Page 13 of Dating Your Grumpy Neighbor
7
EMMETT
Today was the first morning in as long as I can remember that I woke up feeling hopeful. The darkness that is usually inside me nearly gone. It’s not something I ever think will go away, but having Felicity shine so brightly in my life, it won’t be something that consumes me.
She is still asleep when I slip out of bed and pull on some pajama pants. I want to surprise her by making her breakfast in bed. Thankfully I went to the store yesterday, so I have a fridge full of everything I need to make her something special.
I’m cutting up some strawberries to put on the pancakes when there’s a knock at the front door.
Based on what happened yesterday and how the universe likes to fuck with you when you think things are finally going your way, I should have known who would be on the other side of the door when I opened it.
“Hey, baby," Andie, my ex-fiancée, says with a little wave.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, both surprised and angry that after all this time of silence from her, she has to show up right now.
“Is that any way to greet me?” she asks.
“Yes.” I nod. “When someone I haven’t invited to my home shows up unannounced, I’m going to ask what they are doing here.”
"I'm sorry. I know that I hurt you. But I wanted to come here and tell you that I think I made a mistake."
“Youthinkyou made a mistake?" I ask, so baffled by her audacity. "You show up here after all this time, and you onlythinkyou made a mistake?”
"I was confused. The wedding had me all stressed out, and you said that my concerns would sort themselves out once we were married."
"I can't do this, Andie," I say, running my fingers through my hair. "You don't get to show up here after I've moved on with my life."
"But have you, though?" she asks, fluttering her lashes at me in an innocent way.
"Yes, I have." The sincerity and finality in my tone have her dropping all pretenses that it's just a coincidence that after I run into her best friend out with Felicity that she suddenly shows up on my doorstep looking to get back with me.
“You don’t love her. You barely know her,” she snaps.
“I do love her.” I shake my head, almost sad for her, as I watch her losing it on my front porch. "I love her more than I've loved anyone. And I know you think I'm only saying that to hurt you, but I'm not. I’m saying it because I want you to know that you made the right decision about us. We weren’t meant to spend the rest of our lives together.”
“And you think you can make her happy? You are the most miserable person I’ve ever met. You may love her, but she will never love you back.”
“She’s wrong,” a soft voice says behind me.
I turn and see Felicity standing there in one of my t-shirts, and I already know that it's a sight I will never grow tired of.
“I do love you,” she says.
"Emmett, no," Andie says as I start to close the door.
“I’m sorry, Andie. We’re both better off this way.” I say, repeating the last words she said to me after dumping me.
Andie’s tantrum on the porch is worth any damage if what Felicity is saying is true.
“You love me?” I ask, needing to hear it again.
She smiles. “I do.”
“I love you too.”
“I heard you.”
I cross the room and pull her into my arms. The feel of her soft body in my arms confirms that I’m not dreaming. That despite the irrational way we’ve come together, we did find each other.
“Are we crazy?” I ask. “How is it possible that two people that are so different can work so well together?”
“I’ve spent so long always looking for the happy silver lining in every aspect of my life. It can be hard sometimes, but when I’m with you, it’s easier to find the light.”
“Sunshine, I’d be lost without your light.”
"Well, that's why we work,” she says. “Sometimes two people together don’t have to fit into some perfect box. Maybe what makes them so different is what makes them so perfect for each other.”
“Screw the box. As long as I’ve got you, that’s all I need.”
“You’ve got me.” She kisses me. “And I’ve got you.”
