“It’s okay, Mom.” I stand and she walks around my desk, wrapping me in a giant, mama bear hug. I really love my mom. She is the most amazing woman.
Stuffing my face in her hair, I inhale her scent. She always smells like flowers and that is something I always find so comforting about her.
“Can’t stay.” She chimes, kissing my cheek and releasing me. She waves me goodbye and out she goes. I hear her exchange a few friendly words with Daniel on her way out.
Removing the card from the flowers, I already know who they’re from.
Ms. Keagan,
I really wish you’d reconsider my offer for dinner. I will be in town next week and would love to see you.
Love,
Your Donnie.
Yuck, yuck, yuck. Not if you were the last man on the planet. No flippin’ way!
I toss the card in the trash and take a seat. It’s time to write the Suit Master back.
Opening up my email, my heart skips as I center my eyes in on another email from him. Why does my body deceive my mind? I’m not supposed to get this caught up in someone. Gee whiz. My traitorous body has me all excited. I shouldn’t be excited. I should be levelheaded. I’ve always been levelheaded. It’s one of my best qualities.
From: SuitMaster6979
To: Lotionlady319
Wednesday 2:35 a.m.
Pretty Lotion Lady,
I know it’s extremely early in the morning, but I couldn’t sleep. So, I thought I’d email you instead. I hope that’s alright. I was actually hoping when I got on you would have emailed me back already. Are you playing hard to get? Because, Angel, if you are, I will play as hard and long as you want. I’m not going anywhere. And no, that’s not a sexual innuendo, unless you want it to be. –wink, wink.
I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about that family you told me about. I’m anxious that they don’t have any legal help. I can’t believe Laura didn’t contact me sooner.
I know I told you I wanted to tell you a lot about myself. Well, here goes. I’m divorced. Only once, eight months ago it was finalized. My ex-wife is one of those hoity toity stuck up women who grew up from privilege. I met her in college. I was a nobody when I was younger, so we didn’t quite fit. My dad is a businessman, but we were never fed with a silver spoon. His mistress and my mom consumed most of his earnings, leaving little for us children.
Don’t feel sorry for me.
I don’t know if I’m bearing my soul to you because I feel a connection, or because I’m tired and my laptop screen is partially blurry as I am typing this. But, I’ll continue telling you a little more about myself. Before I try to go back to sleep.
Just so you know I don’t drink often, maybe once a week. I don’t have many bad habits. And I don’t smoke cigarettes. I did for a lot of years, but I quit when I turned thirty, for family reasons.
I hope as you read this you will email me back. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours - Suit Master
P.S. “A man is already half in love with a woman who listens to him.”
Yes, it’s official; he is not the man for me. He is basically telling me he likes me as much as I do him. And he was raised similarly to me. I’m not writing him back. Okay, yes I will. Then I’m done, no more. He’s either A. Going to end up stalker material or B. I’ll end up hurt. I’m guessing both might be the case with this man. I know I like him. But sometimes cutting your ties before getting hurt can be the best for both parties. In this case, it rings true and clear. And I find it very hard believe he could be this wonderful.
Time to make it short and sweet.
From: Lotionlady319
To: Suitmaster6979
Dear Sir, Suit Master,
I am sorry to hear about your past, and thank you for being so nice about taking the case with Laura and The Women’s and Children’s Shelter. I know it’ll mean a lot to them.
As much as I value your emails and find your correspondents refreshing, I feel it’s time to break our ties. I wish you the best of luck in online dating. Thank you for being honest and opening up to me. Rest assured it’s not your past that deterred me. I don’t have time to date, and I realized it’s not smart of me to continue this.
Best Wishes - Lex
P.S. “Moving on is simple. It’s what we leave behind that’s hard.”
Send
Oh my God! I signed it my name! Son of a bitch! Oh well…
I shrug.
I guess if he really wanted to find out, he could have asked Laura. No big deal.
Why does it hurt that I said goodbye? It was for the best. My heart seriously needs to catch up to my brain. My brain is always right. My heart is a dummy. I know this, because she was the one who told me to allow Brian, the man I loved, to tie me up and use candle wax on me. That scenario opened up a whole can of scary eel like worms. What a stupid girl I was.