Page 12 of Before I Knew

“I remember that. It’s just all that had happened with a group chat. You usually have to add contacts.”

“Maybe he typed it in. Who knows. But I was in there, and all of the people sounded like they were joking around and they were a family who cared about each other. A real family with sarcasm as their love language.”

“And so the real family is why you’re going to go on this coffee date?”

I ran my hands down my dove-gray slacks, and immediately went to take them off, knowing I needed to wear something different. Maybe a skirt. Yes, a skirt would be good.

“Are you getting naked for me for a reason?” Isabella asked, and I flipped her off before putting my pants back on. “I was thinking about wearing a skirt, but then that seemed a little too forward.”

“You mean one of your A-line pencil skirts? No, that wouldn’t be too forward. And we’re going to be late and hit every ounce of rush hour if you don’t make a decision. You look gorgeous, Blakely. Live in it. Be in it.”

I held back a smile since she sounded like the trainer in the classicMiss Congeniality. “Thank you for coming over. I know you’re busy and you don’t have time to deal with my insecurities and the fact that I’m going on a blind date with a man I’m randomly texting about the weather and Avalanche games.”

“I still can’t believe he said he was a Penguins fan.” Isabella held up her hand. “It’s okay. We all have a thing for Crosby.”

I gave her a wry smile as I met her reflection in the mirror. “I’m sure there are other guys on the team you know.”

My best friend shrugged. “Well, I don’t really pay attention to them unless they are my team. It’s not like I have time.”

“You work more hours than I do.”

“Maybe. But it’s what I do. It’s life. Now, you look wonderful, for work, and for a simple coffee. I like Taboo. They have great sandwiches, and I go in for a different type of coffee every time. They seem to fit my moods. It’s a little creepy actually.”

“I’m going to a creepy coffee place to go meet a serial killer,” I blurted, and Isabella let out a deep breath, calming herself while I did the same. She knew I was on a downward spiral, and I needed to lift myself out of it if there was any way for me to make it through the day.

“You’ve been to Taboo. You like their coffee. You also like the look of the very hot tattoo artist next door.”

I bit my lip and inhaled before letting out a long breath. “That is true. And there’s a bookstore that I love nearby. In fact, I love that whole street. It’s like a little oasis in the middle of downtown. This is fine. It’s just coffee. It’s a public space.”

“Do you know his name?” she asked.

I froze, realizing that I didn’t. That seemed like a little oversight and yet I knew it was for a reason. Being strangers in a text chain was easier to lean into than knowing who this man was. However I was about to meet him. “I don’t. I don’t even know what he looks like. I’m just going to meet some guy holding a phone in a coffee shop. I could sit next to anyone. This is so unlike me.”

“Just Google his phone number and figure out who it is.” Isabella reached for my phone, and I snatched it back, feeling a little protective of it. When she raised her brows, I winced.

“I don’t know if I want to know.”

“What are you worried about? That he is married? Someone you know? A ninety-year-old man?”

I put my face in my hand and groaned. “This is ridiculous. I should just look up his number.”

“You should have done it weeks ago.”

However, I did what I should and typed the number into my search engine.

“Do you really have it memorized?” Isabelle asked and I tried to ignore the humor in her tone.

I didn’t look at her face, my cheeks burning. “We’ve been talking. It’s been nice. And I’ve been looking at the number instead of a name because I couldn’t add him to my contacts.”

Yet everything changed with a single page load on my browser. I shouldn’t have been surprised that the world was a little ironic. Because as soon as the page loaded, I stood in my room, mouth agape as Isabella sucked in a breath.

“Aston Cage?” I blurted, my voice going high-pitched. “Aston Cage. Of the Cage family?Cage Enterprises?”

“Your voice is getting a little high-pitched.”

My hands gripped my phone so tightly, my knuckles went white. “It should be. Aston Cage. I know this man.”

Isabella’s eyes shot up to mine. “You’ve met him before?”

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