ALEXA: Hey, are you and Dad planning on going to Texas this fall for Thanksgiving? I need a break away from my studies and would love to see you.
She didn’t respond right away, so I continued to walk along the river and drink my coffee.
When my cell dinged again, I expected it was her answering, but instead, it was Dana once more.
DANA: That's strange. I know Luke really regrets that you left early. I didn't get the sense from him that the relationship was one of convenience. He contacted me to talk, so I think he really likes you. So if it was a relationship of convenience, it was on your part, not his. I know my brother. I guess it's a good thing that you left after all, if that's the way you felt about him.
She got the wrong idea entirely, of course. She was too close to Luke, and was concerned for him, but of course, it was totally a relationship of convenience. I couldn’t explain to her why and how we really met, so I was at a loss how I could explain it. I couldn't tell her the truth.
Your brother hired me thinking I was an escort that your cheating husband fucked while you were pregnant. He wanted to send a clear message to Eric that he better stop his cheating ways…
No, that most definitely wouldn't work.
I decided to text her back so she wouldn't push it any farther.
ALEXA: What I mean by convenience is that we both are really busy with our lives – Luke with with his business and me with my MA. We both understood that we would enjoy each other when we had the chance, but that there was no longer-term relationship possible because of both our plans. I'm going to move to Europe after I’ve finished my PhD and hope to join the diplomatic corps. He wants to go away for a year on his catamaran and then maybe take part in the Mars mission and eventually even leave on a one-way mission. So, we knew there was no chance that the two of us would stay together long-term. I care about him and he cares about me, but that's the extent of it. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
I put my phone in my pocket and started back to the apartment, wanting to get breakfast and try to put everything behind me. Before I reached the apartment building where Candace and I lived, my cell dinged once more.
DANA: Meet me for breakfast? I live just down the street from your apartment building.
I didn’t know what to say. She seemed to be really invested in the idea of Luke and me being together.
ALEXA: Okay. Where do you want to meet?
DANA: At The Old Mill. It has a great English breakfast. See you in ten.
I was completely surprised that she wanted to meet me, but was willing to go and talk to her. She was really sweet and I knew she had Luke's best interest at heart. I had to convince her that it really was no problem that Luke and I weren't going to see each other.
So I went to meet her.
* * *
The Old Mill was one of those hole in the wall restaurants that had a busy breakfast and lunch crowd and then became a local watering hole for people after work. I entered and searched around, finally seeing Dana sitting at a booth in the back. I went to her and smiled when I saw her. She seemed really pleased to see me and so honest and open about everything. I felt sick that I knew about her cheating husband and couldn’t tell her.
"Hi," she said and patted the booth beside her. "Come and sit down. They have a great British fry-up on the menu for breakfast. Eggs, beans, tomatoes, bacon, and toast. Plus, real hot tea. Usually, Eric and I come here, but I told him it was a girl's breakfast for me this week."
I slipped in beside her and picked up a menu, deciding on the same thing she ordered when the waitress came to our table.
I felt Dana's gaze on me as I stirred my tea.
"So, I heard from Luke that you left his apartment early this morning without saying goodbye. I know you must think it's strange that I contacted you, but I liked you right away as soon as we met. I feel like we could be friends. Real friends."
I smiled back at her, feeling the same way about Dana.
"I do, too."
"So, tell me why you broke it off with my brother? You're the first woman he's brought to any family function since he and Jenna split last year. That has to mean something."
I shrugged, unable to tell her the truth. "Like I said, we're both really busy and agreed to only see each other when it was convenient for us both. There were never any long-range plans for us."
"He was really upset when she showed up at the beach house. Nothing happened between them."
I shrugged. "When I saw him with Jenna, I realized that he wasn't over her yet. This morning, I found a photo album in his bottom drawer in the living room wall unit and I had this sense he's still hurt and not ready to commit again. I figured I should break it off now before we get too far in. Even i
f he doesn't feel something for her, he's not ready for another serious relationship and that's all I'm good at."
She shook her head. "Look, I love my brother, but between you and me, all this sail around the world and Mars mission stuff is a way to distract himself from being lonely."