Page 51 of Mixed Connection
See you in a couple days, Babygirl.
It’s too early to hear from her, so I don’t wait for a response and start getting my things together.
I’m heading out! Take good care of my girl.
Anders
I will J. I’m already at the office getting some things loaded in the truck. Safe travels. See you in a few days.
And buy a new couch. I’m going to have a cramp in my back for the next fucking week.
Fuck, I’m a grouch. It feels strange to be in such a nasty mood as opposed to my normal, jovial demeanor, but I can’t help it. Even the drive to the airport does me no good. I know what I need. My hands tangled in chestnut curls and strawberry kisses.
It’s been a few hours and still no text from Cassidy. I know she wanted space and it’s a busy day. But still. When I check our text thread I can see that my message isn’t marked as delivered. I scrunch my forehead up in confusion before I rattle off a text to Anders to make sure everything is alright. He should be at Shaken Tropes by now.
Hey bro, you at Shaken Tropes?
Anders must already be on his phone, putting in a delivery or something when my text comes through, because his bubbles pop up immediately.
Anders
She broke her phone. Get on the plane, she’s not going anywhere.
I really hate when he anticipates what I’m going to say and when he’s right. I slide into my window seat and remind myself that I will give her this weekend, give her the breathing space she thinks she needs so badly, and come hell or high water I will get her to listen to me and then she will never be rid of me.
The flight was smooth and I made it just in time to give Alma my love before she’s wheeled into surgery for her heart stent. If Alma had family this may have gone differently, but since the night I text her phone in error, we hit it off. I wanted to be here for her because I care for her and because she deserves to know that someone is out here waiting for her.
Putting in my headphones, I turn on the audiobook I’ve been listening to. I’ve been eyeing the books on my girl’s bookshelf and listening to the ones I see her pick up often. She goes back to the pages for comfort, no matter if it’s a spicy book or a mystery. This one happens to be a spicy one. Some magic system romance—once I’ve convinced her that she’s lost her mind, I have a few new things I plan on doing to her, inspired by this particular novel. I just have to get her to see she’s not just the first option, she’s the blueprint.
I’ve always been a relationship guy, wanting to settle down with someone rather than skip around. She is smart and quick-witted, open and unapologetically herself. She makes it easy to share details about myself, wanting her to know the deepest parts of me.
Cassidy takes care of those she loves, wanting to see the best in everyone. Watching her run her business, how she truly invests herself in all of her patrons no matter if they’re a one-timecustomer or a regular. She is simply a wonderful person. I’m not blind either, if she’s in the room I can’t take my eyes off her. I haven’t since the reunion and I don’t plan to.
Alma comes out of her surgery doing well. The surgeon gives me a wave to go back to see her and I follow the blue tiled floor towards her room. Ever since that first night after the reunion, when Cassidy gave me the wrong number, we’ve kept in touch. She doesn’t have any living children and her husband passed away nearly fifteen years ago. She was alone, until she decided I was hers too. I huff a laugh remembering her text message back to me. She’s amazing and has become someone really special to me.
“Hey, Girlfriend.” She laughs at the nickname I’ve called her since texting her instead of the curvy woman of my dreams. “How are you feeling?”
“Oh, I’m gonna be just fine, suga’. I’ll be back to clearing the pins at bowling nights in no time.” Her voice shakes a bit from both the drugs wearing off and her old age. “You tell me what’s got you so heavy?”
It’s amazing how quickly she picks up on things. “Alma, don’t start. I’m here to check on you. Not unload my problems onto your plate.”
“Hush boy and tell me what’s going on with that woman of yours,” she says. Her voice holds an all-knowing quality that I haven’t yet wrapped my mind around.
“Well, it’s your fault really!” I say. She barks a laugh until she looks up at me, though I’m joking, I’m also somewhat serious.
I fill her in about our conversation at the reunion, our date, I even tell her about the break-in. “She’s an incredible woman. Beautiful, smart, and caring. Owns her own bar called Shaken Tropes, it’s all based on her favorite romance books. She’s everything I could have wished for in a woman, more than anything I could have dreamed really.”
“Then what in the hell are you doing here?” she chastises me.
“I wanted to be here for you.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I love you and I am so glad you are here with me. But you’ve got to make her see. If you really want to be with her, she needs to know you’re all in.”
“I don’t ever want to make her feel second best or a non-factor, like her parents did, but she wanted space. So that’s what I’m giving her. Then I’ve got this property that is just south of you I need to check in on,” I say to her, letting my innermost thoughts speak for me.
“That property is clearly running just fine without you considering you’ve only been there once,” she replies matter of factly.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’m only popping in tomorrow to sign off on a few things for the realtor. A couple that is expecting their second child was in the area and loves it. I wanted to surprise Cassidy with the news that our personally designed backyard would have some new owners.”
