Page 19 of One Little Chance
“You could’ve. You’ve always been so strong for me when I needed it. Like this unwavering force in my life,” I said, our foreheads still touching. “But I’m grateful when you were low, I could help hold you up, too.”
“I know I’ll get through it. It just stings right now. I keep having memories of Nana hit me out of the blue.” He pulled us apart, barely an inch, his teary eyes focused on me.
“You know what I’ve learned? At first, memories feel like poison. But sometimes, they can actually be a balm. They can heal the hurt, soften the pain,” I said, slipping my arms around his neck, as he brought his big hands down from the car and wrapped them around my waist.
“I still can’t believe you came back home,” he whispered into my hair as we tightened our embrace. He was holding me, but there was still a hesitancy between us.
“Back home for good,” I said it like a promise.
It was hard to let go. To put myself in my car. To hit the gas as he stood in the driveway, head hanging low. I cried the whole way home.
Chapter 10
FEBRUARY 14TH, 2023
Galentines Dinner xoxo
Lucy Rhodes
Hi my beautiful Galentines! Just a reminder for tonight—we’re meeting at the restaurant at 6:15! I can’t wait to see all of you! So grateful to call each of you friend <3
Alittle over a week passed, and I didn’t hear much from Jordan. It was a loaded quiet between us, tense like a held breath. Had those days with texting and touching been a grief-ridden lapse in his judgment? Old flames still flickering?
Or was he just busy?
Or, maybe, like me, he didn’t know what we were supposed to say now? I’d sent him a message checking in, and he’d responded kindly but shortly. After we’d held hands and held each other, it still felt blurry between us, like snow on the windshield.
Valentine’s Day rolled around, and I woke up to rain thudding against my window, so I spent the morning planning a craft for school next week and watching Julia Roberts run awayfrom a wedding on my TV screen. I wanted to think of anything except Jordan.
A few of my fellow teachers invited me to go to a Valentine’s Dinner with them at an Italian restaurant downtown, and weeks ago, I had halfheartedly agreed to go. But then Lucy Rhodes, a bubbly kindergarten teacher, created a group thread titled “Galentines Dinner” with the four teachers in it, so it made bailing even more awkward.
As the group thread lit up, I sighed with the realization I wasn’t getting out of this dinner.
I wore a soft pink sweater and my best-fitting jeans and added a few curls to my dark waves before heading out.
Red heart-shaped balloons dangled from the ceiling, candles flickered in the middle of each table, and my three dates giggled at a table in the back corner. Lucy spotted me, waving me over. I weaved through the crowded space. This seemed to be the place to be tonight in Sweet River. As I passed the table directly across from my group, my eyes landed on…Jordan.
This town.If I wasn’t running into memories of him, I was running into the literal him.
Jordan was with a few friends, not quite as giggly as my crew.
I felt torn between really hoping he’d notice me and also really hoping to remain invisible. Jordan definitely noticed me. His jaw opened in surprise before he shook his head with a smile spreading across his face. I gave a tiny shrug as I slinked into the open chair at my table.
Jordan hung his large body off his chair, leaning toward me across the slim aisle. “Great minds?” His voice sounded like an old favorite song I hadn’t heard in a while but was realizing I knew beat for beat. I wanted to press repeat.
“I guess so,” I said through a chuckle. I then gestured to my friends. “Some of my friends from work are having a Galentines Day.”
Lucy said, “Hi.” Simone smiled.
Jordan tugged his thumb toward his table. “A single support group.” The wordsinglewas like a knife to my chest. Jordan never felt like anything but mine.
His friends began introducing themselves. A table of men across from my table of women. And within twenty minutes, our tables were scooted together while we dug into our dinners.
His friend Ray and my friend Simone had split off from the group having their own conversation. Jordan nodded their way and raised his eyebrows, I mouthed,Right?And the exchange felt achingly familiar and easy.
“Okay.” I twisted in my seat toward him. “How’re you doing? It’s been a rough few months for you.”
“Cutting to the chase, huh?” Jordan asked as a server filled our glasses with more water.
