Page 85 of The Thorne at My Side
“Yeah, I really enjoyed texting with her, it felt significant.”
“She’s the one you tried to meet?” Elle asks, suddenly way more interested in my failed love story than she was a minuteago.
“You two met?” Mom asks excitedly.
“We met.” I say flatly.
“What did you do?” Elle asks.
“Nothing!” I defend. Really, all I did was start fucking her in real life a few weeks before, make her work life a living hell, and not tell her that I was also DCFox. So, maybe not nothing. “It just didn’t work out.”
Mom gives my arm a gentle squeeze.
"Well," Elle starts, "since youstillwon't explain exactly what happened I'll just say this; it's Christmas and people are a lot softer around the holidays so maybe you should reach out to her and see if she's willing to talk to you again. LikeLove, Actuallyteaches us; at Christmas you tell the truth. Try it. With yourself and the girl."
“That’s right, as I always say, ‘honesty is the best policy,’” she smiles at us.
“Except in politics.” We finish together.
I chuckle and give them each a kiss on the cheek.
As we inch forward through the line, all I can think about is Maggie and what I should do next.
All I have to do is write a note to her.
Is it really that simple?
???
Several hours, and several drinks, later I'm lying in my bed staring at the ceiling. I slide my glasses off and rub at the bridge of my nose before sliding them back into place and sitting up.
In one swift move I swipe the SMS Connect phone off my night table, stand up, and start to type out my message.
DCFox:My friend, Merry Christmas, or Holidays, or whatever you might celebrate this time of year. I have to admit I don't feel much like celebrating. The reason is simple. I can’t begin to feel excited about anything after losing your companionship.
I'm sorry. I'll start there. It was never my intention to hurt you or for you to be put in a position you weren't prepared for.
If you get this message and ignore it, I'll understand.
But if you read this and feel the least bit of empathy for me and want to start talking again, know that I'll be a faithful correspondent.
You're still the best woman I've ever had the pleasure to know and I hope that I have the chance to know you even better.
I hit send and flop down on my bed. It would be pathetic to just sit here holding it and waiting to see if she responds. It's almost 2:00 am so there's no chance she's up now anyway.
I set it next to my cell phone and climb under the covers. I don't expect to sleep but I need to try.
CHAPTER 24
Like Christmas Morning
MAGGIE
A ping wakes me up.
I look at the alarm clock I've had since high school and see that it's 1:54 am. Without turning on the light, I pad my hand around on my nightstand for my phone.
My iPhone has no notifications. Weird. I shut my eyes and flip on the lamp, letting my eyes adjust to the light through my eyelids for a moment before squinting them open all the way.
