Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right

Lindey was taken aback, but then she softened into a warm, knowing smile.

“What are you saying? You can’t just swear off men because of Jace. Yeah, there are some duds out. there, but trust me, there’s still plenty of good fish in the sea,” Lindey said with her usual humor, still cracking jokes like she was half her age.

Even in her fifties, she was as trendy and upbeat as ever.

I couldn’t help but smile too. “There are good men, but I’m just not in the At least, not yet. I need some time.”

right mindst for that right now

I said it to gently steer her away from whatever else she might be planning to suggest. Some things were better left unsaid–crossing that line could make things awkward real quick.

“Fair enough,” she replied, letting me breathe a little easier.

But then, she hit me with a curveball. “Just don’t wait too long. Rea. Finding a good boyfriend is like anything else–the best ones get snapped up fast.”

I laughed, and so did Lindey.

“You’re so beautiful, seriously. Anyone who ends up with you is insanely lucky–like they must’ve earned some major karma in a past life,” she said, making my heart race a little faster with anxiety.

But I wasn’t about to let her get to me. “You said it–I’m too good to settle for just anyone. Only the best guy deserves me, and until he shows up, I’m perfectly fine waiting.”

“Exactly,” Lindey nodded in approval. “Never settle. And definitely don’t… don’t let a little heartbreak push you into just picking someone to fill the void.”

Her words were a not–so–subtle reference to Hayden.

I responded just as directly, “I don’t do things on a whim. If I choose someone, it’s because he’s the best in my eyes.”

I needed Lindey to know that my choices are always thought through, even the one to walk away from Jace. Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

Lindey studied my face, but stayed quiet.

She’d known me for a decade; she’d practically watched me grow up. She understood how I tick.

“That’s good,” Lindey finally said, ending the conversation.

I kept eating in silence. Just as I was about to finish, Lindey suddenly asked, “Did you visit your parents‘ hometown a few days ago?”

I looked up at her.

“Jace told me,” Lindey explained. “He’s still worried about you.”

She smiled softly after saying that. “Even if you two aren’t meant to be together, you did grow up together. We’ve all been family for a long time.”

#25 BONUS

“Mm,” I murmured quietly.

“What made you decide to go back to your parents‘ hometown? I remember them saying they sold the house when they moved to Seavora, and that there weren’t any relatives left there,” Lindey asked, her voice cautious.

I paused for a few seconds, letting the silence hang in the air before I finally answered, “My dad always talked about that place when he was alive. He wanted to take me back there someday. I went to fulfill wish and to see where I was born.” I didn’t hold anything back from Lindey.

It was the truth, and there was nothing to hide.

“And did you find anything while you were there?” Lindey asked.

For some reason, the first thing that flashed through my mind was Hayden, followed by the courtyard and Macy.

“Everything’s changed,” I said.

I didn’t want to dive into the details–those were mine, and they had nothing to do with Lindey.

“It’s true, twenty–something years is a long time, Lindey sighed.

My parents brought me to Seavora when I was so little that I barely remembered anything about Chiverton. It really had been a long time.

“If you go anywhere in the future, just let us know. We were really worried about you,” Lindey added with a note of concern,

“I’m sorry, Lindey. That was my fault,” I apologized.

“Silly girl, it’s not your fault. It’s…” She trailed off, but I got the message.

Lindey stayed with me until I finished eating. When I told her I needed to get back to work, she finally left, but not before reminding me, like a hundred times, to come home once I was done. She also made sure to say that the Johnston residence would always be my home.