Page 5
I’m sorry, Gretchen. It’s over.
I click out of my phone and ignore the string of vibrations that still come through.
I stretch my neck side to side and lean back in my seat, close my eyes, and allow the sounds of airport life to consume me.
In a matter of hours, I’ll be surrounded by the calmness that is Lovers, Wyoming.
A small town that feels more like home to me than my penthouse on the West Coast.
A different vibration pattern. This one’s an incoming call.
Please don’t be Gretchen.
Please don’t be Gretchen.
Please don’t be Gretchen.
What does she need? A goddamn email?
A picture of my father and me from my college graduation covers the screen, and although I already know what he’s going to say and I really don’t want to have this conversation again, I answer anyway.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Preston, are you all right?” His voice is laced with concern.
“I’m fine.” I hear my boarding group being called.
He lets out a long sigh. “So this one didn’t work out either, huh?”
My gaze tracks the couple in front of me, holding on to each other as if even an inch of separation between them is unacceptable. The woman leans her head to the side, resting on his shoulder as they shuffle their feet closer to the flight attendant so we can scan our tickets and finally get on this plane.
It’s been delayed twice now, thanks to the heavy snowfall in Wyoming.
“Seeing as how I broke up with her, no, Dad. It’s not going to work out.”
I fight the deep sigh that wants to leave my lips as his groan fills the phone line.
He doesn’t have to tell me how disappointed he is. I can hear it in that one sigh. Things are just … complicated.
“Preston, the board is going to have a fit with this.”
I pinch the spot between my eyes.
Was dating the daughter of a top board member my smartest move?
No.
But in my defense, I did turn her down at least three times before I caved.
Her perseverance attracted me.
I like a woman with goals and determination.
It just turns out that after nearly six months of dating, that was where our similarities ended.
I probably should have known sooner than six months in, but being the son of Archie King, a man who owns three baseball teams, Vans Publishing House, and the global chain of King Groceries, not to mention other various companies and endeavors the enterprise has been expanding into, my life comes with a busy social life and an even busier work schedule. Gretchen and I didn’t see each other as often as a couple should. The fact that neither of us made more of an effort from the start should have been a sign.
During college, I contemplated a different career no less than four dozen times. Was following in my dad’s footsteps what I really wanted? Were years and years of school to be ready for the role I was born into really what I wanted?
