Page 66 of Love, Second Chances and Other Nonsense
“Nice to meet you,” he says, extending a hand that’s warm and dry despite the intensity of the class. “Rachel’s told me a lot about you.”
I shoot a glare at my cousin, who suddenly finds the ceiling fascinating. “Has she now? All lies, I assure you.”
He laughs, a nice sound, relaxed and genuine. “She mentioned you’re working at Louise’s Table. I love that restaurant. My dad used to take me there for breakfast every Sunday after my mom died. Their blueberry pancakes got me through some rough times.”
Something in my chest softens a little. “That’s… really nice to hear, actually. We’re trying to keep it going, but it’s been tough with all the new restaurants in town.”
“Those places are all style, not substance,” he says with a dismissive wave. “Give me real food over whatever they’re serving any day.”
Rachel, never one for subtlety, backs away slowly. “I’m just going to… check on… something. In the back. Take your time.” She disappears before I can grab her and make her stay.
“So,” Daniel says, apparently unfazed by Rachel’s obvious matchmaking, “I was wondering if maybe you’d want to grab coffee sometime? Or dinner? Or really any meal. I’m not picky.”
His smile is warm and open, with no hidden agenda I can detect. He seems genuinely nice. The kind of guy I might have been excited about meeting in another life, before Adam, before Iowa, before my heart got stomped on and handed back to me in pieces.
“I, um,” I stammer, buying time. Part of me wants to say yes immediately. It’s been months since Adam, and Daniel is standing here being charming and seemingly normal. But another part of me, the part that still wakes up reaching for someone who isn’t there, hesitates.
“Or not,” he adds quickly, reading my hesitation. “No pressure. Just thought I’d ask.”
“No, it’s not—” I sigh, deciding honesty is the best approach. “I’m kind of in a weird place right now. Just got out of something… complicated.”
He nods, understanding crossing his features. “Say no more. Been there.” He pulls his phone from his pocket. “How about I give you my number, and if you decide you’d like that coffee, you can text me? Balls in your court, no expectations.”
It’s such a reasonable offer that I nod. He hands me his phone. I put in my number, and he sends me a quick text so I have his. The entire exchange takes less than a minute, but it feels like a much bigger step than it probably is.
“Great,” he says, tucking his phone away. “Hope to hear from you. And if not, I’ll see you next Sunday for more torture?” He gestures to the yoga studio with a grin.
“I’ll be the one falling out of tree pose,” I confirm, returning his smile.
After he leaves, Rachel materializes as if she’d been waiting just around the corner. Which she probably was.
“Well?” she demands, bouncing on her toes. “He’s cute, right? And nice. And single. And he has all his own teeth, which shouldn’t be a selling point but sadly is in the dating pool these days.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, Rachel, he seems great. Thanks for the ambush.”
“It wasn’t an ambush! It was an… opportunity.” She loops her arm through mine as we head toward the back office. “Did you get his number? Are you going to call him?”
“He gave me his number. Said the ball’s in my court.” I shrug, trying to seem more casual than I feel. “I don’t know if I’m ready.”
Rachel’s expression softens. “You deserve to move on, you know, Caitlin. Adam almost certainly has.”
“I know. It’s just…” I sink into the chair in her tiny office, dropping my head into my hands. “I keep wanting to check on Adam. I’ve blocked them all on social media, but every day I fight the urge to unblock them just to see what he’s doing. If he’s with Millie now.”
“And if he is?” Rachel asks gently.
“Then I’ll know I was right,” I say, the words bitter in my mouth. “That I was just a placeholder until he could be with who his family really wanted him to be with.”
Rachel crouches in front of me, taking my hands in hers. “Or maybe you’ll see he’s miserable without you. And then what? Would you go back? After everything?”
I shake my head. “No. I’d have to return to Mount Pella, and I’ll never live there again.” I straighten up, pushing away the thoughts of Adam. “Besides, it wouldn’t erase everything he did.”
“So then maybe go out with Daniel,” Rachel prods, never one to let a subject drop. “Just a coffee date. What’s the worst that could happen?”
I stand, gathering my mat and water bottle. “I’ll think about it, okay? No promises.”
As I leave the studio, the weight of my phone in my pocket feels suddenly significant. Daniel’s number is in there now. A possibility. A potential future that has nothing to do with Adam Kelley or Iowa or the mess I left behind.
Maybe Rachel’s right. Maybe it’s time to stop looking back.
