That thought was confirmed when I got a text from Justin that said, Did you do it?
When I didn’t answer, he followed up with a chicken and poop emoji.
“Dickhead,” I muttered.
Then I grabbed my keys and hustled out the door.
Ten
Winnie
By nine o’clock on Tuesday night, I was already in my pajamas, curled up on the couch with Piglet watching When Harry Met Sally for the one millionth time. I sighed heavily as I stroked her fur and watched the love story unfold in glorious autumn colors.
“That should be me right now, Piglet,” I said mournfully. “Walking the streets of New York City in a cute hat with someone who adores me, our feet crunching in the fallen leaves, our hearts destined to beat as one forever and ever . . .”
Piglet yawned.
“Listen. I’m feeling down about myself, okay? I’ve had a couple tough days, so just let me have tonight to wallow.” I grabbed a tissue from the box on my coffee table. “Tomorrow I’ll get out of my funk.”
As I was weeping my way through the final scene, a knock at the front door sent Piglet running for the pantry. Figuring it was Ellie, who’d said she might drop by after work so we could start planning our collaborative wine tasting dinner, I wadded up my current tissue, tossed it on the table, and hit pause.
However, when I pulled the door open, it wasn’t Ellie on the porch.
It was Dex, and he had a chocolate Frosty in his hand.
“Oh,” I said, touching my hair. “It’s you.”
He held out the Frosty. “I brought you something.”
“Why?”
He looked uncomfortable. “I don’t know. Because you said you really liked them the other night.”
I stood a little taller, wishing I wasn’t in bare feet and pajamas. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“You don’t want it?”
Of course I wanted it. I wanted him too. He looked hot as hell standing in my doorway in his jeans and T-shirt, his hair freshly combed, his scruff trimmed back.
But I didn’t want him to know that.
So I shrugged. “I’m not hungry. You can give it to the girls.”
He lowered his arm. “They’re not with me this week. I won’t see them until Saturday.”
It softened me a little, hearing the sadness in his voice. “You miss them when they’re not with you?”
“Yeah,” he admitted. “But I try to make the best of the time we do have together. Be the best dad I can two days a week. I still make mistakes though.” He hesitated. “And I made one the other day with you.”
“Yes, you told me already,” I reminded him. “Kissing me was a stupid mistake. I heard you loud and clear.”
He shook his head. “I meant that what I said was a mistake. I was mad at myself and I took it out on you. I’m sorry.”
His face was hard to read in the dark, but he sounded genuinely contrite. Sighing, I opened the door a little wider. “Do you want to come in?”
He glanced at the Frosty. “Will you accept my frozen chocolate apology in a cup?”
“I suppose.” I took it from him and braced the door open with my back. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Once the door was closed behind him, he followed me down the hall.
“Should we sit out on the patio?” I asked.
“Sure.”
Stopping in the kitchen, I grabbed two spoons from a drawer. Dex went ahead to the living room and paused in front of the television, where Harry was frozen in the middle of his big speech. “My sister loves this movie.”
“Doesn’t everybody?”
“I prefer thrillers.” He gestured at the soggy tissues on my coffee table. “You cry at this movie?”
“Yes.”
“But it’s a comedy.”
“I know, but it’s got that scene at the end where he’s walking and thinking about her, and then he starts running through the street to get to the party, all because he finally realized that he loves her, despite all her quirks, and he can’t go another minute without telling her how he feels . . .” My voice caught, and I had to stop and take a breath.
Dex looked at me like I was nuts.
I raised my chin defiantly. “I like a big romantic gesture, that’s all. Can you get the door please?”
He pulled the sliding door open, and we went outside.
It was a warm, humid night without much of a breeze, and the air felt thick and heavy. I placed the Frosty and spoons on the table and lit the citronella candle as he lowered himself into a chair.