“Oh. Okay. Next time.”
When the two of them left the table, Maggie pulled Polly down into her seat. She gave her friend a few seconds before leaning close and asking, “Are you okay?”
“Why does she always do this? What is this, her fourth engagement? They break her heart every time, andIalways have to pick up the pieces.”
Maggie touched her hand. “I’m here now. I’ll help you with those pieces.”
Polly nodded, but her usual feisty energy was gone. Maggie hated how sad Olivia made her. But it was true—her mother had forever been chasing men and relationships, then relying on Polly to help her recover when they didn’t work out.
Maggie glanced up to see Joel still at the counter. He was watching Polly, but his normal smile was gone, a frown in its place.
The café door opened again, and this time, Ethan stepped in. Maggie offered a small smile before rising. “Hey. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“What are you talking about? I told you.”
“When?”
“In the?—”
“Ethan.” They both looked behind him as Nel stepped inside the café.
Maggie:Hey. I miss you.
Ethan’s mouth curved as he read the Facebook message from Maggie. He leaned back in his seat, base quiet around him.
Ethan: We woke up together.
Maggie: I don’t think you understand how much I love you, and how much Ethan I need in my life.
Ethan: However much it is, it can’t be as much as I need you.
Maggie: Hm. I’ll agree to disagree.
There was a small pause before the next message came through.
Maggie: Can I ask you something?
Ethan: Anything.
Maggie: If I hadn’t come back…what would have happened? Would we both have just moved on?
Shit, that was a complex question for a Facebook message. It took him a minute to word his response.
Ethan: I was never able to move on, because I knew you were somewhere out there in the world, and I always hung on to the hope that we would find each other again.
The three dots popped up, then disappeared.
The text thread from his friends lit up.
Joel: Holy shit, Ethan, why didn’t you tell us how good these pancakes were?
Zac: I’m considering making them my death row meal.
Ethan: I told you he won an award for best pancakes in the world.
Joel: In 1990. You made it sound like he was holding on to an expired title.
Zac: I’ll award this man best pancakes in the world right now.
