Page 87 of Hello Darling

24

Stella

Two days after I’ve returned from Europe, Billy wakes me up dark and early by banging on the door to my guest house before coming inside and literally dragging me out of bed. Muffin Top nearly scratches both of our faces, she’s so startled. Aside from the fact that I have a cat now, it’s a lot like five years ago when he’d show up to take me jogging every morning once I’d realized Cody wasn’t coming back. Except this time, he’s partly making sure I’m still alive, and partly making sure I know just what a stupid idiot asshole he thinks I am.

I do.

But I also believe that I’m doing what’s best for Evan, in the long run.

After an actual long run, on the treadmill at the gym, I feel slightly less terrible, and Billy looks at me as though he may actually be able to speak to me now.

“You’re an idiot,” he says, bringing me a bottle of coconut water. “And an asshole.”

“Roger that. Boy, jet lag is a real thing, huh?”

“You’d get used to it. Did you take melatonin? And vitamin C? And B-12?”

“No.”

“Stupid. I bet Evan does. He got over the jet lag pretty fast. It can be done. Any goal can be accomplished if you set your mind to it.”

Always the personal trainer. “Have you been in touch with him at all? The past couple of days?”

“Come do free weights with me.”

“I need to shower.”

“Come do weights with me. You need to build up your cowardly muscles.”

“I’m not a coward.” I follow him to the dumbbell racks. He hands me a pair of five pounders, takes ten pounds for himself.

“Feet apart, tailbone straight down.”

“I know how to stand.”

“Oh yeah? Seems to me you know how to trip yourself up.”

He starts the standing free weight routine we’ve been doing together for years, and we both glare at each other all through the dumbbell curls. I am so not in the mood for his tough love right now.

“Bend your knees more.”

“You’re not my trainer.”

“You should be so lucky. You know, Mr. Hannam’s gonna win the holiday challenge thanks to me—and he’s got the confidence to start dating again.”

“He is? Who?”

“Gretha from the knitting store.”

“Shut up! That’s so cute! Awww. Good for them.”

“Yeah. Maybe when you’re in your late sixties you’ll be ready to date like a grown-up.”

“Oh my God. You should talk!”

“No I can talk because I know that if some awesome woman that I got along great with came through town I would do whatever I could to be with her. Guys don’t behave the way Evan did with you unless they’re serious about someone.”

I pause my hammer curl reps to pout and wipe my tingling nose.