Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

Maja couldn't help but chuckle as she hooked her arm through his and they headed for the car.

As long as Abner and Shirley hit it off, her matchmaking wouldn't have been in vain.

Upstairs.

After lan's teasing remark, Abner had straightened up in his seat.

He glanced at the barely touched dishes in front of them and picked up a rib with the nearby cutlery, placing it onto Shirley's plate.

Shirley had planned to linger, but her phone chose that moment to buzz. It was her mother calling.

She pressed the answer button with a hint of resignation in her voice.

"Mom, I really got held up with work at school, I didn't stand him up on purpose. I know, okay, I'll meet him in an hour."

Ending the call, she stood up.

"Abner, how long do you plan to stick around Greenfield? I have a training out of town for the next few days. Next tyou're in

Greenfield, can we grab a meal together?"

Her mother had set her up on a blind date, and she couldn't bail on the arrangement.

Abner also got to his feet. "Letwalk you out."

"I drove here."

"So, can you givea lift?"

Shirley was speechless.

Eventually, they both climbed into the car.

Shirley took the driver's seat, punched in the hotel's address into the GPS, and realized that it was only a mile from her place.

Was he really so close and never thought to call her?

lowered her lashes, hiding the flicker

topics in his head but couldn't seem

them.

where did you

had left right after finishing his exams, and she had no

tried to find him, but that first

"In North America."

year ago, right? Thought about

Shirley's eyes, Abner was still that quiet, awkward boy, and she couldn't imagine the dangerous games he

scenes.

"Haven't thought about it."

face as she drove. "Remember when you found out I wanted to be a teacher, you said you'd

too."

the distant past, something he probably

it. lan mentioned you've got someone you fancy. Is it

had a sudden

Shirley

immediately exit. He dawdled for three whole minutes before saying, "I think I

phone on the

provided

day and age, you

concerned. "Let's head back and

a U-turn and

a crossroads, Shirley suddenly

remember this place? It's where I took you for your first

buy you a cake. I freaked out when I couldn't find you at home, worried you'd met with trouble. Then

you were standing in his shop

his gaze drifting to the store, his

"Yeah, I remember."

thinking, standing there not saying a word? They thought

her eyes

watched her from the corner of his eye, noting her hands on

both teachers, and she grew up pampered as

there was a tshe suffered, it was probably during those years