Page 33 of Gracefully Yours

“He’s not my man,” I mumbled again, but I wondered how much longer I’d even be able to deny the fact—before I felt like he really was.

I couldn’t let myself get lost in that fantasy.

* * *

Charlotte

Hi.

Daniel

Hey, darling.

I rolledmy eyes at the text message.

You know you don’t have to do that when it’s just us.

Sure, but it’s more fun this way.

Daniel…

What’s up?

I’ve been so busy I’ve barely seen you all week. And…

We have things we should talk about.

Good things? Or bad things?

Why don’t you come over here and find out?

Is that an invitation?

No.

I finished folding the top of another box when my doorbell rang, alerting me to Daniel’s presence.

“Hi.” I’d worn a purple t-shirt from our college, and a pair of running shorts as I ran around, packing up my apartment.

“You’re packing.”

“Great observation skills there,babe.” I snorted at the nickname.

He smirked at the nickname. “What’s up?”

I gestured to the boxes. “I’m packing.”

“Is this your way of telling me you’re moving in with me?”

“You already knew that.”

Daniel laughed. “Maybe, but it’s nice to see the actual confirmation. Need help?”

I pointed at the stack of boxes. “Want to tape those up? I’m trying to get all the non-essentials ready to go.”

“Sure.”

He started taping boxes, and we fell into a rhythm: him putting them together and me filling them with the things I didn’t need around my apartment.

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