Page 56 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

“You brightened an old man’s day,” Terrence said. When he met my gaze, I noticed apprehension in his eyes. It became clear when he said, “Will you come back and visit again?”

Vulnerability. How I would have hated it a month ago. I gave him a broad smile. “Of course, I will.”

“We’d love to meet this Robyn of yours, too,” Sylvia said.

At the mention of Robyn, tightness spread across my chest. “I’d like that, but I can’t make any promises.”

After a round of hugs, I stepped toward the elevator but stopped. “Terrence, in your wisdom, you just may have saved me.”

He gave me a fatherly smile. “My wisdom is questionable, but thank you for being so gracious.”

“I love you both,” I said, surprising myself.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one surprised as Sylvia and Terrence stood staring with tears in their eyes for several beats before Sylvia said, “We love you, too, Blake.”

“You know I’ve always loved you like a daughter,” Terrence said, finding his voice.

After leaving Ironclad’s headquarters, I’d arrived at LaGuardia early, which gave me the extra time I needed. I slid into a corner seat at the Orpheus + Apollo Lounge with my gin and tonic. After the past twenty-four hours I’d had, I thought I deserved a small indulgence.

I started with a text to Emma.

Me: Hey, Em. I need a big favor. Actually… 2.

Emma answered within seconds: What’s up?

Me: I need to change our song for tomorrow night.

Emma: Okay. Why?

Me: I’ll explain later. Which is my other favor. Will you have dinner with me when I get back? Just the two of us?

Emma: Uh…yeah. Care to enlighten me?

Me: I don’t have time to talk now. I’ll send you a link for the new song.

She tried to ask me more questions, but I deflected and assured her we’d talk later.

Next, I scrolled through my phone and found the contact I was looking for.

My call was picked up on the first ring. “Hey, do you miss me already?” Dana said.

I laughed. “How far is it from Chicago to Madison?” I asked with no preamble.

“About two and a half hours.”

“Do you have plans this weekend?”

“That all depends on whether I have a better offer.” She chuckled. “What are you up to?”

I launched into the spiel I’d been rehearsing in my mind since I’d left Ironclad’s offices.

The last call proved to be the most difficult.

I stalled and took care of my business at the ticket counter before returning to the lounge.

Here, Robyn wouldn’t detect the airport noise in the background.

I’d considered texting her, but that wouldn’t be right.

It was only fair to cancel our plans through a phone call, not a text.

I wouldn’t lie to her and say I was staying in New York tonight, but I hoped she’d erroneously jump to that conclusion when I told her something had come up.

“How did it go?” Robyn said as soon as she answered.

Just hearing her voice caused my heart to race.

“It went well. What are you up to?” Ugh. Were we stuck in awkward small talk?

“I’m in my office, working on bills.”

“Fun.” Yep. We were going to make it weird.

Through the silence, the twang of a country song played in the background. It wasn’t Robyn’s typical genre, so it would give me something else to talk about.

“What are you listening to?” I asked.

“Um, nothing…I mean, just a song.”

I laughed. “Well, yeah, I figured it was a song.”

Robyn’s laugh came out as a nervous chuckle. “It’s nothing.”

“Are you embarrassed I caught you listening to country music?” I teased.

“No.” This time, her laugh was genuine. “I listen to country sometimes.”

“Well, I don’t, so tell me what’s playing.” I was happy for this diversion—something to say before I told her I wouldn’t be seeing her tonight.

“It’s just Garth Brooks.”

“Hey, I’ve heard of him.” I put extra pep into my voice, hoping my antics would make her laugh.

It worked. “You’re such a goof. I’d hope you’ve heard of him.”

“So what song is it?”

“Do you even know any of his songs?”

“I know the one bar song.”

“You mean Friends in Low Places ?”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

“Well, that’s not the one I’m listening to.”

“Then which one is it?” Why did it seem I was having to pull it out of her?

“You wouldn’t know it. It’s called The Dance. ”

“Oh, so you’re thinking of me?” I chuckled.

“I thought you didn’t know the song.” Her tone sounded defensive.

“I don’t. But, you know, dance. Like our dance in the woods.”

She laughed. “I doubt you called to quiz me about my listening habits. When are you going to get back?” Her tone was hopeful.

My chest tightened, knowing I was going to dash that hope. “Uh, that’s why I called. I’d hoped to see you tonight, but I won’t be able to.”

“Oh.”

“I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t want to.”

“I understand. Of course, your new company wants to celebrate with you.”

She was assuming what I’d hoped she would, but I refused to lie, so I said, “I’m really sorry. I wanted to see you tonight, but I promise I’ll be there tomorrow night.”

“Are you positive?” Her voice was tentative.

“I swear!”

“Okay. I’m looking forward to it.”

While her tone was more upbeat, I could sense the apprehension. I couldn’t stay on the phone much longer, or I’d never be able to pull off what I needed to.

“Me too,” I said. “But I really need to get going.”

“Yeah, and I should get back to these bills.”

“And The Dance ,” I said, trying for goofy.

“Uh-huh.”

It hadn’t landed like I’d wanted it to, but I couldn’t prolong the conversation. “Okay, well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, tomorrow.”

The conversation was ending like it had begun—awkward. I couldn’t let that happen.

“I love you, Robyn.”

After a few beats, Robyn said, “I love you, too.”

When we hung up, my chest ached. I hadn’t wanted to cause the sadness in her voice, but I had. Tomorrow, I’d make it up to her.

While I sat nursing my gin and tonic, I pulled up Garth Brooks on my phone and found the song Robyn was playing. I could pretend we were listening to it together.

I smiled as Garth sang the opening lines.

No wonder Robyn hadn’t wanted me to know.

She’d been thinking of me and our dance.

Thinking of our future, when we’d reminisce about how our dance had started it all.

How romantic. Maybe it could be our song.

I chuckled to myself. Who had I become, choosing a country song for us?

My face fell. What had he just said? I swiped my phone, restarting the song. I hadn’t heard wrong. This wasn’t a happy song. The lyrics tore at my heart.

After I played it for the fifth time, I waved the bartender over for another gin and tonic.