Page 261 of Time Stops With You

It may be wishful thinking. It may be that I need to start taking some kind of medication. But before I go to Darrel for a diagnosis, I need to check for myself.

Inhaling deeply, I lift my phone and dial Cullen’s number.

It rings. And rings.

Then voicemail.

“Hi, Cullen,” I say, my pulse thrumming through my veins, “I’m still doing well. Don’t worry, I’m not calling today because I’m sad. I just… mom insists that I meet some guy she met at a store. He’s a restaurant-owner and she thinks we have a lot in common. I don’t know.”

My leg is bouncing.

I’m so nervous, the phone threatens to slip from my sweaty hand.

“I want to meet him from a purely professional stand-point, but mom made him sound so amazing. What if we really click? And I know what you’re thinking. Why would I be afraid to like someone again? But the thing is, there’s a part of me that… isn’t quite ready to love anyone but you.”

The beep sounds, telling me I’m almost out of time.

“Anyway, I agreed to go out with him this Friday at a fancy rainforest-themed cafe. It’s been six months since you’ve been gone and mom says I can test how much I’ve healed by this meeting. We’ll see.”

I smile shakily as I cut off the phone and go about my day.

This could be a total waste of time.

Or, I could be well on my way to catching a ghost.

Thirty

NARDI

My blind date’s name is Mike and he seems like a very cheerful person. He compliments me genuinely, pulls out my chair for me and is interested in everything I have to say.

He’s Cullen’s opposite in every way.

And I’m not just talking about his rich, dark skin.

Where Cullen was introverted, quiet, and reticent, Mike loves to laugh and be around people. He knows several other patrons in the cafe and they constantly stop and greet him as we sit at the table.

Mike seems like a really nice guy and I feel a twitch of shame for using him as bait. However, I can’t show up today without a partner. If Cullen’s, indeed, following me, he’ll see that it’s a trap.

Poor Mike is the sacrifice on the altar of my love.

Or my delusion.

After today, I’ll find out.

I intentionally chose a booth by the window and, while Mike is talking, I keep my eyes peeled for Cullen. The street isn’tparticularly busy. There’s a park across the way and there aren’t many buildings for someone to hide.

As the date wears on, my hope putters out.

Cullen doesn’t show.

After thirty minutes, I decide to stop wasting Mike’s time and make up an excuse to leave. Mike pays for the meal. I can tell that he wants to do this again, but I hold my hand out to him for a shake.

“It was nice meeting you,” I tell him, pulling back and rubbing the imprint of the wedding band beneath my shirt. I wore the necklace with Cullen’s ring to the date because it gave me strength. But now I just feel pathetic.

His smile turns polite. “Yeah, same.”

I hurry out of the cafe, wishing I was a better person than I am. That was a bust. Looks like I’ll have to schedule that psych evaluation with Darrel after all.

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