He sits up, the lime falling from his mouth. “Holli?”
But I’m already pushing my way out the door and walking to a secluded part of the sidewalk for privacy. I should be mad after all this time, but my heart hasn’t gotten the memo and I anxiously open the message.
Four texts. Four lines—lyrics, a poem, or his inner thoughts. I have no idea, but he sent them to me and now I cling to hope once more.
Love is a sparrow I hold in my hand
An angel believing me a better man
I’m finding my way back to her before she flies away
Hoping she can forgive when I come back to her one day.
“Holli?” Danny.
I wipe a tear from my cheek before he has a chance to see it. Turning toward him, I say, “I’m here.” He’s shirtless, and now I feel guilty for leaving him in there. I unwrap his shirt from around my neck and hand it to him.
“What happened?” he asks, taking the shirt. “Is everything okay?” He pulls it over his head.
“Yeah, yeah, no worries.” Play it off. Don’t let him see how Dalton affects you.
“Hey,” he says, bending his neck to look into my eyes. “I’m worried, okay? You’re crying. Was it the text? Or me?”
“No, it wasn’t you. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to worry you. It was the text. I wasn’t expecting it. Just caught me off guard.”
“C’mon. Here’s your purse. I think we should call it a night.” I’d like to think I’m reading too much into his clipped tone, but when he turns and walks away from me, I know he’s hurt or mad or both.
In the cab, I offer, “I can bring you back to pick up your Jeep in the morning.”
“Nah, it’s fine.”
“Really. No trouble at all.”
“I have to go for a run in the morning anyway. I’ll just come this way and get it.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am.” We sit in silence for another minute, staring out our own windows when he says, “It was Johnny, right? The text. It was from him?”
When I look over, his expression is neutral, almost like he saw this coming. I won’t lie to him though. He’s too good to be lied to. “Yes.”
“Just like that? It’s a done deal?”
“Right now…” I talk in metaphors to keep things nice, uncomplicated, but it’s already complicated, and the truth for him, not so nice. “I’m not open to any other possibility.”
“Currently unavailable,” he repeats from earlier in the night.
Currently unavailable. The plain truth.
The cab pulls up out front and I give the driver money just as Danny does. We decide to split the fare. As we walk up the first steps, we don’t talk, but when we reach the landing, we stop. He says, “This doesn’t have to be awkward. We’re neighbors. We’re friends.”
“That’s all,” we say at the same time. Neither of us laughs at the coincidence.
“Thank you for dinner,” I say, “and well, the whole night. Danny, I had fun and I loved it, but mostly, I needed it. I needed a friend. So thank you.” I take a step forward and open my arms.
He comes closer, and embraces me. It’s tight and filled with sincerity. “Thank you… friend.” The last word seems a struggle to say, but he releases me with a smile and walks to his door. With his key in hand, I walk to mine and we open our doors at the same time.
“Goodnight, Danny.”
“Holli?”
“Yes?”
“You say you have these flaws, but I want you to know that for every flaw you think you have, I can name three things that make you perfect to me.”
I gulp, then my voice cracks with emotion when I whisper, “Thank you.” We both go inside and I lock my door behind me. Grabbing the empty beer bottles from the coffee table, I head into the kitchen and throw them in the recycling bin. I get a glass of water and an Ibuprofen and head upstairs for bed.
After turning out the lights, I climb under the covers and lay in the dark. I read the texts at least ten more times before holding the phone to my chest and falling asleep.
“Fuck expectations. They only set you up for disappointment. I’d rather believe in the possibility of chance then die wallowing in regret.” ~Johnny Outlaw
“You’re late,” Tracy says, our eyes meeting in the reflection of the mirror as she’s getting her makeup done.
I check my watch one last time. “Really? Two minutes. You’re holding two minutes against me?”
“What if I needed you two minutes ago?”
“You had me all morning and I was only gone an hour. I’m here for you now, beautiful bride. How may I be of service?” I set a bottle of champagne down on the vanity in front of her, along with three glasses.