Chapter 2 #3
“I realize that.” Esme laughed, shaking her head. “I know you guys are mad, but it’s not really that big of a deal, is it? And get this. Tyler rewrote Robbie’s original About Me section. Robbie showed me the original. I had to go into the bathroom so he wouldn’t see me laughing. It was so him.”
Just then, the jukebox rolled into a familiar melody—“Already Gone (But Still Here).” It had been a huge hit a few years back. I’d not been surprised to see Tyler had put it in her profile.
“How weird that this came on,” Esme said. “Could it be a sign?”
“Of what?” Delphine asked.
“Well, you know … I don’t know,” Esme said. “That maybe the kids are right, and we should put ourselves out there.”
“I should have known something was up when Tyler asked me about my favorite song.” Seraphina tugged on her earring, letting out a little laugh. “Although, he should’ve known without having to ask. I’ve listened to it a thousand times.”
Hunter slid a fresh pitcher and basket of fries onto the table. “This song?”
Seraphina glanced up at him. “Yes. It’s my all time favorite. I love Ivy Day’s voice but it’s the song itself that moves me.”
For a heartbeat, something flickered across Hunter’s face—like her words had pleased him. Then it was gone, replaced by his usual polite reserve.
“What do you like about it?” Hunter asked.
Seraphina paused for a moment, perhaps gathering just the right words. “That you can't truly be loved unless you love yourself. That when you hold people too tightly out of insecurity, you push them away. You manifest the worst—the tighter you grip, the more they want to leave.”
“That’s so true,” Esme said, shaking her head sadly. “Take it from me.”
“You ladies need anything else?” Hunter asked, his usual guarded expression returning.
We said no, thanking him. I caught Seraphina watching him as he headed back to the bar.
“I can’t believe the kids did this right under our noses,” Delphine said, clearly still hot. “How are we going to punish them?”
“Take their phones,” I said. “It’s the thing that’ll hurt the most.”
The others nodded in agreement.
“Did anyone have any matches or messages?” Lila asked, almost too casually. “Just out of curiosity.”
I placed my hands on the tabletop, leaning forward. “I did. And you’re all going to want to see this. Hang on. I’ll pull it up.” I located Alex’s profile and showed it to them, waiting as they passed it around the table.
“So he didn’t cheat on you,” Delphine said. “He met someone with kids and adopted them. Kind of like you.”
“Yeah. I know,” I said. “And did you see the part about being in love twice?”
“Oh, yeah, that’s totally you he’s talking about,” Esme said with a sigh. “How romantic. You’re going to reach out to him, right?”
“I don’t think so,” I said.
“But why?” Esme asked. “Aren’t you curious to talk to him after all this time?”
As if triggered by the question itself, my phone pinged with an alert from the app. “Oh my gosh, I have another message.”
“I thought you hid your profile?” Delphine asked.
“I thought I did but tech stuff isn’t really my thing,” I said. “I can barely use the TV remote.”
“Who’s it from?” Esme asked, leaning forward slightly. “Is it from him?”
I opened the app, and there it was, plain as day. A message from @TechDadStartingOver.
Gillian,
I’m sitting here in complete shock. I thought I was seeing things when your profile popped up. I had no idea you lived in Willet Cove. I don’t even know what to say.
Maybe, how have you been?
Dare I suggest meeting for coffee or a drink? Just to catch up? No big deal if not. It might be weird for you. Especially if you’ve figured out that one of the two women I truly loved was you.
Drop me a text if you want to meet. I’d be thrilled to see you.
Yours,
Alex
P.S. I didn’t think it was possible for you to grow lovelier than when we were kids, but darned if you didn’t do it.
“It’s from Alex,” I said. “Read it.”
Once again, they handed the phone around the table.
“This is the most romantic, sweetest message ever,” Esme said. “You have to write him back and agree to coffee.”
“A drink would be even better,” Lila said.
“Why?” Delphine asked.
“Because if it goes well, it can lead right into dinner,” Lila said.
“Why are you hesitating?” Seraphina asked gently. “You don’t have to respond if you don’t want to, but I think you should.”
“I do have to respond,” I said. “This is a small town. I’m bound to run into him.”
Delphine, as usual, got right to the point. “So the decision is—do you want to send him a polite note back but decline his invitation. Or, do you want to meet him for coffee or a drink and see if there’s anything between you?”
“You’ve talked about him for years,” Esme said. “And now here he is. It’s got to be fate.”
“Or a coincidence. Either way, it’s totally up to you about how you want to handle it,” Lila said.
“What would you guys do?” I asked.
“The romantic in me might not be able to risk the idea of a second chance,” Seraphina said.
“On the other hand, a lot of time’s passed,” Delphine said. “Neither of you are the same person you were at nineteen.”
“He was a few years older than me,” I said. “But yes, I get your point.”
“You’ve got to give it a chance,” Esme said. “Worst case, you catch up with someone you once loved.”
“I suppose that’s true,” I said. “No big deal. Just a drink with someone I used to know.”
What was the harm in that?