Page 48 of Hello Handsome
All I managed was a bitter, tearful laugh before I had to take a breath. “He didn’t show and deleted his profile. Guess he had to try that hard to get away from me.”
“Oh, Ags...” Etta said sadly. “It probably wasn’t about you. Maybe his wife found his profile.”
My laugh was more surprised than bitter this time. “Etta! I don’t want to think he was married either!”
She gave a warm chuckle. “You won’t have to chase what’s meant for you.”
“Why can’t it come already?” I asked, laying my head back and closing my eyes. “I’m tired of looking.”
Etta was quiet for long enough that I knew she was holding something back. She said she was working on not blurting the first thing that came to mind, but I always liked her honesty. “Tell me,” I said to her.
“I was just thinking that you’re quitting awful early. You’ve planned one date, and you don’t do anything besides go to work, hang out with me, and pine over the world’s most emotionally unavailable man.”
I cringed. “I take it back. Don’t tell me anything.”
She laughed softly then. “Lemme give it to you with some sugar then. You need to put yourself out there. Just because David didn’t show doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go on a date tonight.”
I blinked my eyes open and glanced toward the window, seeing that the sun already set. “How am I supposed to find a date this last minute?” I asked her.
“Go out with yourself, honey,” Etta said. “Drive to that bar in Roderdale, order yourself a nice glass of wine, and see what happens.”
My lips pressed together as I mulled over her idea. “Why don’t you come with me? We can make it a girls’ night.”
“Hubs has a cold, which means he’s on his deathbed.”
So that’s what I was hearing in the background—him blowing his nose. It sounded like an alarm. “Do you need anything? I have some Vicks,” I offered.
“No, just go out tonight. And if it’s awful, call me, okay? I’ll be here.”
I hesitated, not sure I wanted to go out, especially by myself. I hadn’t been to a bar... ever.
I blinked in surprise at that realization. Now it wasn’t just about finding a man; it was about living my life. I couldn’t believe I’d never stepped foot in a bar—I’d only seen them on TV.
And I was already dressed, so I said, “I think I’ll follow your advice.”
“Those are my favorite words. Too bad Aiyana never says them,” Etta huffed.
I laughed. “Love you, friend.”
“You, too.”
I got up from the couch, looped my purse over my shoulder, and left for the bar.
32
GRAY
When I toldDr. Benson what happened, I was so upset that he suggested I take some time to focus on what I enjoy, and then we could do some deep work on letting go. I was afraid to let Maya go, but he agreed with Aggie, and I did too. I didn’t need pain to keep Maya close. I felt enough pain as it was.
So tonight, instead of lying in bed and watching TV, I decided to go spotlighting.
It was essentially using a powerful flashlight to see what nocturnal critters I could find. I always took pictures of them through my telescope and sent them to my grandkids. So far tonight I’d found a raccoon, a skunk, and even a badger, though I wasn’t quick enough to snap a picture of that one.
I turned off the dirt road onto a trail for a new pasture when my phone began to ring.
I grabbed it from my pocket and held it to my ear as I slowly bumped over the trail. “Hello?”
“Dad, are you busy?”
