When I pulled out my phone to put his number in there, a familiar name filled my screen. Swiping up, I cleared Delaney’s text for now and exchanged information with him. We chatted for a few more minutes before he moved on.
“Cole,” I said, standing and handing him my credit card. “Get him a drink, and another round for us. I’ll be right back.”
Before he could refuse it, I shoved my card into his hand and walked away, through the crowd and out the front door. It was freezing as hell, but I couldn’t hear for shit in there. Hitting a few buttons, I waited.
She picked up immediately.
“Hey.”
The bar door opened. I stepped off to the side.
“Hey.”
Closing my eyes, I could picture her. Delaney in the hot tub. Delaney in our bedroom in the log cabin. Scene after scene played through my mind like a mini-movie of our short but fun-filled courtship.
“Glad you called.”
“I just saw your text,” I said.
“I got yours from last night.”
She sounded sad. Defeated. The opposite of the Delaney I knew.
“I wasn’t sure you got it,” I said.
“Honestly, I didn’t know exactly how to respond. I appreciate that you opened up and can understand why you panicked. But I can’t take it back, not blocking him. And don’t have any other reason for it except the one I gave you.”
I believed her. “I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes, I do.”
She sighed. “I wish you hadn’t left.”
So did I. “Do you remember what we talked about, in the beginning?”
“We’re just two not-terrible-looking people, afraid of commitment, who like cupcakes. That part?”
“Yeah.” I smiled, despite how shitty this felt. “That part.”
“Of course I do. But I also remember the guy in the horse-drawn carriage who asked me to be his girlfriend.” She sighed. “But this doesn’t feel like a Cinderella story.”
“We never did look back. Maybe the carriage did turn into a pumpkin and we didn’t see it.”
“And maybe we’ll get a happily ever after too.”
I hoped so. “I don’t want to hurt you, Delaney. That’s the last thing I want.”
“I know,” she said, echoing my words. “Where are you guys?”
“A place called The Midnight Owl. A bar full of Cole-types.”
“Sounds like fun.” I could hear the smile in her voice, which made me feel a little bit better.
“That’s yet to be determined.”
“Go ahead,” she said. “Have fun with Cole. After I didn’t get back to you, I just… wanted to explain. Or at least tell you that I wasn’t playing games or trying to stonewall you. I just didn’t know what to say to make it right.”
