Chapter 24 #3
“I’ll get back to you on that. Mostly, no. But I will be. May I have a moment to myself … Please?”
“Sure. But if you don’t come out of there in ten minutes … or if I hear unusual noises, I’m barging in. Unannounced.” Her brows raise and her eyes go wide.
She doesn’t say anything else, and neither do I. As soon as she steps out toward the counter, I shut the door to the office and fall back into my chair.
Squirrelly doesn’t begin to define how I feel. A whole scurry of squirrels is skittering around in my belly and brain right now. I power up the desktop and immediately go to my happy place—the only place on earth that seems to bring me solace these days.
M&M: Would you ever want to meet in person?
My finger hovers over the RETURN button. I’m not in my right mind. But I know a few things for certain.
Patrick O’Connell accidentally kissed me.
I liked that kiss way more than I should have.
I need to get Patrick off my mind and connect with someone sane. Someone I like. Someone who does not drive me crazy enough that I randomly kiss them in front of my place of business when I actually despise them.
I press RETURN and hold my breath.
“No turning back now, Daisy.”
“I’m well aware.”
“Everything okay in there?” Winona shouts from outside the office door.
“Fine. Fine. Just decompressing. I’m good,” I assure her.
The host of Burning Through the Pages doesn’t answer me, so I take a little time to calm myself.
Then, when the coast is clear and there’s no sign of Patrick O’Connell around my property, I leave the shop and run my errand to the bank and pick up the promised muffins for Winona.
When I return, I check our message thread.
He answered. I click on the messages and read his response:
BTTP: Meet? As in find a city that’s close to both of us and meet there?
M&M: I know. It probably sounds crazy. And … I don’t know what I’m thinking. But … Yes. Maybe find a common city and meet there. I’d like to grab a coffee with you. Walk through a bookstore, browse books and … I don’t know. Just forget it. Okay? Carry on.
BTTP: I won’t forget it. Because I would like to meet you.
M&M: You would?
BTTP: Yes. The timing might not be ideal, but will it ever be? And … well … My answer is yes.
M&M: I live in Tennessee. Where do you live? Can you tell me? Just the state. You don’t have to tell me the city or region of the state. I’m not a stalker.
BTTP: You made me laugh. And I trust you. Tennessee? I live in Tennessee. It’s a small town. You might not have heard of it. Are you near Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, or Chattanooga?
M&M: You’re in Tennessee? What are the odds? I’m near Nashville. Also a small town.
BTTP: What? Wow. Serendipity is in our favor. I’m near Nashville too. About an hour away.
M&M: Me too—an hour away.
Should I tell him the town? We’re small. Yes. I should. I want to meet him. He’s not a stranger anymore. He said he trusts me. I trust him too. I don’t know why. But I really do.
M&M: I’m in Waterford. Have you heard of it?
The screen is blank. Not even the telltale three dots appearing to quell my nerves. After an extremely uncomfortable pause, he responds.
BTTP: I live in Waterford
“Shut up!” I shout.
“Daisy?” Winona’s voice carries through the closed office door.
“I’m fine,” I assure her.
“Debatable!” she shouts back.
“Eat your muffins.”
“Gladly.”
I turn my attention back to the screen and reread the unbelievable response again.
He lives in Waterford? He lives in Waterford! I need to think of a way for us to meet that’s low pressure. Not a date. If things go south, we’ll need an out. Not that things will go south. This is the host of Burning Through the Pages. I like him. But, still …
M&M: Do you want to meet at the Fall Festival?
BTTP: My family doesn’t know about my podcast. No one does.
M&M: I know. And your secret’s safe with me. Besides, we’ll be in costume, right?
BTTP: True. The festival will be a good neutral place to meet.
M&M: Are you having second thoughts?
BTTP: About you? No. About the risk I’m taking? Only a little.
M&M: I still can’t get over the fact that we both live in Waterford.
BTTP: It’s a regular You’ve Got Mail moment.
M&M: My favorite romcom.
BTTP: I don’t mean to imply that we’re … I mean … We’re meeting as friends. They fell in love.
M&M: Yes. Totally different. Obviously.
BTTP: Are you feeling as bewildered as I am right now? All this time we’ve been in the same town.
M&M: Bewildered doesn’t begin to cover it.
BTTP: So, I’ll touch base with you before the Fall Festival. We’ll need to know what to look for.
M&M: Sounds good. I’m still working on my costume. I’ll keep you posted.
When he doesn’t respond, I power off my desktop. Then I ball my fists in front of my face and squeal, tapping my feet in rapid succession. I’m deliriously giddy.
“He wants to meet me,” I whisper, smiling so widely it stretches my cheeks.
“But that doesn’t mean he will follow through and actually meet you,” I say.
“It doesn’t not mean it,” I insist.
And then, to complicate matters, my traitorous lips softly hum with the reminder of what it felt to be kissed by Patrick O’Connell.