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“So, what took you so long? Traffic?”

Marty chuckled. “Traffic? Here? In the middle of nowhere? Nah, little bump tried to make an appearance this morning. Seems the little one is impatient to greet the world.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Wait, what? Are you serious?”

He nodded. “Yep, false alarm this morning. But the doctor says it won’t be long now. Maybe a week, two at the most.”

“Oh my, Marty, that’s amazing! I can’t believe it’s happening so soon.”

The prospect of Marty becoming a father was both daunting and exhilarating. He’d always been the fun-loving, carefree one, and fatherhood would undoubtedly be a life-changing adventure.

“You ready for it, buddy?” she asked.

“Ready as I’ll ever be. A little scared, sure. But mostly excited. Can’t wait to meet the little one.”

He popped the cooler open, revealing a frosty wonderland of perfectly chilled beers.

“Alright, enough chit-chat. Time to quench our thirst and then maybe tempt those elusive fish with a little offering.”

Marty took a swig of his beer, discerning my features. “You alright, Jamie? You seem a bit… distant today.”

He’d always been that way—uncanny at picking up on the tiniest shifts in her mood.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just broke up with Amy,” Jamie replied and offered a weak smile.

“The MIA girlfriend? Finally! You know, I’ve always told you to move on from her.”

“Yeah, I know. You were right. It just took me a while to see it myself.”

“Sounds like you needed to. You deserve better than someone who gives you the silent treatment.”

“Yeah, well, better late than never, right?”

“Yeah,” he said, raising his bottle in a silent toast. “Listen, take some time for yourself. You deserve a break from the whole dating scene.”

“That’s what I was thinking too. Maybe a good long break. I need to rediscover myself and learn to spot those toxic traits before I get sucked in again.”

“Smart move. You know you’re worth more than someone who can’t even bother to show up for a date, right?”

She sighed, taking a long drink from her beer. “Honestly, I think I’m just not lucky in relationships.”

Marty offered a reassuring smile. “You’re awesome, Jamie. You’ll find the right woman soon enough. Just keep your eyes peeled and don’t settle for anything less than amazing.”

“Besides, the dating pool is full of fish. You’re bound to find the right one eventually,” he continued.

She laughed, nudging him playfully. “This isn’t one of your therapy sessions, Marty.”

“Since when have I not been your therapist? Ever since college, you’ve been dumping your relationship woes on me.”

“Alright, Dr. Marty, give me some more words of wisdom,” she teased.

He leaned back against the log, a thoughtful look on his face. “Look, Jamie, you’re strong, independent, and you’ve got a bigger heart than anyone I know. You’re basically Wonder Woman but with a fishing rod.”

She smiled. “Okay, that’s a new one.”

He chuckled. “But seriously,” his voice became low and serious, “there’s something else you might not know. I… I used to have feelings for you. More than just friends.”

Her breath caught. That was completely unexpected.