“You’re right.”
“And trying to push me toward Garret isn’t the answer either.”I swallowed.“We may have to face the possibility that I’ll just have to settle for being the cool, fun maiden aunt who spoils her friends’ children.”
“You’ve given up on love?”Poet demanded.“Just like that?”
“What do you think the pledge was about?”I demanded.“Sure, it was funny to call it a penis embargo, but you know it’s more than that.Did you think it was just a fun ritual at the hot spring?Did you think me canceling all the dating apps and choosing to focus on me and my life was all bullshit?”
“It wasn’t supposed to be about you giving up on love,” she protested.“It was supposed to be a re-centering.”
“Well, I’m officially on a dating hiatus.You know why I did it.I’ve fallen for so many lies that men tell me.I’m tired of investing in men who say one thing and the moment they get what they want from me, they leave.I can’t keep doing that to myself.I don’t want to be a cynic, but my track record is leading me down that road.”
She held out her hand.“Show it to me.”
“Show what to you?”
“You know what.”
I crossed my arms over my chest.We had a stare-off, but I finally relented.I dug through my bag and pulled out my wallet.I unzipped it and then delved into the hidden pocket and extracted what she wanted to see and handed it over.
“You had it laminated,” she remarked.
“Yes.”
“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?”she asked as she handed me back the card.
“Yeah, I am.You didn’t think I’d really do this, did you?”I asked.
“You want the truth?”
“Always.”
She sighed.“No, I didn’t think you’d stick to your guns.You lovelove.I know men have lied to you.I know they’ve hurt you.But you deserve your own happy ending.”
“And you think pushing me toward Garrett is the answer?”
“I think pushing you toward Garrett is to make sure you don’t close yourself off permanently.The only thing worse than falling out of love with love is deciding not to play the game at all.You’re so great.I just don’t want you to stop taking chances just because you’re afraid of making another mistake.”
“It’s too much, Poet,” I said, my voice softening.“So, for right now I just want to focus on helping Lenni adjust to her new life.”
“How’s she doing, you think?”
“Touch and go,” I admitted.“One minute she’s fine.The next, she remembers her entire world blew up.It’s a lot for an eleven-year-old.Hell, it would be a lot for an adult to handle.But she’s fun, you know?Just like a ...a ...what’s the word I’m looking for?”
“Sidekick?”
“Yes.Exactly.Mildred loves her.”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
“You think you’ll stay?Long term?”Her eyes lit up with hope.
“Can we just take it one day at a time?”
“You can’t go back to New York.I won’t let you.”
I raised my brows.“How are you going to stop me?”
