Page 62 of The Heart Shot
Elsie opened the door to leave, stepping out into the chilly air. “Goodnight, Jameson.”
Elsie
By the time I made it home, I had a slew of angry text messages, including two voicemails from Ben. It had been years since I had heard from him. I didn’t even know he still had my number.
I found it ironic that he was bothering me now when he hadn’t even bothered to fight for me when I broke things off four years ago.
I couldn’t bring myself to tap the screen to see what vile words he had sent to me, nor did I want to hear his voice saying the same things in a voicemail. So, instead, I muted notifications from his number, ignoring him entirely.
Give him a taste of his own medicine for once.
I was about to crawl into bed and bury myself beneath the blankets when my phone buzzed. At first, I thought it was Ben’s notifications still coming through somehow, but then I saw Jameson’s name on the screen.
Heart in my throat, I tapped the screen to open his message.
Jameson
Hey Elsie : ) I just wanted to say goodnight. Please don’t worry about what happened tonight. My neighbor has always been a pain and he had no right to speak to you like that. And I certainly don’t think any less of you. Despite the rocky end to our date, I greatly enjoyed spending the evening with you.
And that kiss— *mind blown emoji*
I can’t wait to see you again.
Sweet dreams, Els.
How was he still so kind to me after everything that had happened? How could he still want anything to do with me after seeing the baggage I carried?
His words were dangerous, weakening my resolve, sending it sliding away like sand in the ocean tide. And yet, it felt like a lifeline, like getting that first breath after being submerged under water for too long.
Ben had both broken and hardened my heart, and added with the heartbreak of watching what my parents went through, I didn’t know how to let Jameson in. But if I was painfully honest with myself, Jameson was everything I had always wanted Ben to be, and it left me confused, unsure what to do next. I had to keep him at a distance. This thing between us wasn’t worth the risk, right?
And what if I let Jameson in and then he rips off that mask like Ben did, like my parents did, and he becomes someone else entirely? He hadn’t given me any reason to suspect that would happen, but it was hard to silence the voice of the past.
Think about it tomorrow, Elsie. No sense trying to make sense of it all when you’re exhausted.
I sighed, sinking deeper into the bed, reading Jameson’s last text over and over before slowly drifting off into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning it all came rushing back.
Dinner at Jameson’s. Ben showing up and yelling at me. That kiss. It was like a cyclone of pleasure and irritation spinning in my head.
The only thing that made it better was waking up to a text that said:
Jameson
Good morning. Check your front door : )
Blankets were flung, a robe was donned, and my feet slapped against the cold wood floor as I hurried to the door.Sitting on my green doormat was a paper bag with a hot cup of coffee next to it. Taped to the top was a note with the DoorDash emblem. It read:
Good morning, sunshine.
I couldn’t help but giggle at the term of endearment because I was likely the last person anyone would consider “sunshine”.
Maya told me how you like your coffee and gave me your address so I could send you something to wake up to. I hope you don’t mind. Please enjoy a breakfast of chocolate-glazed donuts and a mocha with an extra shot of espresso and cream. Have a great day! :)
The scent of coffee and sugar wafted into my nose as I plucked up the bag and cup, taking a sip. Immediately, my spirits lifted. Ben had never made me feel this way—not even when we first started dating, when everything was new and supposed to be fun. He had always made me feel like an afterthought; meant to be seen and not heard. I vaguely remembered him using the term “arm candy” at one point.
I had been on two dates and a handful of spontaneous non-dates with Jameson, and he had never made me feel that way. Quite the opposite, honestly.
