“Do I need to remind you how grim the dating scene is out there?” she asked, swiping away from the first guy. The next one had his profile picture set to one of him at a club with his armsslung around two beautiful women. Charlie crinkled her nose. “See? It’s awful out there. You can’t give up that easily.”
“I’m not giving up,” I insisted, taking my phone back and setting it on my cluttered coffee table. “And even if Harrison decides he doesn’t want to pursue this, I’m done with those apps.”
Charlie’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. If I can’t find someone while I’m focusing on myself, then it isn’t meant to be.” Plus, if Harrison truly didn’t want me, I’d definitely have to give myself time to get over it. Was it sad that it would likely take me way longer to grieve our nonexistent relationship than the amount of time we were actually together?
Her eyes softened. “Good. I’m glad you finally realized what a catch you are. You were settling for all those mediocre dates, and it was a waste of your time.”
“Yep.” I stared straight ahead, trying not to let the whole Harrison situation consume my every thought.
Charlie patted my knee encouragingly. “He’ll call. Don’t assume the worst.”
A loud knock came at the door. Charlie and I looked at each other and stayed seated, instinctively waiting for whoever it was to go away. But after a minute, another knock sounded instead.
“Who is it?” Charlie hissed.
“I don’t know. I didn’t order anything. Did you?”
“No. It’s probably someone trying to sell you something.”
Charlie leaned toward me on the couch to peer out the front window that overlooked the porch. We both screamed when a hulking figure entered the frame and looked inside.
Harrison jerked back, looking alarmed, before tilting his head in the direction of the front door, brows drawn together.
“Oh my God, he’s actually here,” Charlie whispered, springing up. “I told you not to worry.” She glanced at thewindow and then back at me again. “I’m not going to lie, it is so weird to see him here.”
I jumped off the couch. “What if he’s just here to let me down gently?” I asked, but that negative thought did little to dispel the fluttering sensation in my stomach.
Charlie smacked my shoulder.
“Ouch, that was kind of hard.” I glared at her and rubbed the afflicted area.
“Stop being such a pessimist and see what he wants.” She grabbed her bag off the coffee table and searched for her shoes.
I rushed to the doorway, hesitating for a moment to check myself in the mirror hung above my coat hook. The bags underneath my eyes were puffy, but not in an overly noticeable way. My hair stuck up in multiple directions. I smoothed it down the best I could before throwing open the door.
Harrison made my tiny front porch seem even smaller. His hair was still damp from a shower, and he wore his signature beat-up bomber jacket over a T-shirt. Maybe it was just the warmer clothes, but he looked different than he had the past few days. He reminded me more of the guy who had always been so cold and short with me. I told myself that this was the same guy I had spent days cozied up with, but was the trip really enough to change everything?
Charlie brushed by me into the small entryway. “I was just leaving.”
Harrison stepped aside so she could join him on the porch.
“Hey,” he said, looking from her to me and back to her. “Uh, thanks, by the way. For sending us to Greece. I know it was an accident, but?—”
“Oh, it was my pleasure, really.” She winked at me. I narrowed my eyes at her.
“I’ll see you two later.” She stepped off the porch. As soon as Harrison directed his gaze toward me, Charlie started frantically pointing at his back and mouthing, “Tell him how you feel.”
I waved her off. Harrison turned in confusion, and Charlie whipped around and strolled to her car parked on the street. “Bye,” she said again.
“Sorry if I interrupted something,” he said, returning his attention to me, his gaze searching my face.
“We were just watching bad movies,” I said. I wanted to kick myself for not coming up with a better opening line, but I was still a little shell-shocked to have him in my space. This made it all so real.
“I hope this is all right. Me just showing up here,” he added quickly.
I shook my head, trying to regain my senses. “Of course, sorry. I’m just a little out of it.”
