Page 29 of Merry with a Single Dad

“I’m not good at dating. You know me. I enjoy the noncommittal night or two of fun.”

“That’s a big, fat lie, and you know it.”

Cassie shrugged. “I can’t even remember the last time I went on a date.”

“I do. It was with that guy you met at the gym.”

“Oh, lord. Yeah, and look how that turned out.”

Micky placed two fresh glasses of wine in front of us. “So, can I have Chris give him your number?”

“Let me think about it,” she said.

I groaned, rolling my eyes.

“I’m not saying no. But?—”

“What are you so scared of?”

“Turning into you,” she teased. “A big pile of mushy love.”

“It’s like being a teenager all over again,” I said. “I can’t believe I fell so hard, so fast.”

“Yeah, it’s like a case of the body snatchers.”

“I remember when I was young, thinking that because I came from screwed-up parents, I was doomed to be broken forever. Grandma knew this and constantly tried to reassure me that even though some families aren’t perfect, life can be full of love. It just depends on who you surround yourself with. That’s why she always did everything she could to show me love and be there for me. When I lost her, I thought I’d never feel that again. Then I moved here and met you.”

“Em,” Cassie said.

I shook my head. “And meeting you, becoming friends with you and becoming part of your family, your parents . . . well, I found that kind of love again. Fast forward to Chris and Hudson. All of you have taught me that you can build a family—a life—and that family doesn’t have to be blood. They just have to be people who make you feel special. Real love comes from the people you choose to fill your life with.”

Cassie’s eyes brimmed with tears.

“I love you so fucking much,” she said, snatching a napkin up to dab her eyes. “And right now, I hate you for making me cry.”

How silly we must have seemed to anyone who was watching us.

When she grabbed me in a fierce hug, I laughed again.

“I love you too,” I said.

“How much?”

“So fucking much.”

She gave me an extra squeeze and said, “Damn right.”

By the time we received our third glass of wine and our greasy appetizers, we were giddy and vibrating with the particular kind of warmth that our favorite red wine always provided.

Carefully segueing my way back around to the topic of Mike, Cassie wasn’t as apathetic as before.

Her protective barrier was slowly breaking open.

“Can two people really be soulmates?” she asked, her eyes glittering with drunken sincerity. She cut me off as I started to answer, waving her hand in front of my face, “I mean, sure, it would be great if it were true. Right? How awesome would it be to have someone out there waiting for us?”

“I think Chris could be mine,” I said.

“Right!” She slapped my thigh. “You’re absolutely right. He was waiting for you. You were waiting for him. I’m just not sure I believe it. For me, I mean.” She took a deep breath and held it briefly before exhaling with a flourish. “You’re lucky, Em.”

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