That’s more than enough hope for me, more than enough for me to dump my boyfriend for him. Even if I have to wait for years.

“Let me see what your fortune cookie says, babe.” Tim Lassing, my latest space-filler boyfriend, snatches the thin white paper from my hands.

I’m only dating him because he reminds me of Hayden and he has a similar work ethic when it comes to building his dating app.

He’s still not Hayden, though.

“Well, it’s fate then.” Tim smiles at the fortune. “We’re on the right track with each other.”

Right.

In the car, on the way home, my phone buzzes with a text message.

Hayden: Sorry I missed your call earlier. About your voicemail, I’ll be free tonight around 7. I’m dropping off some things for the manager at CinePlex.

Me: Okay, great. I’ll meet you then and there.

My heart tap-dances in my chest as I stand outside the doors of the movie theater. As if this is a date, I’m wearing a sexy red shirt and tight jeans, along with complementing nude heels.

When I step inside, I see Hayden laughing as he shakes the manager’s hand.

He starts walking toward me and stops.

For a second, I think he’s checking me out, but I brush off the thought as I walk to him.

“Hey.”

“Hey. What did you want to talk to me about?” He smiles, and my heart skips a beat.

“I think I’m falling in love with someone.”

“You mean, Tim?”

No, you. “I mean, I want to tell him, but I don’t know how. It could fuck up everything because he has a lot on the line, but I feel like he’s the one.”

“The one that what?”

“Just the one.”

“Hmmm.” He tucks a few strands of hair behind my ear, looking into my eyes. “Well, you should be honest with him, then. He’d be out of his mind not to want you back.”

“Even if he’s six years older than me?”

“If he has good intentions, I don’t see why not,” he says, stepping back. “Now, your brother probably won’t approve, so you’ll have to date the guy in private for another two years before saying anything. You also need to make sure he won’t distract you from your ultimate career goal. Twenty-eight medals, right?”

“Whenever I’m with him, I don’t care about any of that stuff.”

“Any of that stuff?” He looks confused. “You mean, what you’ve worked for your entire life? That’s more than stuff, Penelope.”

“I know, but—”

“Don’t let a guy distract you from your dreams.” He interrupts. “He won’t be worth it, no matter who he is.”

I stare at him, feeling my heart beat an unfamiliar rhythm, the words stalling at the tip of my tongue.

Go for it. Say ‘I love you, Hayden Hunter,’ and kiss him now. Right now.

“Penelope?” Tim’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I look across the lobby.

“Hey.” I step away from Hayden and smile at Tim.

He walks over, looking between us. “Am I interrupting something?”

“No,” Hayden says. “I was just telling Penelope that I got an investor for my app. He wants me to move, so I’m considering it.”

What? My world comes to a complete stop, and I look up at him in utter disbelief. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“I was about to.”

“Oh,” Tim says. “Investment company or single partner?”

“Single partner—at least now anyway.” He smiles, then he looks at me. “I figured it’s time for me to make plans for the future anyway. I think Travis is cool with me putting an end to looking after his little sister anyway.”

“Well, congratulations,” Tim says. I’m looking forward to competing with you down the line.”

“Likewise.” He extends his hand and shakes it. “I’m sure we’ll meet in the future someday.”

“Come on, Pen. I bought tickets to The Tracy Show.” Tim wraps his arm around my shoulder, leading me away from Hayden.

It takes everything in me not to look over my shoulder, not to run back to Hayden and tell him what I feel, but his words are still stinging.

Finally putting an end to looking after his little sister anyway?

Break up #16

The one that started the Cold War

Penelope

Back Then

* * *

 

A week later

“We need to talk.” Tim leans against my kitchen sink one morning, his eyes red-rimmed and puffy. “And no, I’m not giving you another day for space. You’ve had an entire week, and somehow you managed to forget that today was my birthday.”

“I have a birthday cake being delivered this afternoon.”

“Well, you can call it a breakup cake now.” He shrugs. “Or maybe you can call it an ‘I want to fuck Hayden Hunter’ cake. The latter actually sounds better.”

“For the umpteenth time, Hayden is just a friend.”

“Friends don’t look at each other like that.” He shakes his head. “The way the two of you looked at each other before we went camping last month and at the movies last week told me all that I needed to know.”

“I think you’re reading too much into that.”

“I know that I’m not.” He walks over to his duffle bag in the corner and pulls the strap over his shoulder. “I can’t do this anymore, Penelope. I’m sorry.”

“Tim, there’s nothing going on between me and Hayden.” My voice cracks. “We’re really just friends.”

“Do you always get this emotional when you talk about your friends?” He puts on his jacket. “Better yet, if he wasn’t suddenly leaving town with little notice, would you even care that I was breaking up with you?”

Silence.

“I thought so.” He walks out of the kitchen, slamming the door on his way out.

I wait until he leaves before ordering an Uber to Hayden’s house.

Even if he rejects me, it’s worth giving it a try.

When I arrive, I find myself face to face with a For Sale sign in the grass.

There’s also a bright yellow note on his door.

Please leave all packages with my neighbor.

She has my new address.

Thank you.

If you need to reach me, you can call me at 555-8756.

What the hell?

It’s a new phone number, and I’m wondering if by “new address,” he means that he’s going to surprise me by showing me the realtor listing of his house later.

Where is he staying now, though?

“You’re here looking for your friend, hun?” His redheaded neighbor calls out from her porch.

“Yeah. Can you tell me where he went?”

“He’s in the sky by now, I suppose.”

“The sky?”

“New York City,” she says. “His flight is this afternoon. Got a love letter you want me to send him?” She smiled. “I’m sure he’ll think that’s really cute.”