Page 117 of Choosing Forever
37
PRESENT
DELANEY
I don’t knowwhy I expected things to be drastically different after this weekend.
Monday morning hasn’t brought anything new with it, other than this constant flutter in my stomach every time I get a spare moment to check my phone and see Darren’s name. I’ve been single for so long that I’ve completely forgotten what dating entails. God, dating. Is that even what we’re doing now? The lines are still pretty blurry.
I blame that on all the vodka I consumed.
Sunday was quiet, and I almost felt awkward being alone at my place, behaving as if nothing had happened after Darren walked me home the night before. It wasn’t exactly a romantic moonlight stroll, but it was reassuring, and now I guess I just have to wait and see what he’s going to do next.
Darren’s the one with all of the experience, after all. Even if said experience was a failed marriage where he didn’t even share a bed with his wife. That tidbit of information has been repeated a few times in my head since he said it.
My lunch bag is open, the contents splayed out on my deskas I pick at my wilting salad. It’s been almost four hours since I replied to his text, and now it’s like a switch has been flipped and I’m anxious, sixteen-year-old Delaney all over again. Lunch is almost over, and the second the bell rings, my classroom will no longer be empty.
I tap my screen and steal another look to see if I’ve missed his text, but nope. Still nothing. Chewing on my lip, I type in my passcode and open our texts, reading back through them.
Darren: Good morning, Elle.
Me: You’re up early.
Me: Good morning.
Darren: I do have a real big boy job, you know?
Me: Oh wow. I thought you just got paid to sit at home and stare out the window.
Darren: That’s what you thought I did? Not ran a secret account on Only Fans or something?
Me: You do have nice feet.
Darren: Keep complimenting me and I’ll let you see them. Socks off.
Me: Is that what we’re doing for our first date? A foot peep show?
Darren: It will be once I change our plans for tonight.
Me: Tonight? What if I had plans already?
Darren: Cancel them.
I didn’t reply until I got to school, more for my mental health than as an attempt to keep him waiting, although that was also abonus. In my mind, the closer I texted to the start of class, the less time I’d have to sit and do nothing but wait for a reply, right?Not right.It turns out that my plan backfired worse than an old car in the high school parking lot because now he’s making me wait.
Me: Making demands is brave. Try again.
Ugh, what have I done?
“Can I spend my recess in here with you?”
Abbie’s standing in the doorway, holding on to the same bag that she had in the café with both her aunts. The sweet smile on her face is adorable, but it’s not the only reason why I wave her close.
“As long as I’m not out on supervision, you can always sit in here during recess.”
She beams toward me. I pull a chair up to the other side of the desk for her and sit back in mine.
“What are you having for lunch?” she asks.
