on a conversation with a dog. Had my life really come to this?
I gave Sam a long stare and eventually shrugged. “Eh. Oh, well.” I could do worse.
It was Monday night, and I’d just come home from a long shift at the hospital. Leah and I had shared the same work hours today, so we’d spent some time catching up after the weekend.
“So, did you have a good time on Saturday?” she asked.
“Um…well, it was interesting.”
“Interesting?” she repeated, obviously wanting me to delve deeper.
“I, uh…hadn’t expected Garrett to be there,” I answered honestly.
“Oh. Well, I hadn’t either. I hope you don’t think I was conspiring behind your back.”
“No, I don’t think you would do that.” She gave me a wry grin.
I amended my answer, “Okay, at least, I didn’t think that was your intention on Saturday.”
“Better. Never underestimate my evil powers, Mia, especially when it concerns two people I care about,” she said.
It made me feel special but also a little uneasy that she cared about me. I’d seen the way she looked at Garrett and me in that bar. She might not have put us together that night, but I had no doubt that she wouldn’t try in the near future.
I wished she would give up on that hope. I really liked Leah. She was fun, fearless, and loyal. I could see the devotion she had for her family and friends, and I was honored to be included in that small group, but I wasn’t the one for Garrett, not anymore.
I couldn’t be, not after everything I’d done.
He deserved so much better.
The default ringtone on my phone startled me out of my scattered thoughts, and I reached into my pocket to retrieve it. It was a phone number I didn’t recognize. Normally, I wouldn’t answer, but the area code was from Atlanta. I’d left friends behind with little explanation for my quick exit. I didn’t want them to worry, so I took a chance and answered it.
“Hello?” I said.
“Amelia,” the male voice said in relief.
I was momentarily stunned. How did he get this number? I’d changed my number, and I’d only given it out to a handful of people before I left. A chosen few had known where I was headed, and I purposely hadn’t included him.
“Aiden?”
“It’s so good to finally hear your voice. I was starting to think I might forget the sound.”
“How did you get this number?” I asked.
But I hadn’t meant to sound rude. He didn’t deserve that.
I immediately reworded my question. “I mean, how did you find me?”
“Maggie gave me your number. It wasn’t easy. She was very persistent for a long time, but she finally caved. You have a loyal friend. I’m a wreck, Amelia, an absolute wreck.”
“I’m sorry, Aiden. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll come back.”
Visions of our last night together came crashing back—candles, flowers, and tears. That was what I remembered the most, except for the part where I’d run and never looked back.
“I…I’m sorry, Aiden. I’ve got to go.”
I ended the call before he could say another word. He tried calling back once and then twice before he gave up. I couldn’t give him what he wanted. He didn’t see that now, but he would eventually. He just needed time and space.
Another hour or so passed, and I continued to empty out the boxes that had been gathering dust in my office. I wasn’t sure what I was going to use an office for—considering I worked in a hospital, filing patient records and avoiding pregnant women—but it was an extra room, and I didn’t know what else to use it for. I took a quick look at the computer stacked up in the corner and thought about setting it up, but I decided to put it off for another day.
My stomach started to grumble right around the time Sam’s ears perked up. He jumped up and started barking seconds before the doorbell went off. I guessed Garrett was right about one thing. No one would be able to get past Sam.
I glanced down
I gave Sam a long stare and eventually shrugged. “Eh. Oh, well.” I could do worse.
It was Monday night, and I’d just come home from a long shift at the hospital. Leah and I had shared the same work hours today, so we’d spent some time catching up after the weekend.
“So, did you have a good time on Saturday?” she asked.
“Um…well, it was interesting.”
“Interesting?” she repeated, obviously wanting me to delve deeper.
“I, uh…hadn’t expected Garrett to be there,” I answered honestly.
“Oh. Well, I hadn’t either. I hope you don’t think I was conspiring behind your back.”
“No, I don’t think you would do that.” She gave me a wry grin.
I amended my answer, “Okay, at least, I didn’t think that was your intention on Saturday.”
“Better. Never underestimate my evil powers, Mia, especially when it concerns two people I care about,” she said.
It made me feel special but also a little uneasy that she cared about me. I’d seen the way she looked at Garrett and me in that bar. She might not have put us together that night, but I had no doubt that she wouldn’t try in the near future.
I wished she would give up on that hope. I really liked Leah. She was fun, fearless, and loyal. I could see the devotion she had for her family and friends, and I was honored to be included in that small group, but I wasn’t the one for Garrett, not anymore.
I couldn’t be, not after everything I’d done.
He deserved so much better.
The default ringtone on my phone startled me out of my scattered thoughts, and I reached into my pocket to retrieve it. It was a phone number I didn’t recognize. Normally, I wouldn’t answer, but the area code was from Atlanta. I’d left friends behind with little explanation for my quick exit. I didn’t want them to worry, so I took a chance and answered it.
“Hello?” I said.
“Amelia,” the male voice said in relief.
I was momentarily stunned. How did he get this number? I’d changed my number, and I’d only given it out to a handful of people before I left. A chosen few had known where I was headed, and I purposely hadn’t included him.
“Aiden?”
“It’s so good to finally hear your voice. I was starting to think I might forget the sound.”
“How did you get this number?” I asked.
But I hadn’t meant to sound rude. He didn’t deserve that.
I immediately reworded my question. “I mean, how did you find me?”
“Maggie gave me your number. It wasn’t easy. She was very persistent for a long time, but she finally caved. You have a loyal friend. I’m a wreck, Amelia, an absolute wreck.”
“I’m sorry, Aiden. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll come back.”
Visions of our last night together came crashing back—candles, flowers, and tears. That was what I remembered the most, except for the part where I’d run and never looked back.
“I…I’m sorry, Aiden. I’ve got to go.”
I ended the call before he could say another word. He tried calling back once and then twice before he gave up. I couldn’t give him what he wanted. He didn’t see that now, but he would eventually. He just needed time and space.
Another hour or so passed, and I continued to empty out the boxes that had been gathering dust in my office. I wasn’t sure what I was going to use an office for—considering I worked in a hospital, filing patient records and avoiding pregnant women—but it was an extra room, and I didn’t know what else to use it for. I took a quick look at the computer stacked up in the corner and thought about setting it up, but I decided to put it off for another day.
My stomach started to grumble right around the time Sam’s ears perked up. He jumped up and started barking seconds before the doorbell went off. I guessed Garrett was right about one thing. No one would be able to get past Sam.
I glanced down
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