Page 128 of Hard to Get

I watch Frank gambol across the turf chasing a ball that belongs to another dog. We haven’t been to this park for a while. First, my injured foot kept me from walking him. Then after the wedding, I left on a three-game road trip. We got back last night. Well, early this morning, like 3 a.m.

I let out a sigh and give my empty coffee cup a shake. I’ve been sitting here a long time. My coffee is done and my ass is frozen. Guess I should get Frank home. Although the cold doesn’t seem to bother him.

I’m about to stand when I see her. All the way across the park, I recognize her, even with a toque on her head and wearing a puffy jacket. She opens the double gates of the dog enclosure and enters with Betty. I see the moment she spots me. She goes still. Then she bends and takes off Betty’s leash.

Betty makes a beeline toward Frank and the doggy joy is touching. I can’t help but smile. They haven’t seen each other for a while. Betty then runs to me and jumps at my legs. I reach out and rub her head.

“Hey, pretty girl. How are you? Love the sweater.”

She’s wearing a pink cable-knit sweater with a turtleneck. Fucking adorable.

Betty and Frank start chasing each other around the park.

Stella walks up, holding Betty’s leash in both hands. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

She sits beside me on the bench.

We’re both silent.

Then she says, “Do you come here often?”

I don’t look at her, but my lips twitch into a smile. “I come here more often than you do with good lines.”

She laughs.

I turn to face her. Our eyes meet. Even in the dark, hers glow with a warmth that I remember from that day we met here. That deep, dark richness. “So you live in the neighbourhood.”

She nods, lips quirked.

“Me, too,” I say quietly, my eyes still fastened on her. “We have so much in common.”

Her eyes get all shiny like she’s going to cry. “We do.” Another few beats of silence pass. Then she adds, her voice trembling, “Are you okay?” She lifts her gloved hand to gently touch the bandage above my left eyebrow.

“Yeah. Stitched up.”

She gazes at me. “Good.” She swallows. “I miss you.”

I let those words sink into my brain. “I miss you, too.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“For being an idiot. For being confused.”

“You’ve never been confused a day in your life.”

“Maybe not. Until I met you.”

“Ah. And why did I confuse you?”

She wets her lips and rolls them together. Her gloved fingers tighten on the leash she holds. “Because I didn’t understand what was happening. Everything I thought I knew about my life was wrong.”

I shake my head. “No.”

“It was. Okay maybe not wrong. Fuck. I’m still confused.” She drops her head forward. “I’m sorry I freaked out when you told me you were falling for me.”