Page 44 of Ardently Yours

A first-name basis that I thought had already come and gone when we settled into our bickering stage. Now we’re in this brand-new stage. This strange, never-been-here-before stage. A whole new relationship status that we both have to adjust to.

“Okay, Will,” I say, like I’m learning a new word for the first time. “What do you suggest I text these guys so they know I’m taken?”

“What about something like, I know this may be hard for you to understand, but it’s not you, it’s me. I’m seeing someone else, and I can’t do this anymore.”

“That is so cliché.”

“But it works. Honestly, neither one of them deserves much more of your time. It’s really up to you how you want to respond, but I don’t want you stressing over what to say to them because they didn’t spend much time stressing over how they treated you.”

His words hit me hard. Because I think they’re sad but true. Both of these guys hurt me in different ways. If either of them had been more intentional, I wouldn’t have ended up in either of those situations.

I’m not as heartbroken over George as I once was over Billie because George was more of an almost relationship. But we still had a past together. The possibilities of what could have been versus what actually happened still hurt.

And Billie...he is a whole other story. I can’t help but think Will is right. He always seems to know exactly what to say at the right time. Just like he always knows what pastry I need, I guess he also knows what wisdom I need at times like this.

That’s something I really appreciate about him. We joke around all the time, but I honestly feel like he’s shown me from the beginning that he’s got my back.

“You’re right,” I tell him, acknowledging that his advice is spot on.

I start typing a text to Billie first.

Me: Billie, you and I have been over for a long time. Mama wasn’t right for inviting you to dinner without talking to me first, and you weren’t right for showing up in town without giving me any notice. You made your decision about us when you left all those years ago. You did hurt me. I’ll admit that. But I’ve already forgiven you. The other night, I wanted to know why you did it, why you left. But the truth is, I don’t actually need to know why because I don’t think you’d be able to give me a truthful answer. What I do know is that the girl you knew back then is gone, and we can’t go back to what we were. I really do wish you the best. Please don’t come over again or stop by the cafe. I’m seeing someone else now, and out of respect for my relationship, I’d appreciate it if you stayed away.

I press send. Taking a deep breath, I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Now it’s time for the other text.

To George, I type:

Me: I wish I had better news for you. I wish I could tell you I wanted to see you again and that we should go on another date. But I can’t because I know you haven’t been truthful with me. I know you have some things you need to figure out, but I hope you’ll do that somewhere far away from the college campus and leave those girls alone. Including my sisters. I forgive you, by the way, but we won’t be dating each other. Please don’t text me anymore. I’m seeing someone else now, and no, we can’t be friends.

It’s funny to me that I’m texting both of them goodbye when just last night my friends were telling me to give Will a chance and talk to him before I wrote him off. The difference, I think, is that Will is worth giving another chance to. The other two guys are so yesterday. They didn’t appreciate me while they had me, whether it was for years or only a short time.

And I’m ready to let them go. So I do. Ironically, through text messages. Just like Billie texted me goodbye all those years ago. And just like George texted me that he was on his way to my parents’ house for dinner not that long ago.

Two beginnings. Two endings. Just like that.

I guess I should be happy about it. And I think part of me is.

I do feel relieved that I finally sent those texts tonight. But I also feel guilty. What I said to them was true. But I also told them I was seeing someone. And that part isn’t really true.

As nice as it would be if it were, I’m selling my fake relationship. So two things are true at once. I’m happy that I can finally be rid of two guys who were never good for me. But what am I supposed to do with a good guy who isn’t really mine?

Chapter Sixteen

Will

The meeting at town hall goes better than expected. With the town currently without a mayor and the town council running things while they sort through the legal mess left behind by the former mayor, we don’t have any issues with our business proposal.

The curved-ceiling building looks the same, its architecture still reminiscent of Art Deco, but the atmosphere feels different. Better. Less stressful.

The council members smile at us and genuinely listen to our proposal for the cafe, reviewing our request and giving us the proper forms to fill out. The process is basically seamless. Even after we complete the paperwork and bring in all of our required documents, we still have to wait for everything to be processed.

We do get some good news, though. We’re allowed to operate temporarily as partners. If we successfully complete the trial period, which has replaced the former process of the mayor picking and choosing which businesses received approval, we’ll be able to prove what we bring to the table instead of having it handed to us.

After the meeting, we head back to the cafe. The town hall building is only a couple of blocks away, so we decide to walk. It’s a sunny day, with humid air blowing around us as we walk side by side.

Lizzie tilts her head back, smiling as she soaks in the summer sunshine. I stifle a chuckle as I watch her.

She looks so free. Her curly hair is pulled back into a high, neat ponytail. Her blazer is draped over her arm, and her short-sleeved blouse is tucked into a pair of fitted dress pants.