Savior

Nineteen: Mia

And just like Weston had predicted, the second we landed, the madness began. We were greeted at the airport by an onslaught of paparazzi and reporters, and despite the fact that we weren't keen on advertising our relationship, we weren't going to hide it any longer either. We held hands as Wes's huge frame wove us in and around the crowd. I just kept my head down and let him lead us to Jazz's car that was waiting outside. We spent that first night together, mostly sleeping off the lengthy flight and the next day, went back to life as it was.

Wes was in Seattle for his last meeting. There was a team in Texas that was also chomping to get an arrangement, but both Miami and Buffalo were waiting to pick him up, so he decided to not even take the meeting. It looked like within the next few weeks, my love would be on the opposite side of the country as I was. The selfish part of me was sad about it, sure, but I more than anything was excited for him. No matter what it took, we would make this work. Or at least that's what I was telling myself. Wes didn't seem nearly as certain as I was. And that was when I could get him to actually talk about it. Most of the time, he avoided the topic of us becoming long distance with everything he had.

"He won't talk about it."

"He's scared," Jazz assured me as we sat in her living room, a bottle of Merlot on the coffee table between us.

"I get that," I stated, "I do. But how am I supposed to reassure him if he shuts me down every time I even try to breach the subject?"

Jazz shrugged as she lifted her glass to her lips. "I mean... you're gonna have to talk about it eventually. Wherever he ends up, camp starts in like two weeks."

"Yeah, I'm aware. Could you tell him that though?"

Jazz sighed. "I just think... Wes doesn't want to rock the boat. Things have been really good between you guys, really solid. And... he's afraid that it's going to change."

"Well, of course it's going to change. He's gotta move to the opposite coast, but that doesn't mean things are going to suddenly turn terrible."

"Yeah, but they won't be nearly as easy."

My gaze fell to the glass in my hands. "I know."

"Are you going to stay together?"

"Of course!" I exclaimed, my eyes flying back up to meet hers. "I mean, I want to. I want to try and make this work, but I can't do that if he's already got it in his head that it's done."

"I don't think that's what he's thinking..."

"Feels like it."

"Okay," Jazz sighed, standing up suddenly. "I'm going to order food and more wine and we're gonna figure this out. And then... you bring it up with Wes, approach him with a plan... and it'll be good, right?"

I chuckled a bit. "I don't know about that."

"He'll be home in a couple days. You guys can really sit down and talk about it."

"If he doesn't avoid me."

"If he avoids you, I will slip something in his drink and tie him up."

"Why do I believe you?"

"You should."

I sighed as Jazz ventured into the kitchen to find her phone. This was exactly the reason this woman was my best friend. No matter what, she had my back, and right now, that was exactly what I needed.

After three bottles of wine, I decided to spend the night at Jazz's, not that she'd left me much choice. As I curled up in her guest room, the alcohol not even stifling my whirring thoughts, my phone rang and I knew exactly who it was.