Page 15 of The Dating Pact

Brooke

You’re a dude, and I need a dude’s opinion on the best first-impression outfit.

I’m pretty sure anything but your overalls will do.

She sent me a bunch of shocked-face emojis.

Brooke

I thought you liked my overalls.

I do, but dudes won’t.

Brooke

Fair point. See you at 6 tomorrow!

Suddenly feeling anxious, I paced the room, flipping my cell phone over and over in my palm, needing to move, rid myself of the unusual tightness in my chest. I completed three laps before thumbing to the dating app, scrolling to Natalie’s message. Hey! How are you?

If Brooke could do it, I could too.

I rubbed the tips of my fingers together, as if that would spark something, then typed out a reply. I’m good. How are you doing?

She replied immediately. I’m good! Happy it’s finally Friday tomorrow. Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

Fun plans? My weekends were usually playing referee for my kids, eating junk food, and falling asleep during some movie Seb or Lulu put on.

Not much going on here, I responded. What about you?

I completed another lap. This wasn’t so bad. Having a regular conversation. No big deal.

I was thinking about going to a winery with some friends.

I tapped out a reply before I’d even really thought about it. That’s cool. I’m not really a wine guy. I like beer.

I froze and choked out a huff, lifting my attention to the window in front of me, my eyes unseeing as the words of my message hit me. “That’s cool?” I repeated, frowning at the wall. “I like beer?”

Had I always been so awkward?

“Dad!” Amelia called, and I shoved my cell phone into my pocket.

I’d have to get back to that mess later.

Or not at all.

SIX

JUDE

Iknocked on Brooke’s door and leaned against the jamb, waiting. When she didn’t answer right away, I pulled out my phone to text her that I was here and then opened the stupid app again. My conversation with Natalie had fizzled out, so I tried one with a girl named Michaela. After she’d asked me why I was on the app, I told her it was to find something casual, thinking it was best to be honest. So when she responded with the question What do you want? I answered Sex.

I supposed that was not the right thing to say because she’d never responded.

Brooke finally opened the door in a flurry. “Hey! Hi, sorry. I was naked and doing my hair, so I had to put clothes on and?—”

“Settle down, honeybee. It’s all right.”

She took a breath, her shoulders rising high. She puffed up her cheeks and blew it out, visibly relaxing. Then she smiled at me. “Hi.”

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