Chapter 5
LINDSEY
I feel lighter today. As if I’m walking on air. My date last night was amazing, and I know that when he calls to set up that second date, I’m going to say yes. Dang, how can I not? I tried to keep my defenses up, but after one date and that kiss, I knew that I wanted to give in.
Trying to focus on what I’m doing, I look at my camera and the last few pictures I’ve taken.
“That’s a wrap,” I call out to the five women standing in front of me.
They are all business entrepreneurs with their own businesses.
They wanted fresh new headshots, and I got enough pictures for them to use on social media, business cards, and anything else they may need.
“Thank you, ladies. This was fun.”
They offer to help me pack up, but I shake my head. “I’m good. Thank you, though. I’ll send you the finals in the next few days.”
As they walk away, talking and laughing, I sit down on the bench and pull out my phone. Miller has been texting me all day. I got a good morning text this morning, and he asked me if I liked coffee.
Just a few minutes later, I was being delivered a steaming cup of hazelnut coffee from Sugar Bakery down the street.
He’s asked me my favorite color, my favorite animal, and at least ten other questions. I refused to answer the animal question, afraid that he’d send me a dog or something, and that’s not something my lease allows.
I’m surprised when there’s no new text from him, but I try not to let it bother me. He said he’d be with his family tonight at the fundraiser.
I shouldn’t look, but I do anyway. I find the event’s social media page and start scrolling through the photos.
My chest tightens when I see it. A picture of Miller, his arm wrapped around a beautiful woman. She’s smiling up at him, and something inside me sinks.
Last night couldn’t have meant anything. He couldn’t kiss me like that and then show up with someone else on his arm.
Maybe it’s his sister. I search through the feed, looking for more pictures and find one of them dancing. The way she’s looking at him… That’s not his sister.
I let my head fall back. It was all a lie.
I screenshot the image, and before I can talk myself out of it, I send the picture to Miller with a text. “Lose my number.”
Am I overreacting? Probably. We went on one date, and I have no claims to him, but last night he made me feel as if I was special—and now he’s with another woman?
Instantly my phone rings, and when I see it’s Miller, I send it to voicemail.
My phone rings again, but I turn it to silent.
I shove my phone into my pocket and start packing up my gear.
I’m walking to my car, and I can feel my phone vibrating in my pocket with incoming text messages.
I’m not going to look. At least that’s what I tell myself.
As I put everything into my truck, my phone vibrates again, and at the last second, I answer the incoming call.
“Quit calling me. I’m not interested in what you have to say. ”
He blurts out the words as if he’s afraid I’m going to hang up. “This isn’t a date. I’m helping my brother. He had two dates and—”
A laugh that almost sounds hysterical bursts out of me. “Two dates. Geez, nice. Look, I’m not interested, Miller. I know last night was a lie.”
“It wasn’t a lie. Everything I said to you was true.”
I laugh again. “And I probably would believe that if I didn’t see you dancing with another woman. Look.” I take a deep breath. “I’m done. This is not my thing. I’m not a jealous person, and I have no rights to—”
“Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it, Lindsey, because you have every right. I was with you last night, and even though nothing verbal was said, there were promises in that kiss.”
I look up into the starry sky. “No, it was just a kiss, Miller. A way to pass the time. Please don’t call me again.”
I hang up before he can talk me out of it.
My phone instantly starts to vibrate, and so I just shut it off.
I get into my car and drive toward home. Instead of going to my apartment, I walk further down the walkway and knock on my sister’s first-floor apartment. She opens the door, smiling, but when she sees my face, she looks worried. “What’s wrong?”
I tilt my head. How do I explain that my heart is broken after one date? It’s ridiculous. I sound ridiculous. But either way, it hurts all the same. “Can I come in?”
She pulls me into the apartment where Eli is sitting on the couch. As soon as he sees me, he jumps up and runs into my arms. I have to catch him, and when I do, I fall back into the chair. “Aunt Lindsey! You’re here.”
