“She doesn’t want me to. She is hoping someone else can stop by. That’s why I’m calling you.”
He’s silent for a moment. “What did you do?”
While I don’t want to talk about this, I have no choice. He has to know what’s going on.
“My sister told Savvy I don’t do relationships. Savvy decided to tell me she’s fine with that because I’m not long-term material. And it pissed me off.”
“You’re pissed because your sister talked to Savvy about you? I mean, they are best friends, so it makes sense she would,” Durango says.
And here’s where I finally have to admit it out loud. “No, I’m pissed that Savvy doesn’t think I’m good enough to consider for something more.”
Durango whistles through the phone. “Okay, now it makes sense. You really like her.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, she probably only said that because of what your sister told her. Did you tell her you wanted more?”
“Yes. No. Kind of.” I didn’t exactly. No, I got mad and asked her to leave.
“Well, here’s your chance. Go over there and tell her. If it all goes to hell, call me and I’ll be there.”
Tell her I want more when she said she didn’t? I sigh. He’s right. Even if she doesn’t want that, I need to be honest with her. And not in anger, the way I was earlier. Otherwise, we are right back where we were before all of this. I’ll see her often enough because of my sister and us both having cabins on the same lake. I don’t want to have to avoid her.
“Okay, fine. I’ll go. But be ready for that phone call.”
Durango laughs. “I will. But I hope I don’t get it. Good luck.”
Yeah, I need more than good luck to get through this. I text her back that Durango is on his way. It’s a lie, but I need her to at least open the door for me.
The only thing that prevents me from taking my time getting there is that Bob could be anywhere by now.
I’ve seen guys like Bob before. The ones who smile and convince everyone they are good guys. He’s biding his time, waiting for the right moment to find Savvy. I need to protect her. So, I suck up my pride and knock on her door.
It opens, and when she sees me, she tries to close it. That means she didn’t check to see who was at her door. I get my foot wedged in just in time.
“I need to talk to you,” I say.
She glares at me and then opens the door. “By forcing your way in?”
I step in and glance around. “Are the windows locked? Back door?”
She crosses her arms. “Yes, where is Durango?”
I finally turn to face her. “He couldn’t make it. Besides, we need to talk.”
“You mentioned that already. I don’t think that’s necessary. You and Maria were right. We aren’t a good idea. I’ll end up hurt.” She moves past me toward her kitchen.
She’ll get hurt? I follow. “Okay then, just listen.”
She shakes her head as she retrieves a mug. “Like I have a choice.” She places a tea bag in her mug and then pours hot water into it from a kettle on the stove. Finally, she sits at her kitchen table, but she avoids eye contact.
I’m not sure where to begin, as everything sounds wrong in my mind.
She glances up at me. “Look, I said I’m sorry about Maria telling me about your past. I really didn’t ask.”
“It’s not that.” I take a deep breath and then let it all out. “What bothered me is that you only saw me as a fun time, not someone good enough for a relationship. I realize I don’t have some fancy college degree, and my work is dangerous, but I don’t like being told I’m not good enough.”
It wasn’t just what she said but how she said it. It was as if she’d already filed me away as a temporary fling.
