“Are you excited he’s old enough to start school?” he asks.
“Yes and no. He’s super excited, but that also means my baby is getting so big. Like, where did the last five years go?” I ask. “Sometimes it feels like I just brought him home from the hospital yesterday, but yet here he is, five years old already and starting kindergarten.”
“They grow up so fast. I sometimes feel the same way about my nephew, and now my niece. She’s only a few weeks old, but before we know it, she’ll be crawling and walking.”
“See, they grow way too fast. Sometimes I wish I could stop time.”
“Any chance I can see you again this weekend? Maybe you could bring the kids here and we could go do something fun or have a BBQ with my family?” he asks.
“That might be doable.”
“We could do it out at the lake. Go swimming, or just hang out under the gazebo.”
“I’m sure Hope and Ben would love that.”
“I’ll talk to my sister and mom tomorrow and see if they have plans. Would Saturday work?”
“As far as I know,” I tell him, and am already giddy inside about seeing him again.
“Good. Even if they aren’t free, we can still make plans,” he tells me.
“Okay,” I agree. “My kids loved you, so they should love the idea of going to the lake with you.”
“It’s a date, then,” he confirms. “We can make it an entire day, if you want to.”
“I’d like that,” I tell him, trying my best to be a little vulnerable and open with Garrett.
“Me too,” he says before we both go quiet. “You still there?” he asks a minute or two later.
“Yeah, sorry,” I say, a yawn escaping. “I’m just exhausted and it’s catching up to me.”
“I understand. I should let you go so that you can get off to bed.”
“That’s a good idea. My kids will probably be up at the crack of dawn.”
“Call me tomorrow?” he asks.
“Yeah, or you can call me, either works.”
“If I don’t hear from you, first, I’ll call once I’m off work. Sound good?”
“Yes. Good night, Garrett, thanks for the fun night.”
“Anytime, sweetheart, anytime. Sleep tight and I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he says before the line goes dead.
I sit there in the chair, staring out into the night sky, thinking about the last week of my life and how quickly things have changed. I can’t believe how excited I am to talk to a man again, or how giddy and schoolgirl-ish he can make me feel with one quick glance or phone call, but I can’t help but hope he’s the missing piece in my life and the one that will make me believe in love and a happily ever after again.
12
GARRETT
“If you don’t stoppacing, you’re going to wear a hole in the deck,” Miranda says, trying her best to hold in her laughter. Lacey should be pulling up any minute now, and I’ve been a nervous wreck since she texted they were leaving her house almost an hour ago.
I just look at my sister and roll my eyes at her, which does get me that gut wrenching laugh reaction she was trying her damnedest to hold back.
“Quit giving your brother a hard time,” Mom pipes in, trying to come to my defense. “I kinda like seeing him like this. It makes me realize just how much he’s in deep with this one.”
“You know I’m standing right here, right?” I stop pacing and ask her.