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Carly sat on the bench facing the water. Anxious, she fiddled with her fingers and bit her nail from time to time. The last time Carly brought her nail to her teeth, she pulled it away almost a little too violently. Stop it! she scolded herself.
She’d been waiting for this moment. But this time, it was to end it. She wanted to face the person behind NYJedi and tell him that she didn’t want to do it anymore. Do what, exactly? Carly challenged the voice inside her head. This! All this nonsense.
Carly looked around. NYJedi could be just about anyone in the park. She shook her head, annoyed by the reality of what she’d done. He could be anyone—anyone! As if she hadn’t seen enough horror movies to scare the living daylights out of her, she’d gone and fallen in love with some stranger on the internet. But was it really love? Carly knew her own self-destructive ways all too well. And what about Mick? Sweet, handsome Mick. Carly sighed and turned around. Wait, she thought. Is that...?
“Mick?” Carly stood up. “What are you doing here?”
Mick stood in place, equally surprised at seeing her. Dressed casually in navy blue chinos and a crisp white polo shirt, he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked towards her.
“That’s so weird. I was just thinking about you.” Carly waited for him to approach, but a thought came to her. She couldn’t have him there with her while waiting for NYJedi. Carly quickly checked her phone to see if there were any messages. None.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Mick said.
Carly clutched her phone and crossed her arms over her chest. “I, uhm—I’m meeting him today. NYJedi.”
“I know.”
“Did I tell you?”
Mick ran his fingers through his hair. “No.”
Carly shook her head. “What are you doing here?” It wasn’t as if she owned the park. Of course he had every right to be there. But did it have to be the same exact time that she was meeting NYJedi?
“You told me to come and meet you.” Mick was now standing in front of her. Next to her. Towering over her.
“Did I? No, I’m sure I didn’t. You must be mistaken.”
“Carly...” Mick’s eyes were soft, almost apologetic.
“What’s going on?”
“I didn’t want it to be this way,” Mick said.
“I don’t understand. What do you mean? Are you leaving?” Life had a cruel way of pushing her back down when things were going well. Carly was all too used to the game.
Mick took her hands in his. “It’s me.”
“What?” Carly felt disoriented. “No—”
“I am,” Mick said.
“You’re what?”
“I’m NYJedi.”
It hit Carly like a ton of bricks. Like a punch to the guts. “But—it can’t be.” Her eyes began to well up with tears. It was all coming to her now. Mick wasn’t in Willow Oaks on business.
* * *
IT HURT MICK TO SEE Carly’s reaction change from realization to shock, hurt, and betrayal—something he knew a lot about. Much more than he’d ever wanted to in a lifetime. “Please don’t cry.” Mick wiped her tears with his thumb.
“I don’t understand.” Carly’s brows met and formed a deep crease on her forehead. “What do you mean you’re... how?”
“The first time we were supposed to meet—”
“Is that why you’re here? In town?” The tears were flowing now.
He nodded. Mick couldn’t read if she was angry. Hurt, definitely. Relief? No, he couldn’t see that in her face.
“Then why—why didn’t you tell me?”
Mick reached for her, but Carly pulled away.
“Is this your idea of a sick joke?” Carly looked around as if looking for a clue. “Because it isn’t funny.”
But it wasn’t a clue she was looking for. Mick knew she was looking for NYJedi. He needed to convince her that he was NYJedi. “Carly—I know that you like your steak well done.”
Carly’s eyes rounded. “Everyone knows that,” she blurted.
“I know that you don’t like pork.”
“That doesn’t prove anything.” Carly picked up her purse and started to walk away.
Mick needed to dig more. Deeper. “You love to paint,” he called out to her.
Carly stopped.
“You love to paint and no one knows that you do,” he added. “Landscapes, objects, people. You love to paint people.”
Carly turned right back around and faced him.
“You’re tired. Tired of trying to please people all the time,” he continued. He took a step forward, towards Carly. “And I agree. Always trying to please others is exhausting.”
“Don’t.”
Mick slowed. He wanted to reach for her and hold her. Tell her that everything was going to be okay. “Your parents—they have a perfect marriage. Your sisters, too. And you want the same. You think that you’re the black sheep of the family.”
Carly looked away.
“There’s nothing wrong with you,”—Mick paused—“Willow Girl.” He had given her five pet names when they were online. Sweet one, Buttercup, Bunny, Cupcake, and Willow Girl.
Carly met his gaze.
“You’re perfect, just as you are.” Mick took another step forward. “I’m sorry, Carly. I never meant to hurt you.”