Page 12 of About Time

She sits up and slaps her hands together. “I have the perfect idea.”

I groan, but she ignores me. It’s never good when Mandy gets an idea.

“Let’s go on a double date!” she shrieks.

I’m nodding my head because Mandy’s schemes usually fall apart fast, so there’s no point in arguing with her. This time though, there’s one really big and obvious wrench in her plans.

“Did you forget neither of us is seeing anyone? Who are we going to double date with?” I ask her.

She taps her finger on her chin. “That does present a complication. Isn’t there anyone you’re interested in?”

Charlie instantly pops into my head. I picture his dark, wavy hair that he has to tie back to keep from flopping in his eyes while he’s fixing cars. I remember how his warm chocolate brown eyes felt like they were looking straight into my soul when he gave me his full attention the other day.

I shake my head because while I might want to flirt with Charlie, I certainly don’t want to tell anyone about it. This way I can try and fail without anyone ever knowing.

Mandy cocks her head to the side. “Who is it? When I asked if you were interested in anyone you got a funny look on your face. Is there someone?”

I start to wave her off, and she gets a pitying look on her face. My stomach tightens. Mandy wouldn’t judge me, but I don’t need her feeling bad for me because I have a hopeless crush on a man while I can’t even maintain the attention of a boy.

She playfully shoves my shoulder. “You hooker! Were you seeing someone while you were in Florida? Why didn’t you tell me?”

I open my mouth to set her straight and then close it. What is the harm in letting her believe I had someone back in Tampa? Instead of disputing her misconception, I nod my head.

“Well, then, we really need to find someone to go out with. Unless,” she pauses and looks at me with wide eyes. “Are you trying long distance? You know that never works.”

I shake my head. It’s one thing to have a fake ex-boyfriend, but I don’t think I can commit to a fake boyfriend.

Mandy bobs her head several times. “Okay, then it’s settled. We need to find dates.”

Donovan pulls himself out of the water and onto the dock. He stands over us and shakes himself off like a dog. “Do you really think you’re going to get Hattie to go out with a flesh and blood man? I’m pretty sure she prefers her men fictional.”

I shrug. “He’s not wrong.”

His face becomes more serious, and he turns his attention back to Mandy. “Why are you worried about finding dates? You’re both hot chicks, just let them find you.”

Mandy’s eyes narrow, and she props her hand on her hip. “Donovan Miller, I’ll have you know that it’s the nineties, and women can pursue men without it being weird.”

“Really? It’s the nineties? I didn’t know what decade it was. In that case, go ahead and chase till your heart’s content,” he quips back.

Silently, I gather my things and head to my car. When they start butting heads like that, they won’t stop until they’re forced to. Usually, that would be my job, but I’m not in the mood for it. Mandy and I drove here separately so I don’t have to stay to watch it.

A lot of people think it’s flirting, but I know better. They don’t hate each other, but they’re only friends because of me. I’d hoped while I was gone for the last year, they might have found some common ground outside of me, but I don’t think they spent any time together at all.

On my way to my car, I hear someone call my name, and I turn around. Liam Hale runs up to me wearing the same cocky grin I’ve seen on his dad, Griffin.

I smile down at him. “Is Wren with you? Uncle Charlie is boring and doesn’t know how to play.”

Bending down so I’m closer to his level, I mock whisper, “Well, he is pretty old. Maybe he forgot how.”

“Then you should join us because you’re practically still a kid yourself,” Charlie retorts.

Liam completely misses the fact that Charlie just insulted me and starts hopping up and down. “Yes! You should join us.”

Charlie smirks at me, knowing I can’t say anything back to him with an eleven-year-old hanging on every word. I paste on a bright smile and pull my cover-up off over my head.

It’s there and gone quickly, but I don’t miss the way Charlie’s eyes heat while he takes in my string bikini. When he sees me looking, he turns his head.

Inside my head, I’m listing all the reasons this is a bad idea. He’s ten years older than me and friends with my sister and brother-in-law. Then there’s the fact that while I am starting to see he could be attracted to me, it’s also not lost on me that he’ll hate himself if he were to ever act on it. Any of those reasons should stop me, but it doesn’t.

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