Page 24 of A Match Made In Fall

My jaw drops. “What?”

I stare at her, waiting for her to tell me she’s kidding, but she doesn’t say anything else.

“Mom, I’m not going to lie to him.”

She shrugs unapologetically. “It’s not that far from the truth.”

I narrow my eyes. “Okay, who are you, and what have you done with my mother?”

She grins. “I have a good feeling about Austin. I think you’re going to have a great time with him.”

“Mother.” I let out a laugh of disbelief and cover my eyes with my hands. “Even if we have the best time ever, that does not magically make him my boyfriend.”

“Dexter doesn’t need to know that,” she reminds me. “And honestly, sending him that message tells him you’ve moved on. And reminds him of what he gave up.”

Well, she’s right about one thing…I have moved on.

At least, I’m trying to.

Dexter will probably always hold a piece of my heart, but my life can’t stay stuck in the past because of someone who’s no longer in it. Maybe there’s a part of me that’s been afraid to date again.

No matter what might happen with Austin or any other man, it has nothing to do with replacing Dexter.

“I don’t need to share details about my personal life to move on.”

“He doesn’t need to have any details,” my mom says.

I stare at her in shock. “Wow. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”

She shrugs again. “I’m just suggesting you take control of the situation. This shuts the door before he tries to push his way back in.”

I press my lips together and glance down at my phone resting in my lap. Am I really considering this? My mother has never steered me wrong before.

“Fine,” I mutter. “But if this completely backfires, I’m telling everyone my mother made me do it.”

She laughs. “That’s fine.”

I pull up Dexter’s message before typing carefully.

Hey Dexter. Thanks for reaching out and checking on me. It’s been a rough few weeks, but I’m doing better. I’ve been staying with my parents while I recover, and they’ve been taking really good care of me. I’ve also started seeing someone, so things are finally looking up despite everything. Hope you’re doing well too.

“How’s this?” I ask, handing her my phone.

She reads over the message, nodding approvingly.

Then before I can react, she types a few more words and hits send.

“Mom!” I shriek, lunging to grab my phone.

“Oh calm down,” she says innocently. “It was good. I just tweaked it a little.”

When I get my phone back, I read the edited version of the text with my mother’s tweaks.

His name is Austin.

I stare at the screen in horror before looking up at her. “You added his name?”

“Yes. It makes it sound official.”