Chapter 7 Harlan
Harlan
The best night ever is followed by a great weekend.
Texting with Katie.
Flirting with Katie.
Winning a football game.
Making plans for Tuesday.
I’m not in the market for a relationship, but there was something about her that was impossible to ignore. A spark. A possibility.
A connection I want to explore.
I haven’t felt this in a long time with anyone.
When I leave the field on Sunday and head home, I’m ready to crash, but I send her a text first.
Harlan: Still can’t wait to see you.
An hour later, she replies.
Katie: I can’t wait to see you too. But I can’t make our date this Tuesday. The business partner wants to fly us both to Los Angeles to look at possible studio space there. She loved the classes that we’ve planned.
Harlan: That’s fantastic news! And no worries, sweetheart. You let me know when you can reschedule.
Katie: I promise, sexy man. I need that lip gloss. Need you to mess it up for me.
Harlan: And I will. We’ll have that double scoop of Sexual Tension Swirl and Swoon.
Katie: *licks lips in anticipation*
A couple nights later, another text lands on my phone.
Katie: Sooooo…the business partner made us a crazy-amazing offer…the kind of offer that sweeps every other plan off the drawing board. This is last minute, but I’m moving to LA. This weekend. Rain check sometime?
Whoa.
Harlan: Moving moving? As in moving to LA…now?
But even as I send the text, I know the answer. She’s made it clear, although I still can’t quite believe it.
Katie: Yes! I’m excited, but I’ll miss our date, and you. We have to do a rain check.
My shoulders sag, and I sigh. The sad kind. But what can you do?
Harlan: Definitely.
***
I don’t hear from her again, but that’s okay. It was one night. I don’t text her, either, because there’s no point. Nor does she text me. But I hear from Jones and Jillian that she’s happy in Los Angeles, building her yoga empire with her sister.
So it goes. Sometimes you have one perfect night, and that’s all.
And sometimes you meet again more than seven years later.
The next time I see Katie, I’m a single dad with a six-year-old daughter, and it’s Katie’s wedding day.