Beautiful Days (Jason Of The Valley Book 5)

by Jason K. Melby

  "Ah. Now I see. You're,"

  "Don't! Don't say it. I'm not jealous."

  "Then what would you call it?"

  "It's motivation. I've wanted to lose this weight for a while and now is as good a time as any."

  "I don't know Douglas very well, but from what I do know, I'm sure his head couldn't be turned by a pretty face."

  "I can't take that chance. He's in that office with that girl all day, five days a week. Her job is to serve him and make his life at work easier. You'd be surprised how easily that can twist a man's mind."

  "I think Douglas knows the difference between doing your job and absolute submission."

  "You don't know the half of it."

  "What?"

  "Nothing. The point is I can't let up for a second."

  "Maybe you're just going at it too hard."

  "That's how it's done! It's war. These calories are like roaches."

  "Granted. We've all had weight struggles, but sometimes if you attack it too furiously, as you have been doing, it can kind of backfire."

  "What do you suggest?" Haley then took the glass away from Cynthia and came out from behind the bar and sat next to her.

  "I think right now you need to fix your attitude before you can do anything about the rest of you."

  "My attitude is fine."

  "You feel threatened by this receptionist, but there's no reason for that. Douglas loves you and from the sound of it, your need to lose weight is coming from you, not him."

  "I just don't feel attractive anymore."

  "That's what I'm talking about. You don't need to lose weight. You need to gain confidence."

  "How?" Haley smiled as she thought for a moment. She looked back at Cynthia as her inspiration dawned.

  "The way women have instilled confidence in each other since the beginning of time. You need a girl's night out!"

  Chapter 13

  The First Review Is The Hardest

  Jason was sitting at the table in David's apartment; while David was on the couch watching the movie they rented with the intention to watch it after dinner. David looked over and Jason was just sitting there glued to the screen of his lap top. He had logged onto the website that held all the sales information about his book. He said he just wanted to check it real quick, but that had been twenty minutes earlier.

  "Are you going to be much longer? The movie is actually good."

  "Just a few minutes more." Jason said.

  "You said that ten minutes ago. Come on," David got up and pulled Jason up from his seat and forced him down onto the couch. "Staring at those numbers isn't going to make them change."

  "I had a couple sales earlier this week. I thought I was getting into a streak. I should check if anyone's left a review." Jason tried to get up again, but David snagged his arm and threw him back down.

  "Stop it! You're going to go nuts. I get that it's important to you, but you're important to me and I think it would be good for you to just take a break."

  "I know. I'm sorry. It's just so nerve racking. My work is out there. It's really out there. Anyone could just go online and buy my book."

  "It's exciting and a couple sales already isn't bad. Especially for a new author."

  "Thanks, but I think I know who a couple of those sales were. What I don't get is why there haven't been more. I've been telling Mike and Ken to buy copies all week. I mean, I priced it as low as I could."

  "Just give it time."

  "You liked the book, right?"

  "I think we already covered this. Your book is good. You just have to relax. Let's just watch the movie."

  "All right. You're right. No more book crap."

  "Thank God." David then kissed Jason and they both snuggled up as the movie continued.

  They both soon lost themselves in the movie and Jason's mind came to ease. He kept thinking about his books and the lack of sales, but he was more focused on being with David and he was able to push the stress away and just enjoy being with his boyfriend. Suddenly David's phone rang and he sprang up and ran into the kitchen to answer it before Jason could say a word. He heard him pick up the phone and greet whoever it was calling, but after that he began talking into the phone in a hushed, quiet tone. Jason kept his eyes on the movie, but strained his ears to try and make out the conversation. He knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but as he still had some trust issues, he found it hard to resist.

  "Yes. Tomorrow? When? All right. That's fine. See you then." David said and then David emerged from the kitchen and took his place on the sofa back. Jason leaned against him and tried to keep his mouth still, but his curiosity was growing by the second.

  "All right. I'm asking. Who was that?"

  "Hmm?"

  "On the phone. Who was that on the phone?"

  "Oh. That was a friend."

  "A friend who calls at eleven at night? A friend with whom you're doing something tomorrow, despite the fact that you and I have plans?"

  "Oh, that's right. I guess I'm going to have to cancel tomorrow then."

  "What? You're flaking on me for your friend?"

  "It's not a friend exactly."

  "Okay. You had better start explaining this real fast or we're going to have a problem."

  "Fine. I wanted this to be a surprise, but that was a real estate agent friend of mine and he's been looking for a place for us."

  "What?"

  "After you agreed to move in with me, I thought about it and I don't want you moving in here with me and I don't want to move into your place. We need a place that is ours together. My friend is one of the few agents in town who handles rentals and he says he's found something really good and he wants me to see it tomorrow."

  "And you were just going to surprise me?"

  "That was the plan, yes."

  "But what if I don't like what you find? I mean, if we're both going to live there, shouldn't we both have input?" Jason asked. David had an answer, but it floated out of his head and he realized that Jason was right.

  "I'll admit I did not think about that. I feel stupid now. Of course you should see it!"

  "Well, then how about you and I go see this place tomorrow then?"

