The Dress Fitting He Promised I Would Not Attend Chapter 08

The Dress Fitting He Promised I Would Not Attend Chapter 08

I started working on the joint project with Daniel’s company shortly after.

Daniel moved his office to the space right next to mine.

During lunch one day, something occurred to me.

“Hey, remember the call you picked up for me the day after I got here? Who was it?”

Daniel thought for a moment. “Oh. They hung up when I answered. I figured it was a wrong number, so I didn’t mention it.”

I nodded. That made sense. All my friends from back home were saved in my contacts.

“Claire, you have tomorrow off. Anywhere you want to go?”

I could tell Daniel had feelings for me. He hadn’t been subtle.

“Daniel, I know you… but I just got out of something serious. My head’s still a mess. I don’t want to use you to get over him. That wouldn’t be fair to you.”

People always said the best way to get over someone was to find someone new.

I didn’t believe that.

You can’t let a new person in until you’ve cleared out the old one.

He smiled, warm and easy.

“You haven’t changed at all, still putting everyone else first.”

I felt my cheeks flush.

When I was little and visited my grandmother with my mom, he was my best friend at her place.

Then his family moved to Canada when he started college.

We hadn’t seen each other since.

Ten years had passed. All we knew about each other came from memories of being young and stupid.

Jumping into something serious would be irresponsible.

“Sorry. I don’t really know how to say this right.”

He nodded. He understood.

“Don’t apologize. I get it. No pressure. We’re still business partners. And old friends. We’ll take it slow. Claire, when it comes to you, I have all the patience in the world.”

At home, eating my mom’s cooking, I felt like this was as good as life got.

“So, how are things going with Daniel?”

I was too busy eating to think about it. “Fine. He helps me with anything I don’t understand. Don’t worry about the project.”

My mom sighed. “I’m not asking about work.”

I looked up at her then. Blinked.

“Do you know why he left the country back then?”

I was confused. “Didn’t his parents want to move here?”

My mom got that look people have when they’re reminiscing.

“He left because he heard you were already engaged to the Whitmore boy. He was heartbroken. So he decided to study abroad. His parents were so worried about him that they just moved the whole family.”

She sighed again.

“He’s a good kid. All these years, he knew you were happy with the Whitmore boy, so he never bothered you. When he wanted to know how you were doing, he asked his mother to ask me.”

I put down my fork. I couldn’t process it.

Daniel had always loved me?

I never noticed.

Maybe because my eyes were always on Ethan.

I never looked behind me.

My mom kept talking. “He’s been alone this whole time. You should have seen him when he heard you ended the engagement. He was over the moon.”

“But he made us promise not to tell you. He said he didn’t want to pressure you. He wanted to let things happen naturally. He’s been like that since he was little, so thoughtful.”

So that was it.

The next time we saw each other, I felt awkward.

Then Grandpa Arthur called.

“Sweetheart, that idiot flew to Vancouver to find you. Ignore him. Let him come crawling back.”

I wasn’t surprised.

“I know. Grandpa, take care of yourself. I’ll come visit when I can.”

He said “good” about four times.