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?

her lashes, hiding

sitting in the passenger seat, cycled through several conversation topics in his head but couldn't

them.

where did you go to

finishing his exams, and she had

had tried to find him, but that

"In North America."

right? Thought

awkward boy, and she couldn't imagine the dangerous

scenes.

"Haven't thought about it."

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

too."

too much about the distant past, something he probably didn't recall, she changed the

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

stiffened instantly, and he had a sudden urge to throttle

didn't respond, and Shirley wisely let the

immediately exit. He dawdled for three

on the

had inadvertently provided him with

age, you were helpless without

immediately concerned. "Let's head

made a

a crossroads, Shirley

you for your first birthday with me. I cback from

find you at home, worried

in his shop

gaze drifting to the store, his lips pressed

"Yeah, I remember."

were you thinking, standing there not saying

chuckled, her eyes crinkling with

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

teachers, and she grew up pampered as an only child, never

suffered, it was probably