“So no, love had nothing to do with what happened.” He looked like he wanted to add something, but at the last minute his mouth slammed shut, and he stopped meeting my gaze, staring instead at where our hands touched. Ahh. I remembered this. This was where he would tell me that we’re breaking up. Not that we were together. I guess it would be more accurate to say that this was where he was going to tell me he was leaving. My stomach clenched, and I followed his lead, staring down at the table, pulling my hand back and folding them in my lap.
“Do you want some coffee? I want some coffee.” He looked up at me and smiled. I hesitated before my nerves got to me and retreated to the coffee maker.
“I will still pass on the coffee. I have to leave for the city after we talk.” There it was. He was leaving. I said the first thing that came to mind.
“And get gas.” I winced. I should have filled it up for him. That was what responsible adults did when they borrowed a car. I hadn’t thought about it this morning. He stood and walked over to where I was, a soft smile on his face.
“I plan to.” His amusement faded as he looked around again.
Yeah, we needed to just pull off this band-aid.
“Well, it was nice meeting you.” I held my hand out, shoving it in between us for the farewell shake. But he didn’t take it. After a few seconds I let it fall, looking away. God, this was painful. “Thank you for filling me in on the case. Have a good drive home.” I started to walk past him when he grabbed my hand. I turned, already frustrated with his silence, when he spoke.
“I can’t stay here.”
“Okay.”
“I really can’t.”
“I really didn’t ask you to,” I reminded him with more snap than I had wanted. We hadn’t been on a date. We were nothing to each other. Just a ‘what if’ to remember one night over drinks. Something to remind us that the chance was there. This was painful, and awkward, and, well… awkward. But it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Here was rejection in all its ugly glory. Gran was right. I was hiding behind my daughter. Maybe even hiding behind my divorce. Captain America might not be Mr. Right, but he had reminded me that Mr. Right was out there. I was okay with letting him go, letting him walk away. Well, ‘okay’ might be overstating it a little, but I could deal. He was leaving.
“I want to stay longer. Because of you.”
Well. Fudge buckets. I felt like I was trying to breathe through fog. My gasping was the only sound I could hear for a second while I tried to process the words and make sure I didn’t just imagine them.
“What does that mean?” I whispered. Hope sat like a clamp on my heart. Could—
“I don’t know.”
“That’s the stupidest evasion I have ever heard.”
He laughed, touching my face gently as he moved closer to me, staring into my eyes.
“How about I text you?” he asked, his eyes searching mine. “Maybe the next time you’re down we can go get that pho?”
“I can do that.”
Well, look at that. I had a possible date. For sure, this time. I smiled at him, and he smiled back. I was still scared, but so was he. Maybe, if we went slow, he could be Mr. Right after all.
Continue reading the Lark Davis Mysteries
in Stir Up.
Want more Barrow Bay?
Visit me at AnnabelleHunter.wordpress.com and sign up for my newsletter to get a free short story.
About Annebelle Hunter
Annabelle Hunter is an avid reader, writer and joyful mother of two. She lives in Southern California, with her two children, husband, one dog and horse who rules the household.
Please visit her on the web at AnnabelleHunter.wordpress.com.
Check out these other works by Annabelle Hunter
Lark Davis Mystery
Leg Up
Stir Up - To be released in July 2019
Load Up - To be released in September 2019
Barrow Bay Mysteries
Number's Up - To be released in August 2019
Leg Up Page 17
