Page 12 of Second Dance
“Oh, yeah, that’s totally you he’s talking about,” Esme said with a sigh. “How romantic. You’re going to reach out to him, right?”
“I don’t think so,” I said.
“But why?” Esme asked. “Aren’t you curious to talk to him after all this time?”
As if triggered by the question itself, my phone pinged with an alert from the app. “Oh my gosh, I have another message.”
“I thought you hid your profile?” Delphine asked.
“I thought I did but tech stuff isn’t really my thing,” I said. “I can barely use the TV remote.”
“Who’s it from?” Esme asked, leaning forward slightly. “Is it from him?”
I opened the app, and there it was, plain as day. A message from @TechDadStartingOver.
Gillian,
I’m sitting here in complete shock. I thought I was seeing things when your profile popped up. I had no idea you lived in Willet Cove. I don’t even know what to say.
Maybe, how have you been?
Dare I suggest meeting for coffee or a drink? Just to catch up? No big deal if not. It might be weird for you. Especially if you’ve figured out that one of the two women I truly loved was you.
Drop me a text if you want to meet. I’d be thrilled to see you.
Yours,
Alex
P.S. I didn’t think it was possible for you to grow lovelier than when we were kids, but darned if you didn’t do it.
“It’s from Alex,” I said. “Read it.”
Once again, they handed the phone around the table.
“This is the most romantic, sweetest message ever,” Esme said. “You have to write him back and agree to coffee.”
“A drink would be even better,” Lila said.
“Why?” Delphine asked.
“Because if it goes well, it can lead right into dinner,” Lila said.
“Why are you hesitating?” Seraphina asked gently. “You don’t have to respond if you don’t want to, but I think you should.”
“I do have to respond,” I said. “This is a small town. I’m bound to run into him.”
Delphine, as usual, got right to the point. “So the decision is—do you want to send him a polite note back but decline his invitation. Or, do you want to meet him for coffee or a drink and see if there’s anything between you?”
“You’ve talked about him for years,” Esme said. “And now here he is. It’s got to be fate.”
“Or a coincidence. Either way, it’s totally up to you about how you want to handle it,” Lila said.
“What would you guys do?” I asked.
“The romantic in me might not be able to risk the idea of a second chance,” Seraphina said.
“On the other hand, a lot of time’s passed,” Delphine said. “Neither of you are the same person you were at nineteen.”
