Page 28 of David's Chase

She studies me in silence.

“In the parking lot,” I say, not looking at her as she laughs, entertained.

“You crack me up.You met the parking valet in the parking lot.My brain is about to explode as I try to cope with the information overload.”

I gesture.

“It was a joke,” I say dismissively.

Her silence makes me move my focus to her. She pins an inquisitive stare on my face.

“You actually met this guy,” she says quietly.

“Yes, I did. But he was working, and I was… passing by. No, actually, I needed a cab, and he was nice enough to help me get one.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it,” I say, looking straight into her eyes. “I’m giving up on finding a man.”

“Why?”

Her voice is tinged with surprise.

“Why would you do that?”

“I want to focus on other stuff.”

“Like what…?”

I gesture at her.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s not about that. It’s that I got tired of dealing with bad things.”

She waves me off.

“Stop that. Tell me more about this guy. Did he like you?”

I think about Vale for a moment.

“Yes, he did. It was one of those things. Nice guy meets needy girl. Needy girl leaves. Mr. Nice Guy moves on.”

“If you say so.”

A noise comes from the door, and I shoot my eyes in that direction.

“What’s that?” she asks.

“I should probably get back to them. I’m here with Terry.”

“Okay. All right. Please keep me updated on your, um, parking valet.”

“If you keep me updated on your mystery man.”

She cracks a smile.

“There is no mystery man. And besides that, there isn’t much to say other than… My move here was probably a mistake.”

“Why?”

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