  "Of course. Yes."

  When the movie was over, Jason and David ended the evening as they normally would and ended up in his bed clutched in each other's arms. All thoughts of moving and book sales had vanished as they had their bodies pressed tightly together. The one thing Jason most looked forward to when they got intimate was kissing David. He was about the best kisser he had ever encountered. It was as though he was hungry for his very flesh and his passion was laid bare. David's intensity in the bedroom thrilled Jason, almost to the point of scaring him. David pushed Jason over onto his back and pinned him down, smiling down on him. They stayed in that position for nearly six minutes. They're eyes were locked and neither of them wanted to spoil the mood by doing anything. David could smell the sweet scent of Jason's sweat and Jason felt the warmth of David's breath. In that moment, they felt connected and whole. David leaned down and his mouth was welcomed by Jason's and their tongues twisted around as they melted into their kiss. David collapsed on top of Jason and their moist flesh rubbed together.

  "I don't want this to end." David whispered.

  "Me neither," Jason then looked up and saw the time on the clock sitting on David's nightstand. "But I'm going to have to go soon. Work tomorrow."

  "Why can't you just stay?"

  "I'd love to, but I don't really want to deal with the commute from here to the valley in the morning."

  "I see your point." David said as he rolled over, granting Jason his freedom.

  "Besides, pretty soon we'll be living together and we'll be doing this every night."

  "That is also true." Jason then slid over to David and draped his arm over his chest.

  "Besides, I didn't say I had to leave right now. I can stay for a little bit longer." David smiled and pulled Jason closer.

  "Then let's make that little
bit count."

  The next morning, Jason woke up groggy. He hadn't left David's place until nearly two in the morning and he wasn't able to actually get to sleep until almost four which gave him barely two hours sleep total. He dragged himself out of bed and padded to the bathroom. As he passed through the hall, he looked out at his place and all he could think about was how in a few weeks, it was all going to be gone. He'd be with David in their new place and he couldn't wait.

  Jason stood before the bathroom mirror and took stock of himself. His hair was a little skewed but it was fixed with a few rakes of his comb. He then brushed his teeth which made him feel a bit cleaner. He was still having trouble keeping his eyes open, so he turned on the water and splashed some icy water into his face. A jolt ran through him and he felt a little bit more awake. He went back to the bedroom and checked the time and saw that he was a good ten minutes behind schedule. He grabbed the first shirt he found in the closet and pulled on his pants. He didn't have time to be critical of his fashion choices. He then slipped on his shoes, grabbed his bag and ran out to the kitchen where he got his water and a snack to get him through until lunch. He was racing to the door when his phone began to ring. He looked down and saw it was Ken.

  "Hello?"

  "Hey!"

  "What is it, Ken? I'm kind of running late here."

  "I figured that, but I had to call and tell you what I found."

  "A job?"

  "I wish. No, I was out getting the paper and I saw the latest issue of Urge." Ken said. Urge was a widely read magazine that leaned toward a gay audience. It was more popular because it dealt exclusively with popular culture trends and entertainment. It was very rare the magazine ever had a story with any real journalistic significance. It also didn't hurt that each issue ran some rather racy pictorials featuring well known athletes or porn stars.

  "So?"

  "So! Guess whose book was reviewed?"

  "You're kidding."

  "Nope. I as flipping through it and something caught my eye and it was your book cover! You've been reviewed in a national publication!"

  "Oh, my god! What did they say?"

  "I don't know."

  "Huh? What do you mean you don't know? Didn't you read it?"

  "I didn't have a chance. After I saw it, the guy at the news stand started yelling at me about how I wasn't at a library."

  "But you bought the magazine, right?"

  "I wanted to, but I only had a couple quarters for the paper."

  "Which news stand?"

  "The one in Sherman Oaks off of Ventura Boulevard and Van Nuys."

  "Okay. I think I can make it."

  "It's ten minutes to nine now. There's no way you'll make it there and get to work on time."

  "I guess we'll just have to see. Bye." Jason then clicked off the phone and bolted through the door. His heart was pounding like a jack hammer as he made his way down to his car. His thoughts were scattered as he tried to visualize his route to the news stand, but his anxieties about being late for work were clouding his thoughts as well. He blew it all away as the car started up and he roared out of the garage intent on his mission.

  Morning traffic on the surface streets wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either. Jason managed to hit mostly green lights and when he saw the time on his dashboard when he finally saw the news stand ahead of him, he saw he had at least six more minutes before he had to be at work. He noticed there was a great big space on the street right in front of the news stand and he whispered a quiet thanks to God. He parked and leapt out of his car and ran over to the news stand. His eyes scanned past all the magazine covers searching for Urge. He started at one end and worked his way to the other. He checked every row, peering behind some of the larger magazines in case they were hiding it from him. Once he got to the family living magazines at the other end of the news stand, he grew scared. He went back to where he started and tried again, and found nothing. He turned to the one guy standing by the cash register.

  "Excuse me?"

  "What can I do for you?"

  "Do you have any more issues of Urge?" The man looked back at Jason with a confused look. "It's a lifestyle magazine. Deals with fashion and movies."

