“Pfft,” she says, blowing a raspberry that fills the air. “That was a pre-date date. It doesn’t count.”
I arch a brow and look straight down the screen at her. “That’s athing?”
“Totally a thing. That’s a coffee or a casual phone callbeforethe date. When you assess and judge and decide whether it’s worth your timeactuallydating them.”
“I’msoout of the loop with this whole dating thing,” I groan, taking Cate’s face on my phone with me as I collapse backward on my bed.
“Naw. You’re fine, Blair. You’ve been building your medical empire, establishing your career—yourname. You haven’t had time, the inclination, or themotivationto look at a man, let alonedateone.”
And there it is. The number one thing I’ve been wondering all week.Why now?Why Sutton?
The thing is, the more we’ve talked over text and gotten to know one another, the more I’ve realized that it’s not a why him, it’sbecauseof him.
The ‘why now’ part is still a mystery but I don’t need to know that right now. I figure it will become obvious at some point. Until then, I plan to take it slow and easy and enjoy myself.
Sutton is kind, honest and a genuinely good guy. He's open, funny in his own way, and doesn’t hide what he perceives to be his flaws. That right there is a rare quality—a man who knowshimself. It helps that he’s mighty fine to look at too. His biggest drawcard is his heart. He loves those important to him hard and will do anything and everything he can for them.
Hearing it was his anxiety that held him back from asking me out all those years ago touched me. I’d like to think I’d have appreciated his approach back then, but we’ll never know because at college I had one focus–kicking butt and taking names in medical school.
Yet two weeks into my stay in Timber Falls and I’m seeing the appeal of a quieter, less stressful life. Case in point, I’m sleeping eight hours a night regularly. That’s something that hasn’t happened in years.
“Can you turn the phone to the right a bit?” Cate asks, umming and aahing as I follow her instructions. “Right there. Blue tank, white with blue pinstripes shirt over top, and wait—did you have those cute denim shorts I made you buy?”
“Against my better judgement since I’m living on amountainand it’s almost Fall? Yes, I do.”
“Perfect. Wear those too. And a hat. I love your gorgeous hair and skin, but youknowthat sun is going to be a killer up there.”
“Which is why I’ve slathered myself in an inch thick layer of sunscreen already, C. Learned that lessonfartoo many times,” I say.
“Oh yeah. The Hamptons five years ago. Remember that?”
I groan but do it with a smile. “Yeah. Overcast days over Fourth of July weekend.Justwhat the doctor ordered.”
“We had to be your live-in nurses for days!” she regales.
“Definitely not repeating that.” I push back up to my feet and turn to look down at Cate’s suggested outfit. “I have my Red Sox ball cap. Will that work?”
“Oh yes! That sounds super cute. Perfect for a low key first date that’s really aseconddate.”
“Am I crazy for doing this?” I ask, dropping the phone onto the bed and quickly changing. “I can’t explain why, but it just feels right. Like it’ssupposedto happen.”
Cate’s eyes soften as her lips tip up on one side. “You’re cute when you’re smitten. It’s a good look on you, B.”
“It’s too early to be smitten, C. I’d say I’m at the ‘curious, open to anything, want to know more stage’.”
She giggles. “See! So cute!”
“It’s just a hike,” I mutter again.
“You know you need to show me when you’re ready. Can’t let one of my best friends go out without myexpertseal of approval.”
Cate is an online stylist who has a huge loyal following on social media and our go-to when it comes to what to wear and buy. It meant that when I moved to Minnesota a few years ago, she was able to follow me. Something I definitely didn’t expect but absolutelyloved.
It got even better when Alex applied for–and got–a job at the same hospital as me soon after.
“You’d be blowing up my phone until I sent you a photo otherwise.”
“Exactly. I’m glad you know the drill,” she says with a laugh. “How’s everything else going? Are you enjoying it?”
