Page 30 of Seeing You

“Thank you.”

“However, in my defense, we were on the cusp of having this amazing life. Our careers were taking off and everything we had been working toward was in our grasp! The timing…”

“Here are your desserts!” their server said with a cheery smile, clearly not reading the overall emotion at the table. She put their plates down, followed by their coffees. “Here’s some cream and an assortment of sweeteners for you. Can I get you anything else right now?”

They both shook their heads, and it wasn’t until she was out of sight that Marcus continued.

“Obviously there had to be a better time for you to…tell me how you feel than right before…”

“You weren’t listening, Marcus,” she said wearily. “You kept pushing and pushing and pushing until I didn’t have a choice but to do things the way I did.” Pausing, she gave him an odd look. “It was all in the letter. I’m not sure why we’re rehashing this part. Honestly, it’s because of the letter that I’m not even sure why you’re so angry. You kept trying to convince me…”

“Wait, wait, wait…what are you talking about? What letter?”

The quiet huff and eye roll spoke volumes. “Seriously? You’re going to go with that excuse? What letter? The letter I left for you! I placed it right on your desk in your home office! There was no way you could have missed it.” Sitting back and crossing her arms, she shook her head. “Can you please get the check? I’d like to leave.”

“No…no,” he repeated, because he was at a loss for words. “We need to discuss this because…you’re right, there was no way I could have missed it. I kept that desk immaculate. If there had been an envelope on it, I would have seen it.” Muttering a curse, he tried to rack his brain around what she was saying. It was ten years ago, but there was no way he could have missed a letter on his desk. “I think you’re just saying this to get out of us talking about what you did. We both know I’m a damn neat freak who likes everything to be orderly. I never saw…”

“Remember earlier today when you said we’d have to agree to disagree on some things? Well, here you go. Some things.” Andwith that, she waved their server over. “Can we please get the check, and can you box up our desserts to go?”

“Billie, we can eat our desserts,” he said with quiet frustration. Glancing up at the server, Marcus gave her a small smile. “Just the check, please. We’ll eat our desserts here. Thanks.”

The poor woman looked completely conflicted, but when Billie nodded, she turned and practically ran from the table.

“Why would you want to stay and eat?” she asked. “Wouldn’t it be better to just go?”

“We still have the drive back to town. The additional ten to fifteen minutes won’t kill us.”

“Speak for yourself,” she mumbled.

They ate in total silence for a few minutes. The check appeared out of nowhere, and Marcus put his credit card in the bifold and placed it back down.

“Let’s justsaythere was a letter,” he began.

“Therewasa letter,” she corrected. “I wrote it myself—not on the computer, but by hand—on my personal stationery, and put it on your desk along with the engagement ring.”

He was already shaking his head. “The ring was there, but there wasn’t anything else. I’m certain of that.”

“Agree to disagree,” she murmured.

“Would you stop…?” He growled with frustration. “What did it say? This fictional letter.”

Rather than answer, she pulled her phone out and began tapping something. When she was done, she looked up. “I just texted Levi to come and get me. I think it would be best if we just…said goodbye here. There’s nothing left to say—I knew there wouldn’t be.” Wiping her mouth, she carefully pushed her chair away from the table. “You’re incapable of listening. You hear what you want to hear, and I can’t keep having this conversation.”

As soon as she was on her feet, Marcus stood. “Please try to look at this from my perspective. I never got a letter, Billie! Believe me, if I did, I wouldn’t lie about it. For ten damn years I’ve wanted answers, and you’re telling me they were right there in my office, and I somehow missed them? For a decade? Come on!”

She smoothed a hand over her hair, and he could tell that she was doing her best to stay calm even though she was bristling with frustration. “I honestly don’t know what to tell you. I know what I wrote and where that letter was placed, and I’m not going to stand here so I can be called a liar.” Looking away for a brief moment, he heard her shuddery sigh. “Thank you for dinner, and…take care.”

When she started to walk past him, Marcus reached out, gently grasping her arm. “Billie,” he said quietly. “Please don’t make Levi drive all the way up here. We can drop this subject and drive back in complete silence. There’s no need to take him away from his family for this.”

Her phone rang.

“I promise not to utter a single word.”

Without breaking eye contact, she pulled her phone out of her purse and answered it. “Hey, Levi…no, I’m sorry. I sent that text by mistake.” She paused. “I know you would, and I love you for it, but…everything’s fine. Sorry to bother you.” Another pause. “Thanks. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” And yet another pause. “I’ll text you when I get home, yes. Bye.”

During those few moments, their server brought the receipt for him to sign and once that was done, he motioned to Billie for them to leave. It was awkward as hell, but did she really think he was stupid?

Walking behind her, however, he wondered if maybe he was because he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. The dress clung to her curves, and the soft sway of her hips was almost hypnotic. Ina perfect world, they’d be laughing and walking arm in arm, and thinking about whether they were going to share a kiss when he dropped her off.

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