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?

hiding

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

them.

where did you

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

him, but that first year, he had

"In North America."

graduated a year ago, right? Thought about working back

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

scenes.

"Haven't thought about it."

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

too."

much about the distant past, something he probably didn't

got someone

had a sudden urge to

respond, and Shirley wisely let the

and Abner didn't immediately exit. He dawdled

phone on

inadvertently provided him with the

this day and age, you were helpless without

"Let's head back

a

crossroads, Shirley suddenly

remember this place? It's where I took you for your first birthday with me. I cback from school late and forgot

to buy you a cake. I freaked out when I couldn't find you at

you were standing in his shop refusing

the store, his lips pressed

"Yeah, I remember."

saying a word? They

chuckled, her eyes crinkling with

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

grew up pampered as an only child, never wanting for

tshe suffered, it