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“I want to, Dottie,” I admit for the first time in my life. “I just don’t know how.”
She smiles and pulls me into a hug that reminds me of carefree summer nights and my dad. “Just jump, Carly. All you gotta do is jump.”
I stand up straight, pulling out of her arms and clear my throat as I wipe the tear off my cheek. “Well, that’s about enough of that, I think.”
Dottie laughs and nods. “Certainly. Pull those rolls out. They have to be done by now.”
I go to the oven and take the rolls out, tossing them into a basket before taking them to the table where Dottie is waiting with the pot of soup.
“Well, I suppose we should give her a few more minutes.”
I nod. “I’ll try calling her.”
I dial her number and the phone rings until her voicemail picks up and I sigh. “Hey, Vi. It’s me, your sister. Dottie and I are here at her house waiting for you guys. Are you going to be here soon?”
“So,” Dottie says as I hang up the phone. “How’s work going? Did you find that thing you were looking for?”
I grin, excited to tell her about my new project. “Yeah, actually. I’m going to be running a page about interior design and home décor. Maybe doing some DIY projects. Mercedes is even tossing around buying an apartment and having me fix it up since she’s been wanting to get involved with real estate.”
“Real estate?” she asks. “I didn’t realize you were interested in that kind of thing.”
“Neither did I until I had to decorate my office and looked into it.”
“Well, that’s great. You look so happy when you talk about it.”
“I’m honestly thrilled.”
“Well, good for you, dear. I can’t wait to read all about it.”
My phone buzzes and I glance down, my smile fading at the text from Chance on the screen.
Chance:
How long you gonna freeze me out, Princess?
“That your sister?” Dottie asks and I shake my head. “Who is it?”
“Uh… just this guy.”
Her brow arches. “Chance? The one you took to your mother’s charity thing?”
“Maybe.”
“And?” she prompts. “How are things going between you two? Figure out what you are?”
I shake my head. “Not exactly. We’re taking a little break.”
“Translation, you’re pushing him away.” I open my mouth to object, but she holds her hand out and shakes her head. “I’ve said my peace about this, so I’ll just say one more thing. People don’t wait around forever, no matter how strong their feelings. At some point, it just gets too painful to love someone who won’t give you the things you need. If you care about this man at all, make the jump or let him go permanently. It’s not fair to string him along.”
“You sound like you know from experience, Auntie,” I muse and she nods, sadness creeping into her gaze.
“I met a man once and for me, it was love at first sight, but he didn’t feel the same way. He strung me along for three very long, painful years before I had to walk away. I still think about him from time to time and no one else has ever made me feel the way he did when things were good between us.”
The heartbreak is clear on her face and I wonder if I’m hurting Chance as much with my inability to commit. My phone buzzes again, saving me from replying to her as I glance down at a new text. This one from Ivy.
Ivy:
Sorry. Not going to make it.
