Page 71 of The Good Guy on My Porch

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Oscar

I hadn’t seen Dilly for two days, hadn’t had her in my arms or in my bed, and I missed her so much it physically hurt. I’d considered going over and knocking on her door more than once. The problem was, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if she might be right. I might not be ready to accept the demands her mother made on her time. I might not be able to handle a girlfriend who could never travel with me.

“Hey, boss,” Millie said when I stepped into the salt spa. I was running late and was exhausted. It had only been a week, but I didn’t sleep as well without Dilly in my bed. “Everyone’s already here for the meditation class.”

I rubbed a hand over my face. “I forgot we added another class. We’ll give them this one free, since I’m late.”

She nodded. “You okay, boss? You’re looking rough this morning.”

Millie was a good receptionist, a hard worker, and the bluntest person I knew. “Nope. Got dumped.”

She nodded, lips pursed. “I heard. Sorry, boss. If she couldn’t see how great you are, she doesn’t deserve you.”

I tried to smile but couldn’t manage it. “I should get in there.” I dropped my bag behind the desk, slipped off my shoes and went into the largest salt room in the place. It was colorful and cavernous and felt like walking into an actual cave. I was really proud of it.

“Hey, everyone,” I said. “I’m sorry I’m late. This class will be free of charge. Please see Millie for refunds and coupons after class.”

The ten people in the room cheered. I sat in front of them and got to work instructing them on technique and guiding them through a meditation. In the quiet moments, my mind wandered back to Dilly. I couldn’t help wondering if her mother was manipulating her, if she was forcing Dilly to stay in town through guilt and faked melt-downs. It was an uncharitable thought. Obviously, the woman was ill, but how was it healthy for Dilly to so completely give up her own life for her mother?

Until I had a solution worked out in my head, I couldn’t go to Dilly and honestly say that we should be together. So, I’d spent the previous evening researching anxiety and paranoia, and I’d been trying to understand what her mother might be going through, to figure out a way to make this work for all of us.

Even as I was researching though, I couldn’t help wondering if I was wasting my time. Dilly had never said she loved me, and her mother’s illness might have just been an excuse to get out of a relationship that wasn’t right for her.

“Oscar?” Mary said from the back of the room. “Are we finished?”

I glanced at my watch, surprised to see so much time had passed. “Yes. We’re finished. Don’t forget to see Millie about those refunds.”

Everyone shuffled out and I watched them go, my mind shifting back to thoughts of Dilly, of the way she’d smiled at me, the way she’d kissed me. She’d been happy. I knew she was.

“Oscar,” Mary said. She put a hand on my shoulder and smiled at me. “How are you doing?”

“I’m great. How are you?”

She frowned. “I mean how are you doing with the break-up?”

I knew Mary was a good person, but I wasn’t dumb enough to give her anything for the gossip mill. Dilly didn’t need anyone talking about her in a negative way. “I’m really fine, Mary. Dilly and I were good friends before we dated and we both decided, mutually, that we’re better as friends. Dating was an experiment, but it didn’t work out for us. No big deal.”

Her frown deepened. “That’s too bad. I think Dilly could really use someone like you in her life. Especially now.”

“What do you mean?”

She shook her head and patted my shoulder. “I’ll see you next week for class.”

She left, and I watched her go. Was Dilly okay? Had something happened? I hurried out to the reception desk and my cell phone in my bag, but I stopped myself before I brought up her contact information. She didn’t want my help, she’d made that abundantly clear.

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