“So, what did you want to talk about?” He looked at me expectantly, and I hesitated.
“It’s about the date we had,” I began.
He looked at me with concern. “Is something wrong?”
“No, no, everything’s fine. It’s just…” I took another deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I need to preface that I had no friends when I came here, and you and Macey welcomed me with open arms. And I couldn’t be more grateful for you. I just don’t know if I feel more than friendship toward you.”
Tyler’s smile faltered a bit, then he looked down at his feet and shifted uncomfortably. “I had a feeling,” he said. “When things didn’t go so well the other night, I figured maybe you weren’t exactly into it.”
My heart ached at the disappointment in his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Ty. I don’t want to hurt you, but I know it’s better to be honest.”
He nodded slowly, reaching out to pat my hand. “I’mgrateful for your honesty. I don’t want this to come between us being friends. I hope we can just go back to how things used to be.”
“Me too,” I said, relief flooding my body, though a small sting of guilt remained. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” he said, standing and scratching the back of his neck. “I should probably get back to work, but maybe you, me, and Macey can all go get drinks sometime after work?”
“Absolutely,” I nodded quickly. I was shivering a bit now that the sun was completely setting over the mountains.
Together, we walked back into the nursing home, and Tyler stopped in a hallway leading to another section of the building.
“I’ve gotta go this way, but I’ll see you later?” He gave me a kind smile, his brown eyes still tinged with a bit of disappointment.
I smiled back, wishing I hadn’t had to let him down, but knowing it was for the best. “See you later.”
I gave him a small wave as he went back to work, then walked through the nursing home, lost in thought as I wove between tables and couches. As I passed one table in the main hall, my eyes were drawn to a group of ladies and one man. From a distance, the man didn’t look particularly old.
When I stared for a moment longer than was probably polite, realization dawned.
It was a man with dark, wavy hair. And I knew him.
Jay was laughing at something one of the women had said, and as he did, he spotted me standing there, as if he could feel me staring.
Would he acknowledge me or pretend I didn’t exist?
“Hope,” he said, and to my surprise, he waved me over.
I hesitated for a moment before walking toward them. As I approached, the older women turned to look at me too.
“Hello, Dr. Jay,” I greeted, still a bit taken aback. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
His jaw clenched when I called him Dr. Jay. Then he set down his knitting needles. “Likewise. Hope, meet my knitting group. Ladies, this is Hope, my hygienist.”
My hygienist.
Something flipped dangerously in my stomach.
Okay, nope. Not lingering on that.
The women greeted me warmly, their eyes twinkling with curiosity.
One of the ladies with tight curls and pink spectacles leaned forward, a sparkle in her eye. “You work with Jay, dear? How lucky you are! He’s such a charmer.”
I couldn’t stop the snort of laughter that escaped me. “Yes, he certainly is.”
Jay rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “Don’t let them fool you, Hope. They’re the real charmers here.”
The group chuckled, and I felt myself relax a little. The tension from our earlier conversation at the office starting to feel distant, like maybe I’d imagined it.
