Sweet Dandelion

I plunk her onto the couch and she darts over to her favorite blanket where she likes to hide the tiny blue mouse toy I got her.

Picking up the remote, I turn the TV on, flipping through the channels until I settle on a home improvement one.

I’ve been trying to learn some things so I’m better able to answer questions at the hardware store. I know the older man who owns it, Freddie, appreciates it. He didn’t have an employee before me, he’s been manning the store on his own all these years, but the day he decided to finally look for help was the day I walked in asking for a job. He must’ve saw something in me, because despite my lack of any kind of hardware knowledge, he took a chance.

Tally finds her mouse and brings it over to me, expecting praise for her ‘kill’.

“You’re such a good girl.” I scratch behind her ear and she starts to purr. I love the way the fur around her ears sticks up in every direction. It makes her look crazed, like you never quite know what to expect from her.

My phone buzzes from one of the bags and I get up retrieving it.

Lachlan: I know you’re it for me, but I understand if I’m not the one for you. You deserve to move on. I want you to be happy. That’s all that matters. But I’ll still be there. 4.22.21 47.6205 122.3493

I’ve puzzled out the first part, our birthday. I’ll be twenty. Lachlan will be thirty-one. But the rest hasn’t made sense to me. Until now.

“Oh my God,” I mutter, copy and pasting the set of numbers into my phone. “Coordinates. Of course.”

I’m an idiot.

When the browser shows me where the coordinates lead, my jaw drops.

He knew.

I book a plane ticket.

Chapter Eighty-Two

I get off the plane with only a backpack strapped to my back, filled with enough things for an overnight stay.

Lachlan didn’t mention in his letter or his text what time he’d be there, but I think if our paths are meant to cross again the matter of time is irrelevant.

Exiting the airport, I find the Uber I booked waiting for me. Slipping in the car, I give him the address of where I want to go and then he cranks up the music, thankfully eliminating any need for conversation with him.

I watch out the window, at the city passing by. It’s an oddly sunny day, with the barest hint of golden rays peeking out from between the gray clouds.

My heart is buzzing inside my chest with barely contained excitement and fear. I might be seeing Lachlan. I don’t know what I’m going to do or say. I didn’t want to rehearse anything ahead of time. That’s inauthentic. Instead, I’m going to let the moment play out.

If you even see him, my mind reminds me.

I don’t know why Lachlan didn’t give a time, maybe he didn’t think, or maybe he’s leaving it up to fate, I don’t know. I didn’t want to ask. Something made me refrain from texting him.

The Uber driver lets me out, muttering about hoping I enjoy the city, but his tone is far from sincere.

Hopping out, I hold onto my backpack straps. I feel like I might throw up, but I know that’s only the nerves and not any actual sickness. Wiping my damp palms on the front of my ripped jeans, I walk across the street to a café. My stomach is grumbling, and even though food is the last thing on my brain I figure I should grab a muffin and coffee.

My shoes splash in a puddle, some of the water sprinkling onto my jeans, as I cross the street.

Opening the door into the café a bell chimes, signaling my arrival.

“Good morning!” A cheery woman behind the counter calls out despite the long line.

I shoot her a smile and get in line behind a tall man in a business suit, cell phone pressed to his ear as he rattles off about some board meeting.

Me: I landed.

Sage: You sure about this?

I bite my lip, hesitating before I text back.