know,”
says Samantha.
"I think he
will ask you,” says Nicki.
“We will soon
find out! Will you ask Jane to come in please?”
“You wanted to
see me?” asks Jane.
“Yes. Did we get
all the invitations out and all sponsor information printed?” she asks.
“Yes, everything
is on schedule,” states Jane.
“We need to
arrive three days ahead of schedule so we can make sure everything is perfect.”
Samantha yells,
“Nicki make sure everyone's flight is booked for that Wednesday, December 12,
into Houston.”
Jane, David,
Paul, and Samantha go over some important information.
Jane asks, “Do we
know if he’s bringing a date?”
David says, “He
is seeing a socialite named Monica, but was recently seen hugged up with an
unidentified woman in a clubs VIP section in Montreal.”
Samantha knows
they are talking about her. Paul looks at Samantha because he knows her secret.
Samantha looks at Paul shaking her head not to say anything. They wrap up
really late causing her to miss Jacob’s call.
She calls him
back about midnight. He doesn’t answer, so she leaves him a message: “I'm sorry
I missed your call. I had to work late. I will call you tomorrow.”
Texting is their
main form of communication because of their holiday travel. They do manage to
get in two Skypes on Thanksgiving. She is at her parents in Atlanta and he is
home in Houston. He is watching a game with his Dad and brothers when
Samantha Skypes him. They both go into other rooms away from their families.
Her brother
bombards the room.
"Who the
fuck is that guy?" asks her brother.
"Just
messing with you," he says.
"My name is
Mike," he says.
“I'm Jacob nice
to meet you man. Your brother is funny", says Jacob after Mike leaves the
room.
"I know
right?" she says.
They mostly talk
about sports over drinks. They end Skype to have dinner with their families.
Later they skype again while they are getting ready to go out.
“Send me a
picture,” request Jacob.
“You sound kind
of tipsy,” she says.
“Yeah I am but
I'm not driving.”
Jacob's friends
come in his room.
“Hey man what’s
up bro?!”
At the same time,
Samantha’s friends also come into her room.
“What’s up girl?
You ready to get crunk?”
"Yes! Just give
me a minute to wrap up this call,” she says. “What are you drinking?”
"Patron,"
says Jacob. "Hey I'm leaving. Be safe. Text me when you get in," he
says.
When Jacob’s
friends see the picture that Samantha sent, they say, “Damn! Who is that?"
“Someone I'm
seeing,” answers Jacob.
"Yeah I
already met her and she is fine!" says Todd.
“You know the
saying once you go black you never go back,” they all laugh.
He sent a picture
to her of him and his friends looking plastered.
He is drunk when
he calls her later.
“I wish you were
here so I can hold you,” he says.
“Me too. I miss
you.”
"How long
will it be before we can see each other?" he asks.
"I don’t
know but not long I hope," she says.
“Come here
tomorrow!”
"No, because
we will end up having sex and I’m not sure I’m ready for that. Plus we’re both
with family.”
Jacob slurs, “I
have a Charity Gala coming up. You can be my date.”
"Ask me when
you're not drunk," she says.
He falls asleep.
Chapter
4
Their
schedules are so busy they don’t talk or Skype until December 8th. They only
had time to text.
"Are
you going to the Gala?" he asks.
“Yes I will
be working that event. Do you have to have a date or escort?”
“No, I’ll be
fine as long as I finally get to see you. I will have you to myself after it’s
over.”
She
unfortunately knows that wouldn't happen. "Of course," she
says.
"What
hotel are you staying at?" he asks.
"The
Hilton, the one in Market Center," she says.
“How long
will you be in Texas?”
"Wednesday
to Saturday,” she says.
"I have
some other events starting
Sean Thomas Fisher, Esmeralda Morin