“You can’t control everything, son. I met Olivia on a Sunday, and by Friday, I knew I wanted to marry her. Sometimes things just happen fast, and you have to decide if you’re going to shit or get off the pot.”
I laughed. “You saidshit, Dad.”
“I say a lot of things when Olivia isn’t around. You’ll understand one day.”
My father hadn’t said anything that I didn’t already feel in my heart. I didn’t know how it happened, but I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I couldn’t let her walk away—not without a fight.
* * *
SLOANE
“You know you fucked up, right?”
I glared at my sister. She’d said that about six times since I’d told her about my conversation with Maddox. “Stop saying that.”
“I’ll keep saying it until you admit that you fucked up.”
Courtney and I were sitting at one of our favorite local bars, The Ice Box, waiting on my last two dates. Forty more minutes of wasted time because, at this point, no man would be able to measure up to Maddox. We’d spent less than three weeks total together and I’d never felt so free, so comfortable, so invested in a man. Everything had happened so fast, though.Too fast? Could it be the real thing?Am I just horny?
Even as I thought that, I knew there was more to us than sex, than physical attraction. It was innate, like we were meant to be like this with each other. I felt it ten years ago.I feel it now.
“Sloane?” Courtney shifted in her seat to face me. “I’m going to be honest with you. We never expected you to like any of these dates. At least,Ididn’t. Well, except for the Architect and the Pilot.”
I frowned. “What?”
“Richard the Funeral Director? Come on, did you really think we thought he was a good fit?”
“So why did you do it?”
“Because you needed to get out of your own way. You had to see what you don’t want, to know what you need. It was never about finding you a forever boo. If you decide to stay single because that’s what you want, go for it. I just don’t want you to stay single because you don’t want to get hurt, or because yougothurt. You’ve made a lot of boss moves, including walking away from that toxic asshole. Trust yourself. You got this.”
I sagged in relief and let her words settle in my heart. Courtney had always been my take-no-shit big sister. To hear that she thoughtIwas a boss, made me feel good. “You’ve certainly put a lot of things in perspective, though. I’m glad to hear you didn’t really think the Teeth Guy was perfect for me.”
She threw her head back, cracking up. “Girl!” She clapped. “That was hilarious. Bliss had us rolling giving us the play-by-play of that date.”
“I’m also glad y’all heffas were able to laugh at my expense.”
“We’ll have material for years off that shit.”
“Guess this means you’re going to Disney with me?”
Courtney waved a dismissive hand. “Girl, bye. I’m not going to no Disney World. You’re still going, but you can pick your own guest.”
I leaned back in my chair. “I have to thank you, though,” I said. “Without this journey, I probably would’ve embraced my inner Ms. Scroogette forever. I definitely would’ve never faced my past because it was easier to keep the wall up. This process wasn’t really about the dates, and I understand that now. I still have some work to do, but I’m ready to let myself off the hook for my failed relationship.”
“Aw.” Her chin trembled. “That’s good, sweetie. I’m proud of you.”
“What do I do about Maddox?”
“Talk to him?” she suggested. “I know it’s super fast, like lightning fast. Like whirlwind fast. Like—”
“Okay, I get it.” I cut her off. “Trust me. It’s hasn’t even been a month.”
“Not even three weeks, really,” she added.
I glared at her.
She smiled. “Just kidding. Look, I saw you two together and I’m convinced there is something worth pursing there. Don’t sabotage it before it even gets started.”
