“No, really, Kate. What’s the point? If you didn’t want to have dinner with me then why did you accept? I thought we were on the same page. I won’t be strung along.”
“I’m not stringing you along, Steve,” I breathed out. “Things have been really crazy at work, that’s all.”
There was a long pause before he spoke again. “I’m looking for something serious. Something lasting. We can’t even have a first date. I’m sorry, I think it’s best we part ways now.”
I didn’t know what to say. So instead of responding, I dropped the call and headed to the office. Confusion was a constant companion during my walk. This failed date should have bothered me.
I should’ve been disappointed or sad even. But the only thing coursing through my body was the sweet warmth of relief.
Maybe I wasn’t ready to enter the dating scene, after all.
The relief soon morphed into irritation. I wanted to move on. Wanted to find my special person. If only to parade him at Sunday lunch so my older sister would stop rubbing my nose in what she stole from me.
Yeah, it was petty. Sue me.
“I’m so sorry for the delay,” I told the courier waiting in the lobby. “Everything is signed and ready to go.” Giving the documents one last scan, I sealed the envelope and handed it over.
Not even a minute later, I was on my way up to the twenty-fifth floor. But instead of grabbing my purse and going home, I dialed Izzy’s number.
Sheanswered on the first ring. “Uh-oh. I take it your date’s not going well.”
In the background, Millie’s favorite song played. The thought of her singing and dancing along brought an immediate smile to my lips. One that vanished as quickly as it formed when I remembered why I’d called my little sister.
“It’s not going at all.” I slumped into my chair and swiveled it toward the window.
“Let me guess. You had to do something for that self-centered manwhore you work for and missed your date?”
I should probably have been worried about how accurately she pinpointed the situation. But instead of doing that, I shrugged.
Then realized she couldn’t see me and added, “It’s not some great loss, Iz. Steve and I weren’t going anywhere.”
“You don’t know that, Katie.”
“Besides, I don’t think I should be dating right now anyway. Millie needs me.” My gaze flicked to the lowering sun, my heart squeezing tight. “She’s been through so much and adding whatever crap comes with dating to that seems so irresponsible.”
My sister was quiet for a long while, but she was still on the line. This was what she did. Isabella never said something without thinking it through.The way we say things matters as much as the words themselves, she’d always said.
She also never held back. If you were acting like a dick; she’d tell you faster than you could blink.
“Katie, I’m not going to pretend I know the first thing about being a parent, guardian, or whatever you want to call it. I don’t think anyone really does—”
“Even the psychologists?”
“Especially them,” she groaned. “What I’m trying to say is I don’t believe Clara meant for you to put your life on hold when she left Millie in your care.”
I opened my mouth to answer her…
Someone cleared their throat behind me.
Turning my head, I glanced over my shoulder at a familiar face.
“I gotta go,” I said to my sister. “Tell Millie I’ll be there soon.” I didn’t wait for the line to go dead before I pushed out of my chair and crossed to Mrs. Humphreys.
I was used to seeing her. She checked in on Millie regularly. But today, something felt so off that an uneasiness coated my skin.
“Kate,” she started. “I wish I was here under better circumstances.”
That feeling grew into a big untamable beast. “That sounds ominous.”
