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Squinting, she tilted the phone away from her, the brightness of revealing the whole text a little too much for her. She eased the phone back into her field of vision and blinked rapidly, hoping to get her retinas to adjust faster.
I had just gotten out of a long-term relationship, he said.I wasn’t really sure if I was ready to date again, and I apologize that our first date suffered because of that.
Part of her expected another message to come in. Right now, as if he’d just sent this and would be typing more. But he’d sent it only a few minutes after ten p.m., which was five hours ago now.
She let the phone fall to her chest, and she closed her eyes as darkness enveloped her again. He hadn’t asked her out again. He hadn’t mentioned running on the beach. He’d said he’d call, and then he hadn’t. He’d texted.
Now confused and tired, Sage turned onto her side and put her phone back on the nightstand. Ty was a problem to be dealt with in the daylight.
By the time dawn rolled around, Sage had a bunch too, and she’d managed to sleep a little more. She dressed and leashed Gypsy, then went to meet Ed for their morning beach walk. She wouldn’t tell him about Ty. She couldn’t imagine what she’d even say.
She could tell Thelma later that day, or put it on the Supper Club string and see what everyone else thought. As Sage walked, ate breakfast, and drove to the salon for a full day of clients, she didn’t do any of those things. She simply kept Ty in her thoughts as she cut, colored, and blow dried.
Once she got off at the salon, she once again found herself in her car, switching up the AC so it would blow harder. She stared straight ahead, looking at the trees beyond her windshield.
Everything in her life was so boring. She needed to stuff sticks of dynamite into the cracks and then blow everything up. “You could do that with Ty,” she whispered to herself.
It would take a few texts, and she felt certain she could have another date with him. As the blessed AC finally cooled and started to waft across her face, she realized she didn’t want a date.
She wanted to start as friends. She needed a friend to do things with—wild and crazy things. Scuba diving. Whale watching. Sneaking onto a private yacht for a wealthy person’s wedding she didn’t know.
Smiling at her imagined reckless behavior, she picked up her phone from the cupholder.It was a little awkward, she typed out.I’m not sure why, but maybe because of that. I’m sorry it didn’t work out with whoever you were seeing before.
Statements. Facts. No questions.
She’d thought they had nothing in common, but maybe he had been more reserved than usual. Sage had lived in Hilton Head for almost a year now, and she’d barely done any of the touristy things she and Thelma had joked about.
She’d be fifty next week, and perhaps she and Ty could…hang out. A semi-scoff burned in her throat. “Fifty-year-olds don’t hang out,” she muttered to herself.
Still, her thumbs seemed to have a mind of their own as she typed out another message to Ty.Once upon a time, you said you wanted to be around for my fiftieth birthday. If that’s still true, I’ve had my eye on this whale watching tour, but I’ve never done it. I need a friend to go with me. Could you possibly clear your schedule next Thursday and come with me?
She’d been planning to take the tour with Thelma, but her sister didn’t particularly like boats. She’d be fine if Sage said she had someone else to go with. Thelma probably wouldn’t even ask any questions.
Sage thought she better at least check with her first, so she quickly sent a text to her sister while she waited for Ty to respond. He did own and operate a very busy real estate firm here on the island, but she knew his phone operated like a third hand.
I found someone else to go on the whale watching tour,she sent to Thelma.So you’re off the hook! Is that okay?
Oh my goodness, I was just going to text you!Thelma said.You know that medical supply guy I’ve told you about? Reid? He just asked me out!
For next Thursday, so I was going to try to beg out of it. I can tell him no. It’s your birthday.
Relief sang through Sage, her fingers flying now.That’s great, Thelma! And remember, we’re having the birthday party on Friday, at Bea’s new place.
She and Grant had wanted—and needed—a bigger place to host all of her kids when they came to visit. So they’d just bought a bigger house on the island, and it would fit the twelve of them for dinner easily.
Right, Thelma said.So I’ll go with him. Who did you get to go with you?
Ah, the question of the hour. Sage didn’t want to answer it, because she didn’t really have anyone confirmed yet, as Ty hadn’t answered her. Just then, his reply came in, and he said,Sure, that sounds fun.
She couldn’t really read the emotions behind that text. It could be nothing, like,Sure, I’ll go. Or it could be something more like,Sure! I’m so glad you asked, and I can’t wait to see you again.
Sage really should write romance novels for how romantic she wanted things to be in her real life. She wanted fun, flippant, quick-fire, back and forth texting sessions that made her heart pound and her smile fill her whole face.
She wanted someone to see her, pay attention to her, and be absolutely thrilled to see her. Her first husband had been the opposite of that, and since Sage wasn’t a fussy woman, it had taken her decades to realize she was living with a roommate, not a soulmate.
Have you been on the whale watching tours before?Ty asked.
Nope.
