That sounds about right.
Sometimes I get an itch to post a video, but then I remember how I bombed the last time I tried to make one. I’ll just have to try another marketing tactic.
Lost in my thoughts, I ignore the next wave of nausea. We make it to Dallas in record time. I’m about to drop off Rory at the motel when I get a call from Sean.
I put him on speakerphone and then turn down my air conditioner so I can hear him. I have an older car, and it doesn’t have a fancy wireless connection to my car’s speakers.
“Hey, handsome. What’s up?” I don’t tell him I’m about amile away. He’s expecting me tomorrow after the wedding, but I can’t keep this news to myself any longer, and I’d love to surprise him with a visit. He usually drives down to see me. He works at a mortgage company, but he’s hoping to transfer somewhere closer soon.
“Baylee. Um.”
I wait for him to say something. When he doesn’t, I get a chill.
All the women in my family get “feelings.” Some might call it intuition. My mother calls it a gift. I don’t always know what they mean, but since I’m not getting all warm and fuzzy over here, I prepare myself for the worst and pull over to the side of the road.
“Sean, whatever it is, just say it.” My voice comes out harsher than I intend, but given the chills up and down my arms, this is DEFCON 1. Whatever this is, it’s probably the third bad thing. I brace myself.
“I don’t think we’re working out.”
“You can’t hang out tomorrow?” That would be a bummer, but it’s not the end of the world.
“No.” He coughs. “I mean us. You and me. This thing we’re doing. I don’t think it’s working.”
It takes me a minute to process that.
Did he just call our relationshipthis thing we’re doing?
Is he breaking up with me?
After he swore we were the real deal?
After he swore he loved me?
After he swore he wanted to have kids with me?
“What the hell, Sean? Weren’t you just telling me you wanted me to marry you someday? That you wanted to have a family with me?”
His voice goes stiff. “That… that didn’t mean anything. We were just shooting the shit.”
He doesn’t think that meant anything. Good to know. I need a second before I can speak. “What’s going on? What’s the real reason you want to break up?”
He goes quiet again. “Look, I want to be honest.”
“That would be a great place to start.” Asshole.
“This… this is going to sound terrible, but I think I want to get back together with my ex.”
He did not just say that. “Are you talking about Giselle, the woman you said was toxic and made you miserable?”
He sighs. “She and I had some rough times, but I’m still in love with her. I was fooling myself to think I could move on. I’m so sorry. I really like you, Baylee. I wish I could make this happen with us. Trust me, it would be easier.”
Gee, what an endorsement.
It took me years to put myself out there after I got turned down by Maverick. Years to form a connection with another man. Years to put my heart on the line.
Once again, I pick someone who doesn’t want me.
“Are you home right now?” I choke out.