I laugh even though it’s the last thing I want to do. “Yes, Eli. I’m here. How did baseball practice go today?”
His eyes are so wide it’s obvious he’s excited. “My coach said I’m going to be the lead off hitter.”
I hold my hand up for him to high-five. “Way to go, buddy. That’s awesome.”
He’s smiling ear to ear, and seeing my nephew so happy lightens me up a little bit. “You have to make sure I get your game schedule. I’m going to be at all your games.”
He’s so excited, and my sister has to say his name twice to get his attention. “Okay, bud. It’s time to get in the shower and brush your teeth.”
He takes off running and stops. “Lindsey, will you read me a book before I go to bed?”
“I sure will.” He pumps his hand in the air and runs through the apartment.
My sister settles on the couch and pulls a pillow against her chest. “I see how loyal he is. His cool aunt shows up, and I’m discarded like yesterday’s trash.”
I roll my eyes. “Please, he loves you, and you know it.”
She smiles widely. “I know.” She gestures to me. “What’s wrong?”
I blow out a breath. “I met a guy. We went out last night and—”
Tammy holds her hand up. “Hold up. Stop right there. You went on a date last night? With who?”
I lean against the couch. “Miller Brody.”
Tammy shakes her head and then somehow pieces it together. “Wait. The Miller Brody? The gazillionaire?”
I resist rolling my eyes again. “He’s not a gazillionaire.”
Her mouth drops open. “You went out with Miller Brody, and this is the first I’m hearing of it?”
I point at her. “I tried calling you today, and you couldn’t talk.”
She nods. “I was teaching. Oh my God, Lindsey, wait, why do you look like”—she points at my face—“that? Did something happen? Is he a jerk?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Actually, last night I would have said he’s the exact opposite. The date was…” How do I tell her how perfect the date was? As if I was counting down the minutes to see him again. “It was good, and I got my hopes up. It was stupid.”
“What happened?” she blurts out.
I pull my phone from my pocket and turn it on. Instantly, it starts dinging with all the missed text messages. They are all from Miller. I ignore them and open the social media app and scroll to the pictures and then hold my phone out to my sister.
She takes it and looks at it and then back at me. “What is this? Is he married?”
I shake my head. “No. He asked me to the fundraiser tonight, but I had that photoshoot in Jasper. And then I saw this on the feed.”
She waits for me to continue and then asks, “And what? He’s dancing with some woman.
Did you want him to stand on the sidelines all night?
They’re just dancing.” She looks again at the phone and then at me, holding the phone out.
“And look. The woman is all about him obviously, but he’s not into it. ”
I squint at my phone. “You can’t tell that.”
She moves to sit beside me. “Look. He’s not even touching her. His hand is held out.”
I look at where she’s pointing, and sure enough, she’s right. They’re dancing, and he’s not even touching her.
Did I mess up? I shake my head. Nope. I didn’t. Miller is way out of my league, and I have no business messing with him. “Look, last night was special. I mean, I thought it was but not enough since he went on a date with another woman the very next night.”
She grabs my hand. “Lindsey, talk to him. You should at least let him explain.”
“Lindsey!” my nephew hollers, and I stand up instantly.
“I gotta go read to my favorite little boy. I’ll be back.”
I go read to Eli, but instead of reading, we talk about his practice. He yawns widely. “You promise you’ll come to all my games?”
I have no problem making that promise to him. “Yes, of course I will. I wouldn’t miss it.”
He leans his head against my shoulder. “I love you, Aunt Lindsey.”
I bite my lip to keep from crying. I’m already emotional, and it won’t take much for my emotions to wreak havoc on me. “I love you too, Eli.”
He burrows into my side, and it isn’t long before his breath steadies and he’s asleep.
I push the hair to the side and look at his innocent face. The day Eli was born was one of the best days of my life. He’s a great kid. The best.
I kiss his forehead and then walk back into the living room. My sister is asleep too, so I cover her with a throw on the back of the couch, turn off all the lights, make sure her alarm is set, and then lock the door on my way out.