miss you already.”

After a moment of silence, she said, “I miss you too. It’s gonna be strange not seeing you for four days.”

The edges of his mouth twitching with a smile, he said, “Tomorrow I’m supposed to meet with the Albany Athletics. Not even sure what I’m doing here though. They have PR in house. Same thing with Saratoga Springs.”

“It’ll be Friday before you know it. Then you’ll be back home, in your own bed.”

“Speaking of the weekend, Chloe’s birthday thing is on Saturday. You didn’t forget, right?”

“I didn’t. I need to go pick out a gift, but I don’t really know her. What do you think she’d want?”

Smiling now, he said, “You don’t need to do that.”

“I’m not going to the woman’s birthday party without getting her a gift, Deacon. That’s just plain rude!”

“She likes smelly candles and you can’t go wrong with scrapbooking stuff. I can just put your name on my gift. Technically, you did help me pick it out.”

“No no. I didn’t do anything of the kind. I just body blocked horny old ladies when you had to reach down to the bottom shelf. I’ll go get her something at Ye Olde Candle Shop.”

Laughing, Deacon said, “Don’t mock. It was a scarring experience!”

After a pause, he said, “I’m sure she’ll like anything you pick out.”

With a mournful sigh, Sara said, “I need to get back to work.”

“Have a good day tomorrow. Is this the bat mitzvah? Or the college thing?”

“College thing. The bat mitzvah is Saturday. I’m doing prep but should be done by like 1:00 p.m. Enough time to go shopping for dinner supplies and stuff.”

“You’re the best. Have I mentioned that?” Deacon asked.

After saying their good-byes, he stuck the room service tray out in the hall, turned out the lights and passed out.