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 of disappointment

through several conversation topics

them.

where did you go to

exams, and she had no idea

to find him, but that first

"In North America."

a year ago, right? Thought about working back here in

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

scenes.

"Haven't thought about it."

up Shirley's face as she drove. "Remember when you found out I

too."

the distant past, something he

drop it. lan mentioned you've got someone

stiffened instantly, and he had

Shirley wisely let the

car pulled up to the hotel, and Abner didn't immediately exit. He dawdled for three whole minutes before saying, "I think I

on the

had inadvertently provided him

and age, you were helpless

concerned. "Let's head back and

car made a U-turn and

crossroads, Shirley suddenly

this place? It's where I took you for your first birthday with me. I cback from

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

were standing in

swallowed hard, his gaze drifting to the store, his lips pressed

"Yeah, I remember."

were you thinking, standing there not saying a

her eyes crinkling with

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

teachers, and she grew up

was a tshe suffered, it was probably during