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“If you say so.”
“I do say so.”
“Well, okay. Let’s hit the road. You have the place we’re meeting him at?”
“Yeah.” I glanced down at my phone, a new message coming through. “Oh wait, looks like they were full, so we’re to meet them at the Tavern instead.”
Writing back, I smiled and tucked my phone away. Time to meet the last whisper on my heart, and open myself up to the future before me.
Based on the ring I found last week in Duncan’s drawer, it was just around the corner.
* * *
The water glasshad officially soaked the napkin it sat on, the condensation long gone. It was an hour past when he said he’d be here. Simon had dropped me off, wanting to let me have time first, but as I sat alone at the table, the pitying looks from the waitstaff, I regretted his thoughtfulness. At least if he’d been here too, I wouldn’t look like the stood-up loser I currently was. I picked up my phone again, sending one last message, the others mocking me at their unread status in the chat app.
ME: Hey, I’m here. I’ll grab a table.
ME: Everything okay? I’m the one in the star dress, your necklace around my neck.
ME: I’m starting to get worried. Are you lost? The one on Broadway was the right one, correct?
ME: Did something happen? Blaze? I’m worried.
ME: It’s been an hour. I’m guessing you’re not coming.
ME: It’s really shitty of you to stand me up like this. You could’ve just told me you didn’t want to meet. It was your idea, after all.
ME: I don’t think I can talk to you anymore. I want friends who will respect me and honor their words. I thought I knew you. Goodbye, Blaze
Motioning to the waiter, I grabbed my check and paid the bill. I’d ordered an appetizer at least, so I wasn’t starving. A text came through right as I stood up to go. With my heart in my throat, I opened it.
Blaze: Wow, I can’t believe you showed! Guess I lost that bet. Did you really think I cared? Honey, I’ve been catfishing you for years. I don’t care about you. Simon was in on it too. Just ask him. He’s never stopped writing to me. It wasn’t even me the whole time. I let my friends write to you too, and we laughed at your letters. I used to read them every morning over the intercom about the poor little country girl with the crazy mother who fell in love with her gay best friend and the imaginary boy across the world. You’re pathetic, and I’m tired of pretending. Smile, you’re on camera.
Tears streamed down my face, and I looked up but didn’t see anyone. He was probably lying, hoping I’d make a scene or something. Wiping my cheeks, I held my head high like my momma taught me, and I walked out of there. At least it had done the one thing I’d wanted—removed all doubt, leaving me open to Duncan.
Simon entered the restaurant as I was exiting, and the pain I felt in my heart splintered. When he saw my face, he rushed to me, reaching for my arms, but I stepped back, not wanting him to touch me.
“Lenn, what is it? Tell me, what’s wrong.”
“Is it true?”
“Iswhattrue, Lenn?”
“You’ve been writing to Blaze this whole time behind my back?”
His face dropped, the guilt evident, and I watched him swallow hard before nodding. “Yes, but I can explain.”
“No need, Blaze did it for you. I’ll find my own way home.”
Running out into the crowd, I lost myself amongst the throngs of people, blending in as I weaved, my short stature aiding me in my escape. When I found a Honkey Tonk bar with music playing, I ducked in, I found a quiet hallway and hoped I’d lost Simon. Pulling out my phone, I leaned against the wall and called the one man I could count on.
“Hello?”
“Dad?”
“Pumpkin, is that you? What’s wrong?”
I slunk down and cried as I tried to explain everything to my dad through my tears. After a few minutes, he managed to cut me off.
