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“News flash! Emma isnota casual girl. I told you this! The fact that you stayed over at all, she’s probably freaking out. You moved too fast.” He clarifies, “Ok, you remember Jeff, my old boss?”
“Yeah, what does that have to do with this?” I shudder. Jeff was a human version of a Palm Pilot.
“Well, that’s Emma. Except, she’s pretty and makes amazing pumpkin bread.”
“I’m not following. That doesn’t sound like the Emma I know.” Sure, the Emma I know is an overthinker, but when we are together there is so much passion and…love.I know deep down she still loves me, she’s fighting it. We lost years because of me, there is no way she changed that much though. Yesterday was like picking up where we left off.
“Emma is the most organized, professional,but cynical, woman I have ever known. She schedules every minute of every day, she has to. But”—he pauses for dramatic effect—“worst of all, she holds one hell of a grudge. It’s why she is so good at her job. She establishes strong relationships, and lets go of authors who break their contracts. As soon as I figured out that you were the one who broke her heart all those years ago, I knew you were screwed.”
Am I screwed? Will she ever forgive me?“No, that’s all in the past. We had an amazing night—”
He interrupts, “Where she texts you the next day, bails on you, and is now hanging out with my wife instead.”
“So what do I do? I don’t want to mess this up.” The more I think about it, the more confident I am that I’ll be spending the rest of my life with this woman.
“Be herfriend, take things slow. You know, don’t stay over at her house after talking for 24 hours. That’s what she asked for, right?” He acts as if I should know the answer. “She doesn’t need a man, she’s fine on her own. Hell, so is my wife, but she doesn’t hold a grudge like Emma does. You’re not taking things slow, unless your version of slow is a fucking bullet train.”
“You’re not helping right now…”
“I warned you this was a mistake, but you didn’t listen.” When he pauses, I imagine he's shaking his head in disbelief. “Just play it cool, and don’t shower her with hearts and flowers for the rest of the day?”
I protest, “I don’t shower girls with hearts and flowers…”
“Yes, yes you do. And Emma is not a girl, she is a woman. Unfortunately, you screwed up so badly, she might not give you a second chance…unless you give her some space to breathe. She doesn’t need you in her life, so you’re going to have to work for it. Prove you’re not the same dick you were in your 20s. Show you respect that she needs space.”
“I know, I know. It’s just that she makes me feel things I haven’t felt in forever. When we were together, she brought out the best in me…and I screwed it up.”
“So, be the person that makesherfeel things. This isn’t about you.” He is definitely Team Emma, which may work to my advantage.
An idea comes to me. “Ok, so I’ll plan a weekend getaway for us. We used to get away all the time. I’ll get two rooms—so she doesn’t feel like it’s a sex thing—but we can spend quality time getting to know each other again, without our kids.”I’m a genius.
I start looking on my computer for destination ideas, when he confirms my plan is incredibly brilliant…ok, fine, so he agrees it isn’t bad.“Ok, that’s not the worst idea, especially if you actually have two rooms, giving her some space.”See!“But maybe don’t tell her about it right away, feel her out first? You know what I mean. Is she even available? I know she’s busy with the boys and working all the time. Just don’t plan it until you talk to her about it.”
“I remember she said her ex-husband has the boys every other weekend from Saturday morning until Monday, except when her son has soccer. Mountain weekend vacation, it’s happening.”
I know he’s rolling his eyes at me. “Ugh, whatever, man. Just leave me out of it! If you tell me details, and Lily asks me, I’ll have to tell her. And you know she can’t keep a secret.”
“Got it, thanks! Are we still on for drinks Thursday after work?”
“You know it,” he says and he hangs up first.
I sit there for a moment processing everything, then start looking up resorts a few hours from us. I know I screwed up things with her when we were younger, but I am determined to make things right. I pull up our texts and reply to her message from earlier.
Dylan: Absolutely. Can’t wait to see you again.
Chapter thirteen
Emma
Theweekisrelativelyuneventful. Meetings on top of meetings for work, a very productive IEP meeting for Aiden, caught up with Riley and Lily on Tuesday with wine and Pride and Prejudice, and had a PTA meeting on Thursday night. That is what my life is these days—meetings.
Saturday morning arrives and I'm happy to have a moment to breathe after this week. Noah comes into my bedroom where I’m currently folding a mountain of laundry. “Hey Mom, I’m so sorry! I forgot my book report is due next week, and Charlie is still reading the book, so I can’t use it. Can we run to the bookstore and grab another one?”
Noah knows books are my weakness, I will never say no. “Sure, help me get everyone ready. They open in an hour.”
I make sure the kids get dressed, but I amnotput together. With a messy bun and no makeup, I am wearing my mom uniform of black leggings, a tee, and my new hoodie that Dylan bought me. I just hope I don’t see anyone I know today.
We load up my minivan and head to my favorite local bookstore. I am craving a Thai coconut milk tea boba from the cafe two doors down from the bookstore, so I let the boys know we are stopping there first. I remind myself that I know the cashier and they won’t care if I walk in looking like a hot mess.
