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?

lashes, hiding the flicker of disappointment

seat, cycled through several conversation topics in his head but

them.

you go

left right after finishing his exams, and

him, but that first

"In North America."

right? Thought about working back here in

and she couldn't imagine the dangerous games

scenes.

"Haven't thought about it."

you found out I wanted to be a teacher, you said

too."

the distant past, something he probably didn't recall, she

it. lan mentioned you've got someone you

stiffened instantly, and he had a sudden urge

Shirley wisely let the

the hotel, and Abner didn't immediately exit.

phone on the

seemed, had inadvertently provided him

day and age, you were helpless

head back and look

a U-turn

a crossroads, Shirley suddenly

I took you for your first birthday with

find you at home,

in his shop refusing

hard, his gaze drifting to the store, his lips pressed into a thin

"Yeah, I remember."

thinking, standing there not saying a

her eyes crinkling with

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

up pampered as

it was