More than ever, I wanted to be with them. To be sure they were safe.
“Yes, Mom,” Maisy said with a playful groan.
“And how about your brothers? Are you guys having fun?”
“Yeah, we went to the Molly Brown House yesterday. It was really cool. Aunt Glennon said she’s going to take us to the botanical garden tomorrow too, if the weather clears up.”
“That sounds really nice, sweetheart.”
“When are you coming to get us, though? I miss you. Bailey and Janessa have been texting me like crazy. They’ve been together all fall break.”
“I know. Hopefully I’ll be able to get there soon. I just want to be sure you’re all having fun.” I didn’t tell her they weren’t coming home. Not yet.
“Uncle Seth bought me the new Karen McManus book. I can’t wait to tell Dad about it.”
Her words were an ice pick to my chest. Would she ever get to tell her father anything again? “Oh, that was nice of him,” I squeaked out.
A knock on the door interrupted my conversation. I stood from the bed, checking the time. It was just after six, and I wasn’t expecting anyone.
“Yeah, Jennessa said it’s even better than the first, which is, like…impossible, and—”
“Honey, I’m so sorry. I have to go, okay? I’ll call you back.” I kept my voice low, ending the call and dropping the phone on the bed before making my way across the room. I pressed my face to the door, peering out. When I saw who was waiting for me, my chest tightened.
“Matt?” I swung open the door, looking down the hall to be sure we were alone. “What are you doing here?”
“Sorry. I would’ve called, but I didn’t have your number, and… I guess I could’ve tried to call the hotel, huh? Hindsight, I guess. Um, sorry. I’m rambling. Is…is now a bad time?” He crossed his arms, then uncrossed them, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“Um, depends on what you need, I guess.”
His smile was nervous. “I just thought…well, maybe we don’t have to call it a date, you know? Like, maybe we can just call it hanging out or whatever. I mean, you gotta be bored just hanging out in a hotel room. Let’s go grab coffee. Or a burger. My treat.” He ran a hand over his hair. “I know what it’s like to be in a not-so-good place, and you seem like you could really use the company. I know I could. I don’t really know anyone in town, so…” He looked around. “And feel free to tell me to leave you alone if I’m overstepping. I’m not trying to…whatever. I’d just really like to get to talk to you a little more, if you’d like that. No complications. No commitments. Just dinner.”
I forgot what I was planning to say the longer he spoke, all the reasons we shouldn’t do it suddenly fading away. It was just dinner, after all. What was the harm in it? Maybe it would be nice to spend time outside of my own head for once. And I couldn’t deny my curiosity.
I wouldn’t cross a line.
I swore to myself I wouldn’t—
“I can see you’re thinking about it, so the salesman in me has to try and sell you on one final point here: it’s a beautiful night, and a woman like you shouldn’t be so alone. I know you think I’m too young for you, but all I’m proposing is an hour. Food, drinks, maybe a light joke peppered in now and again. If you hate it, feel free to never speak to me afterward.” He lowered his head ever so slightly, so he was closer to my face. “But something tells me you won’t hate it.”
I chewed my bottom lip thoughtfully, then gave a resigned nod. What could it hurt? If nothing else, it would be a nice distraction for the evening. Nothing more. Matt was a nice guy. It was just dinner. “Okay, fine. You’ve convinced me.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He clapped his hands together once. “All right. Do you need to change or anything?”
I looked down at the sweatpants and T-shirt I was wearing, not exactly ready for a hot date. But it wasn’t a date. And, if I changed, that meant accepting that I wanted it to be more than I could allow it to be. “I’m good.”
“Great!” he said, his voice an octave higher than it had been. “Excellent. Let’s go.”
“Let me grab my purse and shoes.” I stepped back, crossing the room to slide into my shoes. I shoved my phone into my purse before checking the mirror long enough to run a comb through my hair. I still wasn’t used to seeing my reflection.