Page 3 of Love Letter Lost
“Sounds good,” I said as I slipped my phone back into my pocket. I’d respond to Livvy later. Tonight was for ice cream and girl talk.
“What movie should we watch?” Chloe deposited the ice cream on the scratched-wood coffee table, a thrift shop find I’d been meaning to refurbish, before flopping onto the loveseat. “I’m thinking something with Tom Hanks, though I wouldn’t be opposed to Ryan Reynolds.”
My phone buzzed, another text from Livvy filling my screen.
“You guys pick. I need to grab a blanket.” I slipped into my room and sat on the bed as I read the text.
LIVVY: No pressure, but I feel like that revelation deserves more than radio silence.
I paused, considering my response. I couldn’t ignore her, but I needed to make sure my reply came off calm and as if my first heartbreak reappearing in my life didn’t faze me. After all, I had enough to worry about between home renovations and helping Livvy keep her sanity during the wedding. Not to mention a new apartment complex was being built down the street, creating competition for renters. I didn’t need high school drama resurfacing.
ME: It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Ridge, but I think it’ll be good to catch up. What’s he been up to?
I thought that should appease her without sounding too eager.I snagged the grey fuzzy blanket from the foot of my bed and headed back out to watch the movie.
Back in the living room, I grabbed my ice cream from the bag and sat on the opposite end of the couch from Audrey, propping my legs on the coffee table and draping the blanket across my lap. “What movie did you pick?”
“We decided to keep it simple and watch a home renovation show. That way, we won’t miss anything important while we talk,” Audrey said.
I smiled, knowing they’d made that decision for me. I loved home improvement shows, more than most movies, and would much rather unwind to the sounds of hammers and nail guns than another one of Chloe’s romcoms. It was likely the side-effect of having a dad who flipped houses on the side. While it had resulted in a lot of moving, it also meant I’d learned how to tile a bathroom before I’d learned to drive.
“Sounds perfect.” I took a bite of ice cream and let the sweet caramel cover my tongue before swallowing. The cold made me shiver, and I pulled my blanket tighter around me. I was perpetually cold despite it being close to 100 degrees outside, but ice cream was well worth the additional chill.
The sounds of the TV show host explaining her latest project filled the room for a moment before Chloe spoke. “I still can’t believe you almost got asked to leave the restaurant. He mustreallylove tennis.”
Her incredulous tone made me chuckle, triggering a laughing fit from all three of us. Our conversation moved into more dating horror stories, and my spirits lifted considerably as we commiserated with each other. The comfort of that moment broke only once as Audrey relayed the details of her first kiss. It involved bumping noses, a piece of gum, and her little sister witnessing the entire thing.
“Luckily, my other high school kisses weren’t nearly so bad.” She shrugged. “Though I was convinced I would find my love in high school, we’d graduate college, marry, and live happily ever after. I was way off.”
At the mention of high school, my thoughts returned to Ridge, my heart hitching for a moment as I remembered his easy smile and ready laugh. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the memories away. He was a part of my past, and I was determined to keep it that way. I had enough scars from the past to deal with.
I reflexively pulled out my phone to glance at the time, hoping for a distraction from my memories. Instead, I found a text from Livvy.
LIVVY: I’m not sure what he’s up to, but he asked about you.
CHAPTERTHREE
Saturday,I woke to sunlight, plans to help Livvy move, and twenty texts and three voicemails from my mother.Thank goodness for sleep mode.
Deciding that I couldn’t put her off any longer, I selected her number from my contacts and hit call. I settled back against my pillow and pulled the green bedspread my grandmother had made for me up to my chin. I fiddled with the yarn ties as I listened to the phone ring, finding comfort in the worn blanket that had moved with me from house to house throughout my teen years and college.
Maybe I’d get lucky and Mother would still be asleep. I could leave a message and avoid the interrogation.
I wasn’t lucky.
“Mallory! I’m so glad you called. I know you texted last night to say you were back from your date, but when you didn’t say anything else, I started to worry.” I heard a rustling sound and then my mother’s muffled shout to my dad, “She’s fine, Paul.”
I sighed, acknowledging this was my punishment for ignoring her the night before. I should have called her after the date, but I’d needed the break. I propped myself up on my pillows and braced for what lay ahead.
“Hi, Mom… I mean, Mother,” I said, when she paused a moment to take a breath. After reading some random parenting blog article, she’d decided I was too old to keep calling her “Mom” after I graduated college. When I refused to call her Barbara, we settled on “Mother” as a compromise. It still felt weirdly formal, but it made her happy, so I played along. “What are you up to today?”
“I was about to grab my keys and drive down to check on you. Make a weekend of it. You know, maybe take you shopping for an outfit for your next date. Something with color.”
I forced a laugh, not sure how serious she was. “Good thing I called. I would hate for you to drive all the way down here just to turn around and go back. I’m helping Livvy move. And then painting my room.” I had no plans to paint, but if it kept Mother away, I’d do it.
“I guess we’ll have to go shopping another time. I’m sure your wardrobe needs sprucing up. Anyway, how did the date go? When’s your next date? Isn’t Bruce perfect? From what Dana said, he sounds—"
“Mother.” I broke in, knowing she could ramble for hours if I didn’t intervene. “Breathe. We went ononedate.”
