Chapter 4

FOUR

Ginger

It’s been three days since I left my secret admirer the note, and still nothing.

I keep checking my car, mailbox, under my welcome mat and everywhere else that I can think about. I know that I’m driving my sisters crazy by looking all over their businesses every morning, every afternoon, even late at night after work, hoping—no, praying —that there will be something waiting for me. Another letter. A sign. Anything. But there’s been nothing.

The note I left is gone, so I know he got it. He must’ve read it. He had to have seen that I asked to meet, and still nothing.

The silence has been deafening.

I don’t know what I expected. Maybe I thought he’d be excited, that he’d jump at the chance to finally come out of the shadows and show me who he is, but that doesn’t really make sense with the whole anonymous letter thing that he’s been doing. I guess I had just hoped that he would want to meet face-to-face, to talk about all of this.

Instead, all I’m left with is doubt and frustration, wondering if I crossed some invisible line. Did I scare him off? Was it too much too soon? Or maybe he’s not the person I imagined him to be. Maybe he doesn’t want to meet at all.

That thought makes my chest tighten, and I hate it. I hate how much I’ve let myself get attached to a man I’ve never even met, how much I’ve invested in the words of a stranger. But I can’t help it. Every letter he’s written feels like a piece of him, and I’ve been falling in love with those pieces for months now.

I can’t just let it go. Not yet.

With a determined breath, I grab a pen and a sheet of paper from behind the counter of Wet and Wild, my sister Maple’s adult toy store. I was here covering for her while she went out to lunch with her boyfriend, Ryder. She just got back, though, so I know that I’ll be headed out soon. Maple is in the back, working on some inventory, and I’m thankful for the moment of privacy. I scribble down the words quickly, not letting myself overthink it.

Meet me. I’m not waiting any longer. I need to know who you are.

I stare at the note for a long moment, my fingers tightening around the edges of the paper. This is it—my last attempt, my last push. If he doesn’t reply after this, I’ll have to let it go. I’ll have to accept that maybe I’m just chasing a fantasy, a ghost.

But I need to try.

I fold the note carefully, slipping it into my bag. I’ll leave it on my car after work, just like I did the last time, and hope that this time, he’ll be brave enough to answer.

When I head into the back room, Maple looks up from her computer, raising an eyebrow as I approach.

“You okay? You’ve been kind of... off today.”

I force a smile, though it feels weak, like I can’t quite muster the energy to fake it. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... thinking about stuff.”

She narrows her eyes, clearly not buying it. “Is this about your secret admirer again?”

I sigh, leaning against the counter as I cross my arms. “Yeah. I left him a note a few days ago, asking him to meet me, but I haven’t heard anything. I’m starting to think I messed up.”

Maple frowns, setting aside the stack of lingerie she was organizing. “Why would you think that? Maybe he’s just nervous.”

“Or maybe he doesn’t want to meet me,” I say, the bitterness creeping into my voice. “Maybe he’s been having fun with the mystery and doesn’t actually want anything more.”

My sister gives me a sympathetic look, but before she can say anything, the bell over the door jingles, and Cora walks in, her face lighting up when she spots me.

“Ginger! I’ve been looking for you all afternoon,” she says, bounding over to the counter with a grin. “Got time for a coffee break?”

I glance over at Maple, who waves me off with a smile. “Go ahead. I’ve got it covered from here. Thanks for helping out today.”

“Anytime.”

With a sigh of relief, I grab my coat and bag, following Cora out of the sex shop. The crisp winter air bites at my cheeks, and for a moment, the cold wakes me up, shaking off some of the frustration I’ve been carrying around all day.

Cora nudges me as we walk. “So, what’s the latest with your mystery man?”

I groan, pulling the folded note from my bag and waving it in front of her. “Still nothing. I’m leaving him another note today, basically demanding that he meet me in person. I’m tired of waiting.”

Cora’s eyes widen in surprise, and then she grins. “Good for you! It’s about time you took charge.”

“Yeah, well, if this doesn’t work, I don’t know what will. I’ve been falling for this guy, Cora, and I don’t even know who he is. It’s ridiculous.”