  "You're going to have to be more specific."

  "It's a gay magazine."

  "Oh! Right. All gay magazines are back here." He said as he pointed to the adult section behind him. The top two rows had black plastic dividers covering up the magazines and on the bottom rows were the lifestyle magazines that dealt with mature and sometimes controversial groups. Jason bent down and found that all the gay news magazines had been stored there. I flipped past all of them, but still no Urge. Jason turned back to the newsstand man.

  "It's not here. Do you have any others stored somewhere?"

  "Nope. Sorry. If it ain't out, I don't got it."

  "Shit." Jason said under his breath. He ran back to his car and turned it on. He had four minutes left. His mind raced. He tried to think of where he would be able to find such a magazine. A revelation came over him and he pulled out and turned around in the middle of the street and headed in the direction of work.

  Jason knew he wouldn't find Urge in the magazine rack of a normal grocery store, but he knew there was a bookstore a few blocks from his office that boasted a wide range of magazines, some from Europe. He knew he was going to be late, but he had to take the risk.

  Jason sped into the parking lot of the shopping center where the bookstore was located and slipped into the first space he saw. He jumped out of his car and ran across the parking lot and burst into the store, narrowly missing a woman carrying a tray of hot coffee she had purchased from the coffee bar inside. He ran over to the magazine racks and desperately searched. He made his way to the high fashion rags which often mingled with the gay lifestyle magazines and as he pushed aside a copy of Blue Boy, he saw the masthead for Urge right in front of him. It was as though a shaft of golden light had fallen upon him and he had found his prey at last. He snatched the magazine and was set to just go and buy it, but his curiosity was too great. He was late for work; he knew that so there was no point in rushing anymore. He leaned up against the wall and opened up the magazine. It opened up right at the book review section, as if it had been ordained by fate itself. He ran his eyes up and down the page, but saw nothing. He worried if he had gotten the wrong issue. Jason checked the cover and it was the current issue according to the date. He went back to the book reviews and then flipped the page and there it was. His book cover in glorious color right there in a little box along with a few other reviews. He had seen it so many times before he finally published it, but it was something different to see it as a little thumbnail in a magazine. His first review. Jason then began to read the words sitting next to the picture of his book cover and as he did, his world turned upside down. He then pulled out his phone and dialed Ken.

  "Yes?" Ken asked.

  "I found it."

  "The review? Great! How does it feel to have the first good review in a national magazine?"

  "I don't know, because this is one of the worst reviews I've ever seen!"

  "What?"

  "They only gave it two stars out of five! It says it's best to be read while drunk!"

  "Oh, I'm sorry, Jay. I am. Like I told you, I didn't have a chance to actually read it. I just assumed it was going to be a good review."

  "They hated it. They hated it and now everyone who reads this damn magazine is going to hate it too!"

  "You don't know that. Sometimes bad reviews can be good. I mean, there have to be people who'll buy the book just to see how bad it is for themselves, right?"

  "And that doesn't really make me feel any better, you know?"

  "I'm sorry."

  "No, it's fine. It's not your fault. I should be prepared for this. People are going to hate my work. I was just hoping my first bad review wouldn't be in a national platform."

  "Hey! I'll go online and put up a good review. Maybe that will kind of balance it out."
>
  "Thanks. I better go. I'm late enough to work as it is."

  "All right. I'll talk to you later." Jason then clicked off his phone and let out a deep, sorrowful sigh.

  The rest of the day went on as normal for Jason. He went to work and answered for his lateness. His supervisor didn't really care, but just warned that if he was going to be that late again to call, to which Jason nodded and accepted responsibility.

  His energy throughout the day was low. He wasn't able to concentrate on his work and any time he had to think, all he could think about were the hateful words of that review. They were seared into his brain. He kept talking himself down, convincing himself that bad reviews were part of the journey and he had to just suck it up, but it was easier said than done. His phone then rang and he saw that it was David.

  "Hi." He said in a sigh.

  "Hi. What's that matter? You sound down."

  "Nothing. I really don't want to talk about it now. What's going on?"

  "All right. I was just calling to let you know we'll be meeting with my friend around eight tonight. Just come over any time after work."

  "All right."

  "Seriously, what's wrong? You sound terrible."

  "I'll tell you about it tonight. I feel like if I start talking about it, I'm going to need a hug so it would be better if you were physically in front of me."

  "Okay. I love you." David offered. Jason couldn't help but smile.

  "I love you too."

  Jason arrived at David's apartment a little after seven. When the door opened, David just grabbed Jason and hugged him with all his might and Jason responded in kind.

  "Thanks." Jason said with his chest pressed against David's.

  "Are you ready to talk about it?"

  "No, but I might as well," Jason then pulled free from David's embrace and held out the issue of Urge. "Page thirty eight." David took the magazine and flipped it open and saw the review. He looked over at Jason and smiled.

  "You're first review!" He said.

  "Read it." David looked down and read through the whole review and then looked back up at Jason.

  "I'm sorry."

  "They destroyed it. They took my work; my heart and soul, and just torched it in front of the entire country!" David scooped Jason back up into his arms.