"I texted her when I was in North Carolina."
"Try in person."
"It's not enough.I wanted her to trust me, and I blew everything we were building."
Eve leaned in close."Let me give you some advice?—"
I nodded eagerly."That's what I'm here for."
"Tell her how you feel.That's what she's missing."Eve leaned back in her chair."She thinks whatever this is"—she waved a hand at me—"is temporary."
"I originally asked her to be my holidate, and when it changed into something more, I didn't talk to her about how I was feeling."
"Bingo."
I needed to tell her how I felt.But how?"I should do something special to show her how I feel."
Her face was pinched."I wouldn't wait too long.Natasha's been hurt before, and she's putting up her walls, distancing herself from you and the possibility of being hurt again."
I stood."I won't."
A small smile spread over her face."I liked you when we were in high school, and I like you more now."
Now to come up with a plan to win my girl back."Thanks, Eve."
"For what it's worth, I'm rooting for you," Eve said dryly.
It meant a lot to have Eve in my corner, but I needed to prove to Natasha that she was the one for me, and no emergency would ever change that.
Epilogue
Natasha
I'd been reeling ever since Ford hadn't shown up to the parade, The phone call and texts explaining what happened didn't make me feel better.I was relieved he wasn't hurt or sick and that his friend was going to be okay, but I didn't like that he left without telling me.
It brought back all kinds of bad feelings and anxieties.I understood what he was doing was important, but he should have talked to me.
The whole situation reminded me of when he enlisted.We hadn’t discussed what would happen, and I made assumptions about how our relationship would be.Then he went off to basic, distancing himself.He didn't have time to talk or connect.He was busy doing important things, and I didn’t rank on that list.
When I had to break up with him the first time, I had been devastated.It wasn’t what I wanted, but it was clearly what he needed.Was the situation repeating?Was I destined never to have a long-term relationship with Ford?
He forced his way into my life again, making me fall for him all over again, before slowly distancing himselfagain.It was a pattern with him.
Eve and I were in my office, planning the holiday events for the season.Eve typed our notes for the tree-lighting ceremony on her tablet.
"Have you talked to Ford?"I asked.
She looked up at me, her expression guilty."He asked to meet for coffee."
My heart skipped a beat.Why did he want to talk to Eve but not me?
She waved a hand like it wasn't a big deal."He wanted to apologize for not showing up for the parade.He explained what happened.”
"You forgave him."My heart rate was slowing as everything came into focus.
She shrugged."Things happen.Texts don’t send.He was trying to help a friend.But he could have called or come to see you in person before he left."
"He told you that?"Why hadn’t he asked to talk to me yet?