She gives me a sympathetic look as we walk into the coffee shop, the smell of roasted beans and cinnamon immediately wrapping around us. We order our usual drinks and settle into a booth by the window, the snow lightly falling outside as people bustle around the square, decorating for the holiday festival.

“Have you thought about, you know, putting yourself out there?” Cora asks, her tone gentle but probing.

“What do you mean?” I ask, sipping my coffee.

“I mean, maybe it’s time to meet someone, Ginger. In person. Secret admirers are fun and romantic, but they’re not exactly... real. You don’t even know if this guy is who you think he is.”

I frown, swirling my coffee in its cup. “You think I should just... move on? Start dating other people?”

Cora shrugs. “Maybe. Look, you’ve been waiting for months, and you’re still waiting. What if he never shows up? You deserve to be happy, and you deserve someone who’s willing to put themselves out there for you.”

I know she’s right. As much as I want to believe that my mystery man will come forward, there’s no guarantee. And I can’t keep putting my life on hold for someone who might never appear.

“I don’t know,” I say, leaning back in my seat. “It feels weird, starting over, dating someone new when I’m still hung up on this.”

Cora grins, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “You know what you need? A little liquid courage.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Oh no. I know where this is going.”

But Cora is already up, pulling me out of the booth. “Come on. We’re going to your place, and we’re going to have some fun. You need to loosen up a bit, Ginger. Trust me.”

I groan, but I don’t resist. Maybe she’s right. Maybe a night of letting loose is exactly what I need to get out of my own head.

Two hours and a bottle of wine later, Cora and I are sprawled out on my couch, giggling like schoolgirls as we scroll through dating profiles on my laptop.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” I say, covering my face with my hands as Cora types furiously on the keyboard.

“You need to put yourself out there,” she says, laughing as she adds another detail to my profile. That’s been her mantra tonight. I swear that she’s told me the same thing a dozen times in the last two hours, and she just keeps repeating it as she gets even more drunk.

I groan, but I can’t help but laugh along with her. I’m definitely tipsy, my head buzzing pleasantly from the wine, and for the first time in days, I’m not thinking about my mystery man. I’m not obsessing over the letters or the lack of a response. Instead, I’m just... here, in the moment, laughing with my best friend.

“Okay, let’s see,” Cora says, reading off the screen. “Loves Christmas, works at a bookstore, a bakery, and an adult toy store, terrible at dating—check, check, and check.”

I snort, rolling my eyes. “Thanks for that glowing endorsement. I’ll have guys hitting me up left and right with that bio!”

Cora grins, setting the laptop down on the coffee table. “It will work and you’ll thank me later. Besides, if this doesn’t work out, we’ll just delete it. No harm, no foul.”

I sigh, leaning back against the cushions, feeling a little lighter than I have in days. “I guess you’re right. Maybe this is what I need.”

“Exactly,” Cora says, her voice slurring slightly as she grabs her glass. “Now, let’s just relax and let the magic happen.”

I smile, closing my eyes as the warmth of the wine settles over me, making my limbs heavy and my mind foggy. Cora leans her head on my shoulder, and before I know it, the sounds of the world start to fade away, and I’m drifting off to sleep.

When I wake up the next morning, my head throbs, and the first thing I see is Cora sprawled out on the floor, snoring softly. The empty bottle of wine sits on the coffee table, and my laptop is still open to my brand-new dating profile.

I groan, rubbing my temples as I sit up, the events of last night slowly coming back to me. I glance at the clock and realize I’m late to help Olive out at the bakery—really late.

Shit.

I scramble off the couch, nudging Cora with my foot as I try to gather my bearings. “Cora, wake up. We overslept.”

She groans, burying her face in the couch cushions. “Five more minutes...”

I laugh despite the pounding in my head, and as I rush to get ready for the day, I can’t help but feel nervous. I’m not ready to try online dating, not when I’m still so hung up on my secret admirer.

What other choice do I have, though? If he won’t meet me, then I need to try something else. Who knows, maybe putting myself out there won’t be such a bad idea after all.