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“Okay, start at the beginning.”
I peer around the corner, checking to make sure Jade is okay, and find her sitting in a chair tucked into the corner. Her eyes are focused on her phone. I open my mouth to call out to her and notice a small earbud tucked into her ear, and I chuckle. Jade is occupied for the time being, and since she has her earbuds in, there’s no chance of her overhearing my conversation with Bristol. It’s embarrassing enough to be talking to her about this. I’d rather not also have to explain all this to my teenage daughter at the same time. I take a deep breath before I unload everything onto Bristol, hoping she can help me make some sense of everything that has happened in the last few hours.
“The moment I laid eyes on Audrey sitting in the café, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. She literally took my breath away. I tried to remain focused on what I went there for, but I couldn’t stop looking at her. It got so bad that Katie called me out on staring and told me who she was. I tried to leave like a normal human, but I couldn’t resist the urge to speak to her and almost made a complete ass out of myself. Then it was as if I forgot how to speak, let alone why I suddenly wanted to know everything about her. In great detail. Instead, I just stood there like a statue, unable to speak or even think of anything but her. Honestly, if Jade and Love hadn’t walked inwhen they did, I probably would have kissed her right there in front of the whole town.”
“Oh.” Bristol’s eyes widen in surprise as a mischievous smile spreads across her face.
“Yeah,oh. I should run as far as I can away from this woman, but every time I think about never speaking to her again, my heart aches.”
“You like her.”
“But I just met her,” I reply quickly, not understanding where these feelings are coming from.
I had known Lydia almost all our lives, but it wasn’t until we were in high school that I had any type of romantic feelings for her. I’m sure we could blame the timing on puberty, but loving her was like breathing. Since we had known each other for so long, I knew everything I needed to know about her to decide that I loved her. But I’ve only talked to Audrey for a few seconds. Other than my very physical reaction to seeing her for the first time, there’s nothing else to base my feelings on. Yes, she is beautiful. There’s no denying that, but can I really discover that I have feelings for someone just by looking at them?
“I haven’t even spoken more than a few words to her. How can I possibly have feelings for someone I just met?”
“I’m not saying that you should get down on one knee and profess your undying love for her tomorrow. But you are attracted to her. There’s something about Audrey Wilde that sets your heart ablaze, a yearning that has settled deep in your soul.”
“Yeah, that’s one way to put it.”
“So, what’s the problem, then?”
“Jade.” I reach back and rub the back of my neck, peeking around the corner again to check on my daughter.
“Connor.” Bristol sighs. “I know this might come as a shock to you, but Jade is going to be a freshman in high school in the fall. I doubt she will have anything against you dating someone.”
“But I don’t want her to feel neglected or forgotten.” I groan, pacing back and forth in the hallway, trying to calm all this nervous energy swirling inside me. “I haven’t dated anyone since Lydia passed away. First, I was focused on finishing my business degree and getting the construction company up and running. Then, every person someone tried to introduce me to wasn’t right. Jade is the only thing I have left of Lydia; I don’t want to tarnish her memory by bringing another woman into our lives.”
“Ah, now everything makes more sense.” She steps in front of me, causing me to stop abruptly, and places both of her hands on my shoulders. “Lucky for you, there’s a very easy solution for all your problems.”
“And what is that?”
“Ask her.”
“Ask who?”
“Jade.” I open my mouth to respond, but she places her hand over my mouth. “Before you say anything, hear me out.”
I nod my head, waiting patiently for her to continue.She stares at me for a few minutes before she pulls her hand away. When I don’t say a word, she speaks again.
“You’ve raised Jade to be an amazing young woman. Sure, she’s still a teenager, but Jade has no problem articulating her wants and feelings to you. All you need to do is ask her.”
Bristol is right. Jade isn’t one to mince words or not speak her mind. If she had a problem with whatever happened between Audrey and me at the café, she’d have said something by now. Instead, she was all about trying to help me not make a complete fool out of myself, even going as far as enlisting Bristol’s help in figuring all of this out. I still need to have a serious conversation with her about it, but the reminder to trust my daughter to let me know her thoughts and feelings was a much-needed one. Sometimes, I forget that my little girl has grown into a strong-willed and beautiful woman.
“I also think you’re getting too far ahead of yourself. You just met Audrey and know nothing about her. She’s had a rough go since Love was born. She has some major scars that need to heal before she’ll be ready to open herself up to falling in love, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be friends.”
“Jade and Love seemed to have hit it off,” I mumble, my mind wandering back to how the two girls interacted with each other in Just the Drip.
If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought they’d known each other for years. Jade makes friends easily, wanting to ensure everyone feels welcome, but she’s gonebeyond that with Love. She considered how something she said might have affected her, while also taking the time to encourage her to try out for the lead, even though Jade has been practicing nonstop to ensure she has the lead in the bag this year.
“Exactly, get to know Audrey. Maybe you’ll discover you don’t want the relationship to move any further.”
“What if I discover I want more?”
“Then you will figure out a way to make it happen, but don’t stress about it right now. Just let things happen naturally.”
“Okay, I think I can do that.”
