We reach the car, and he opens the passenger door for me, his hand hovering for a second like he’s debating whether to say something else. I slide in, but he doesn’t move right away. Instead, he leans on the frame of the car, looking at me with a kind of quiet thoughtfulness.
“You know,” he says slowly, “I don’t do this much. Go out. Relax. Talk.”
I smile gently. “You could’ve fooled me.”
He shrugs one shoulder. “I guess… it’s just easy with you. You get it.”
I don’t reply right away—just meet his eyes and hold his gaze for a beat too long. And in that moment, something shifts. Not dramatically. Nothing explosive. Just a subtle awareness. A sense that maybe—just maybe—we’re more than co-conspirators in a school play or two people stuck in the same small town for very different reasons.
Just… two people who enjoy being around each other. Maybe a little more than they’re willing to admit.
Dan clears his throat and straightens up, knocking twice on the car roof before moving around to the driver’s side. “Alright. Homeward bound. This housewarming party isn’t going to organize itself.”
As he pulls out onto the road, the silence in the car isn’t uncomfortable. It’s full of everything unsaid.
And for once, I don’t feel the need to fill it.
Back at my motel, the glow from the reception area spills onto the lot, and for a moment, neither of us moves. Dan kills the engine and leans back in his seat, exhaling slowly like the night is finally catching up with him.
“Thanks again,” he says quietly.
I nod, smiling, though there’s a flicker of something deeper beneath it. “Any time.”
We say goodnight without fanfare—no lingering looks, no dramatic pauses. Just a simple, warm farewell. But as I enter my room and peel off my jacket, the weight of the evening settles around me like a favorite sweater I didn’t know I’d been missing.
It’s not just the drinks, or the laughter, or the napkin still tucked into my coat pocket. It’s the feeling of having been seen—really seen—for the first time in a while. Dan’s questions, his quiet observations, the way he listens without interrupting… it all made me feel like I wasn’t just performing, or selling, or spinning something for someone else’s benefit.
And I liked it. More than I should.
TWELVE
“Rachel, my tummy hurts,” Chloe whimpers, curled up on the couch, still wearing her pajamas, with a small stuffed animal clutched to her chest.
I pause in the midst of hanging a garland, my heart sinking. The party is just hours away, and everything was going so smoothly. I can’t let a stomachache derail all my careful planning.
“Oh, sweetie,” I say, settling beside her and smoothing her hair. “Where exactly does it hurt?”
Chloe sniffles, her big brown eyes glistening with unshed tears. “My stomach feels all twisty and achy. I don’t think I can go to the party.”
A pang of concern mixes with a flicker of frustration. I know Chloe’s health comes first, but the timing couldn’t be worse. I remind myself to prioritize her well-being.
“Chloe, I promise we’ll do whatever we need to make you feel better,” I assure her, my mind already racing with potential solutions. “Why don’t we start with some peppermint tea and see if that helps settle your tummy?”
She nods, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
As I head to the kitchen to prepare the tea, I can’t help but wonder if Chloe’s stomachache is more than just physical. The party, the excitement, her friends all coming… It’s a lot for a young girl to process. I make a mental note to have a heart-to-heart with her once she’s feeling better.
For now, I focus on the task at hand, determined to find a way to make both the party and Chloe’s well-being a priority.
I return to Chloe with a steaming mug of peppermint tea, the soothing aroma already bringing a sense of comfort.
“Here you go,” I say softly, handing it to her. “Careful, it’s hot.”
Chloe takes a cautious sip, her face scrunching up as she adjusts to the temperature. “Thanks,” she murmurs, her voice small and vulnerable.
I sit on the edge of the couch, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “Chloe, I know there’s a lot going on with the party and everything. It’s okay if you’re feeling overwhelmed.”
She looks up at me, her eyes wide and glistening. “I just… I don’t want to let Dad down.”