Chapter 1
6 Months Later
Lynn eyed her friend over her wineglass.
She was comfortable, with her knees tucked under her and a sweater wrapped around her shoulders. One of her closest friends was trying her hardest to convince Lynn to put herself out there, but she wasn’t so sure it was a ‘smart,’ idea.
I’m sooo not good at dating.
“Come on, I want you to meet my brother. I’m telling you, he’s worth it.”
Lynn slowly shook her head and eyed her friend Jessica like she was insane.
“Jessica, I’m not in the right place for that. I’ve had shit luck in the men department.”
Jessica smiled sadly at her over the rim of her own glass for a second.
“What happened with Jake is terrible. I’m sorry that he hurt you and I know you are too, but do you honestly think it’s necessary to mourn a man who treated you like shit? There’s nothing wrong with moving on babe, especially since he’s already done so.” The truth was a bitter pill to gag on, that was for sure. Jessica was right, and Lynn knew it.
“I don’t know.”
Jessica laughed and patted her thigh.
“Come on, girl. You saw his picture. You know you want to. And, after you guys get married and have babies, we’ll finally be sisters!”
Lynn laughed, she couldn’t help herself.
“Okay, it doesn’t work like that and you know it! You’re biased. Not everyone is going to like me just because you do,” Lynn said.
She glanced around her apartment and sighed. The walls were filled with floral pictures, the furniture was mismatched, but it felt like home. The only place she had left to call home, anyways. Jessica was perched on the window seat next to her, her blonde hair glimmering in the moonlight.
“You’re amazing. You’re perfect, he’s gonna fall in love with you immediately.”
“I’m not ready for that. Besides, if he were interested I would have heard from him by now. We’re friends on Facebook, remember?”
Jessica scoffed and shook her head, her signature smile back in place.
“You have to put yourself out there! Your car needs a little tune up, right? Why don’t you visit him at the garage and get your foot in the door?”
Her new car did need an oil change, and Lynn supposed that wasn’t the worst idea in the world…
“I don’t know. What if he thinks I’m hideous? What if he thinks I’m weird? The stuff with Jake is still so fresh- “
Jessica leaned forward and placed a hand on Lynn’s thigh.
“Hey, don’t do that. You’re not hideous, you’re gorgeous, and any man including my brother, would be lucky to have you. You’re so rare in this generation. There aren’t a lot of women out there like you. Same with him, babe. He’s a rare breed. Just go, meet him, and I guarantee you, you’ll see what I’m talking about.”
Lynn took a deep breath and sipped from her wineglass.The idea of letting another man, including Jessica’s brother, close to her…
It was terrifying. Never mind the fact that her late husband had cheated on her and basically attempted to throw her away like an old newspaper, but he’d just…disappeared. Up and moved away with his girlfriend like their life together had never happened. Apart from the finalization of their divorce, she hadn’t heard from him or seen him.
There would never be any resolution for the situation. There would never be any apologies, no forgiveness. She wouldn’t ever be able to actively forgive Jake with the knowledge that he accepted her forgiveness, or even wanted it.
And, yeah, she’d seen a picture of Jessica’s brother. She’d seen many.
He was beautiful.
Every time she saw a picture of him she felt a flutter deep in her belly that went against anything and everything she was actively searching for. It felt bigger than some random ‘blind meeting,’ arranged (without his knowledge, of course) by one of her closest friends.
It felt…
Different.
Lynn didn’t know how well she could handle different, or big, or anything even remotely resembling what she actually wanted. She’d learned the hard way to keep low expectations because much like she’d learned with Jake, you’ll never actually get what you give. She’d given him everything- he’d given her away. So, in reality, would it even be worth it?
“Jessica, I don’t know.”
She smiled cheekily.
“I do. You won’t regret it. Mondays and Fridays are his busiest days at the shop, so don’t expect for him to be able to see you right away. Still, wouldn’t hurt to message him tomorrow morning and see when you can stop by.”
Lynn sighed and sipped from her glass again.
“I don’t have a lot to offer anymore. I have a lot of pieces and a lot of edges and I don’t know how well any of them really fit together anymore. Why would you want that for someone you care about?”
Jessica looked at her glass before she gently nodded her blonde head.
“Maybe your pieces will fit together with his, and maybe they won’t. Maybe it’ll work out, and maybe it won’t. I have a feeling that it will though, and I think deep down, you do, too.”
Lynn shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
She’d been saying that a lot lately, and she knew she was beginning to sound like a broken record. Jessica narrowed her gaze skeptically.
“Are you sure? Because, I don’t think it’s him that you’re afraid of.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re loyal to a fault. If you choose someone, you choose them. Are you sure you aren’t just scared of choosing another someone who won’t choose you back?” Jessica had always been astute.
And, kind, and sweet, and the most supportive person Lynn could call a friend.
“You’re right, of course.”
“I know I am, and it’s okay to be scared. But, I think everything happens for a reason. You know he hasn’t had it easy when it comes to love, either. You just have to trust me. You two are perfect for each other, I’m telling you.”
Lynn slowly shook her head and sat back, phone in hand.
What could one little-bitty message hurt?
“Okay, I’ll do it. But, I’m not making any promises! What man in his right mind would want someone two times divorced with nothing to show for it?”
“He’s made mistakes just like you, babe. Remember that. Don’t be so hard on yourself, you’re only human.”
Lynn knew her friend was right. She knew there was no harm in trying to move on.
“What if he ghosts me? I just went through that fling with-,” Jessica stopped her with a shake of her head.
“Message him. See where it goes. I have a good feeling about this, and you should trust your gut. You know it’s always right.”
Lynn did know that, and she supposed there was no harm in at least conversing with the man. Of course, he was clueless to the vehement match-making being done by his sister, but Lynn knew that Jessica only had the best of intentions. She always did.
“Okay, you win. I’ll do it.”
Jessica squealed and clapped her hands together, followed by a quick snap of her fingers.
“He’s gonna love you, girl.”
He’d be out of his mind to love someone like me.