Page 59 of No Regrets

“Yes. Sam’s fully on board. I have a feeling this is exactly what he wanted.”

He watched Ryan down the rest of his beer and get up. “I need another drink, then you can tell me more about it.”

KELLY SHUT THE LAPTOP lid, rubbing her eyes. How the hell was it seven p.m. already? Ever since getting the assignment from Joe, she’d got totally lost in it. And it felt great. The hours seemed to slip by like minutes. In the past week her mind had strayed less and less to what happened in Daram. She still had nightmares but not every night. The light at the end of the tunnel was getting brighter. Except when it came to Dex.

A whole week. And silence. Could he seriously not be just friends? She’d been half-tempted to call Matt and tell him what an ass his son was being but thought better of it. Like Matt had said before he left, Dex sometimes needed a little time to get his head around things. But a week?!

Her phone buzzed. Well, speak of the devil.

Dex: I’m sorry. I handled that conversation terribly and I should have reached out sooner. Can you forgive me? We’ve always been friends and I don’t want to lose that.

With a small smile, she went to text back. Little butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She hadn’t realized how much she wanted to hear from him.

Kelly: I don’t want to lose that either.

Dex: So, can we start this just friend's thing over?

Kelly: Are you sure you can do just friends?

Dex: Yes. I’m sure.

Kelly: I don’t want things to be awkward Dex.

Dex: They won’t be. I swear. Meet me for another coffee and I’ll prove it to you. I have some news I’d love to share with you as my best friend.

Kelly’s smile widened as she typed, Ryan is your best friend........?? She loved teasing him. Perhaps she shouldn’t tease if they were just friends?

Dex: You will always be my number one best friend; Ryan comes a close second.

Kelly: So, what’s the news?

Dex: Can only tell you in person.

OK, now she was intrigued, and she really wanted to see him. That knowledge surprised her. She’d been pretty pissed at him this past week. Yet a few texts, and she’d forgotten all about it. Do what feels right for you. Claire’s words rang in her ears.

Kelly typed, why don’t you grab that coffee and come by the house.

Dex: On my way.

Twenty minutes later, Dex knocked on the door. Kelly checked herself in the mirror. What did it matter what she looked like? They were just friends.

“Hey, stranger.”

“Hey, bestie.” Dex grinned holding up two cups from Cora’s coffee shop.

Kelly stepped back to let him in, closing the door. “Come on, the sun’s going down. Let’s go sit out back.” She led the way to the deck, taking her drink from him before settling into one of the Muskoka chairs. Dex sat in the other.

“Thanks for the drink.”

“You’re welcome. Kelly, I really am sorry about before. I just... fuck... there’s no excuse.”

“You thought things would just go back to normal between us,” she said softly.

Dex hung his head. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

“If only it were that easy. But you’re here now. Let’s not keep going over it.”

“Well, thank you for not punishing me too much for being such an ass.”

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