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“The drama isn’t what distracted me.” She smiles coyly. “You did that all on your own.”
I could kick myself around the block for wasting even a minute of time with Melissa. She’s clearly the perfect woman for me. She loves my daughter, she doesn’t take any of my crap, and her kisses are otherworldly wonderful. “What do you say we go into town for supper?” I ask. “That is, if you haven’t already eaten.”
She turns toward me and purrs, “I’m not hungry for food.”
“Not even a patty melt?”
Sitting up straighter, she replies, “I could always eat a patty melt.”
“Good, let’s go. I’ve been off my food this week and I’m starving.”
“You were so worried about me you couldn’t eat?” she teases.
“How would you feel if you poured your heart and soul out to somebody, and they never responded?”
She nods her head thoughtfully. “I might have actually called them on the telephone.”
“I’ll remember that in the future.”
A look of alarm crosses her face. “I hope you don’t mean you’re going to date other women while you’re dating me.”
“Never. I meant that the next time I want to talk to you, I’ll use the phone.”
“Good man.” She pats my chest before standing up. “Now let’s go.”
It takes us a long time to get to the diner. There’s more kissing at my house, and then in the car before we leave, and yet more once we park on Main Street. I have never in my life felt as content as I am right now, which makes me think that Melissa was right when she said sometimes we have to get out of our own way.
I’ve been so worried Sammy and I would get hurt again that I closed the door on the possibility of a happier future. Heck, had I opened the door sooner, we probably would have never moved to Elk Lake.
I decide to take my bullheadedness as a sign the universe was keeping me single for the right woman—Melissa.
Walking hand in hand to eat, we stop in front of the diner’s big picture window. I pull her into my arms, and I kiss her like she’s the only thing that’s keeping me alive. When we’re done, I tell her, “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“I almost did.”
“I know, but you didn’t, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
As we turn to walk inside, I glance at the window and my heart nearly stops at what I see. Sammy is sitting at a table with her friends and they’re staring at us like they’ve just witnessed a murder. Eyes are wide, mouths open in shock.
I nudge Melissa to get her attention. “We’re busted.”
She doesn’t seem the least bit nervous. Instead, she takes my hand and pulls me into the diner. I haven’t allowed myself to wonder how we were going to tell Sammy about us, but it seems like the moment is here.
“Sammy,” Melissa calls out as we approach my daughter’s table.
“Melissa. Dad.” She shows no emotion other than shock.
“I wasn’t lying to you before when I told you that Melissa and I weren’t dating,” I start to say. But Melissa puts her hand on my arm to stop me from talking.
In front of God and a table full of preteen witnesses, Melissa announces, “Your dad and I would like your permission to start dating each other. And before you worry this might ruin our friendship, I can assure you that if your dad screws this up in any way, I’m keeping you.”
Sammy looks between us before slowly smiling. “You have my permission.” Then she stands up and walks over to us. I open my arms and pull both of my girls in for a hug.
When Sammy’s friends start to cheer, I ask, “Would it be too awkward if we had supper here? We’d sit at our own table.”
Sammy appears to consider my request before saying, “It depends. Will you pay for our supper?” Four sets of eyes glue themselves to me.
“Of course he will,” Melissa says. “That’s what dads are for.”
