Chapter Thirteen #2
“He really is perfect—at least until he learns how to talk.” I grin. “I’m loving every minute with him, and he’s growing so fast. It feels like every day he’s doing something new. I’m here now, and I don’t know when I’ll be back after I go home.”
“I understand,” she says gently. “And I think it’s been good for you to have this time with your family.”
“So do I,” I admit.
“And now I’m getting ready to meet Dexter, so that should be interesting.” I pause and shake my head. “Can you believe this? It’s been almost a year without a word from him, and he decides to suddenly walk back into my life now.”
“As soon as you meet someone else,” Elise points out.
“Right?” I laugh. “Elise, when I opened the door and saw him standing there, I honestly thought I was dreaming.”
“I don’t know what I would’ve done,” she says. “That had to be surreal.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“You’ll have to report back after you see him,” she demands. “How long do you think he’s staying there?”
“I’m not sure, a few days maybe? And I promise I won’t leave you hanging.”
After we end the call, I finish getting ready and head out to meet Dexter. Honestly, I’d much rather spend the afternoon at the petting zoo with baby Jude.
I order a cup of hot tea and settle into a table near the window. I’m a few minutes early, and I already know Dex will be right on time.
Sure enough, he walks through the door at exactly eleven o’clock.
“Hi,” he says warmly as he approaches. His hand brushes my shoulder before he settles into the chair across from me.
“Hey, Dex.”
His eyes immediately drop to my boot. “I’m guessing you despise wearing that thing.”
I smile. “You guessed right. And don’t even get me started on the crutches.”
He shakes his head. “So how are you doing with everything? How much longer is your recovery?”
I’ll gladly talk about my injury instead of relationships. We can discuss this all day if he wants.
“The doctor says I’m doing really well,” I tell him. “I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow, and I’m hoping he gives me the green light to get out of this thing.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Already? That’s great.”
“I can’t wait,” I say. “I’m literally counting down the hours. It’s crazy how confined this makes me feel.”
“Just a reminder that it may not be smart to start doing flips and spins anytime soon.”
I gasp dramatically. “Who, me? Push myself? Never.”
He chuckles. “Did you forget who you’re talking to? I know you.”
Those words cause a stir in my chest because he does know me. Or at least he knew a version of me.
“Trust me, I have no plans to jump right back in,” I say. “I’m already out for the rest of the season, so this gives me time to heal properly and be one hundred percent for next year. I’m not going to do anything that could jeopardize that.”
“That’s good to hear,” he says, “because I can already picture you trying to convince your doctor that some light dancing would be perfectly fine.”
I laugh. “Fair enough. That does sound like something I’d say.”
“Exactly.”
After he orders a coffee, I ask about work and his family. I'm grateful to settle into an easy conversation. It's familiar and comfortable, like two old friends catching up. And honestly, if that's all he came for, I'd be perfectly happy with it.
But this could have been a phone call. Or an email. Not a cross-country flight.
As our small talk begins to fade, I decide not to prolong the inevitable.
“Dex, why did you come all the way to North Carolina?”
He taps his fingers against the side of his cup, a habit I've seen him do many times before.
He glances out the window for a moment. “I wanted to text you after your injury happened,” he says.
“But I figured you were already dealing with enough, so I gave it some time.
Honestly, I didn't have any other intentions besides checking on you. Dancing is everything to you, and I knew you had to be devastated.”
His words make my heart sink. Dancing is important, but it isn’t everything. Is that how I'd made it seem to him?
“And then you told me about Austin.” He pauses. “And it hit me how much I missed having you in my life. Especially our friendship.”
A rush of emotions moves through me.
Dexter and I did have a friendship, and we balanced each other well.
He was practical when I was chaos. He provided a steady force when I needed grounding.
We understood each other in ways that grew over time.
But as I look at him sitting across the table from me, that's all I feel. The spark that used to exist between us isn’t here.
The anticipation and the exciting feeling that simply being with each other could change the course of my day. And this doesn’t feel the same.
“Dex, I will always value the time we spent together,” I tell him.
He lets out a humorless laugh. “But you moved on, right? With Austin Reed—professional hockey player.”
I purse my lips. Part of me thinks I should explain that Austin and I aren't officially together. Yes, we’ve gone out a few times. And I think it’s safe to say there are feelings there.
But none of this has anything to do with what I need to say.
“Dex, we've been apart for a year. We went our separate ways and lived completely different lives. We experienced our own joys and disappointments.” I pause. “Honestly, a year ago, I wondered if we gave up too soon. If we were having this conversation back then, things might be different.”
His gaze locks on mine, like he’s preparing for what I’m about to say.
“But I don't feel that way anymore,” I admit.
Wow it was easier to say this than I thought it’d be.
“And this isn’t because of Austin,” I add.
He looks down, his fingers still tapping on the cup. “I wondered the same thing after we split up,” he admits quietly. “And while we’re being honest with each other, there was a part of me that felt threatened when you started Ballroom Dance America.”
Well, I guess my mother was right. I hate it when that happens.
“And I'm sorry I made you feel like dancing was more important than you,” I say.
“Believe it or not, being forced to rest has given me a lot of clarity.
Spending time here with my family has too.
I'm starting to recognize mistakes I've made and ways I've prioritized certain aspects of my life over others.”
The corner of his mouth lifts into a half smile. “It’s interesting how clarity works, isn't it? I've had some of that myself. I’ve realized how regimented I am about things going exactly the way I want them to. It’s made me lose sight of what's important.”
This conversation feels good. It’s a year overdue, but maybe neither of us were ready to admit these things before now.
“Dex, dancing is always going to be a part of who I am,” I say. “Whoever is in my life has to understand that.”
“I know.” His expression softens. “And when I heard about your injury, I really did feel awful for you.”
A calm silence falls between us.
“So,” he says after a moment, “when are you going back to LA?”
I laugh softly. “Ah, that’s the question everyone keeps asking me.”
“Well?”
“I think I'm going to stay through Christmas.”
He raises an eyebrow. “And what about Austin? Are you two doing the long-distance thing?”
This question catches me off guard. Obviously, I have no idea how to answer it. Dex is asking based on Austin and I being in a relationship, not after only two dates and a handful of run-ins around town.
“I’m not sure,” I admit with a small laugh. “I guess we’ll see what happens.”
Saying those words out loud sends an unexpected rush of excitement through me.
The truth is, I have no idea what the future holds.
Maybe Austin and I will keep talking after I leave North Carolina.
Or maybe our time together will be brief and only last for these few months.
But after the kiss we shared, I’m hoping for more.
Dex reaches across the table and takes my hands.
“Isabella, I meant what I said last year. I want you to be happy.”
I smile. “And I want the same for you.”
Now I know we’re on the same page. A year ago, we both still had some questions. I don’t think either of us were ready for this closure.
As I look at him, I realize there’s no lingering sadness or what-ifs. I’m beyond grateful for the time we had together, but that chapter of my life is finally closed. And I feel ready for whatever comes next.