Page 12 of The Valentine's Bet

“Oof, yeah, maybe don’t take him,” Mia chirps. “Maybe you could find a lady who likes jazz? That would be like your soulmate.”

I roll my eyes. “So, we’re back on this now, I see.”

“No.” She giggles. “We’re not. I’m just saying that maybe if you found someone who was interested in jazz, then you could go to concerts with them.”

John purses his lips. “I disagree. I think he needs to find someone who’s thetotalopposite of himself. Whatever the opposite of jazz is needs to be what his soulmate likes. Parker needs that kind of balance in his life.”

“Mmm, sure.” Mia nods. “Maybe you’re right, but she needs to be the kind of girl who’s at least happy to support his love of jazz by going to concerts with him.”

“Agreed.” John looks at her with a grin. “Great minds.”

“Think alike.” She winks at him.

Vomit. Vomit. Vomit.

“Anyway,” Weston interjects, giving them both a look. “You’ll both be happy to know that when I filled out the application for the blind-dating event tomorrow night, I wrote down that Parker likes jazz music. So maybe he’ll get matched with someone who also likes jazz music.”

“Oh, perfect!” Mia giggles. “I hope you findthe oneat one of these shindigs, Parker. I really do. I think it’d lighten you up a little. Just because your history is explosive with heartache doesn’t mean your future has to be.”

“And that’s why you’re a family counselor and I’m not,” I say, blocking out the advice. I’ve seen the devastating effects of badrelationships firsthand, which is exactly why I keep my distance from them.

I’m quite self-aware.

I know I have issues...

I also know how to avoid getting hurt.

“Well, we better get going.” Mia looks at John. “I’ve gotta be at work early in the morning.”

“I know, I know,” he says. “You never let me forget when you have an early shift at the hospital. I don’t want to keep you from your beauty sleep.”

“Thank you.” She beams, pushing back from the table. “You two have a good night.”

“Night, fellas,” John says, patting my shoulder as they walk around the other side of the table and head toward the door.

“Night,” Weston and I call back to them.

My best friend then turns to me, a grin on his face. “Tomorrow night will be fun. I guarantee it.”

I grimace. “We’ll see about that.”

Chapter Five

Amy

“So,fourmen andthirtyminutes with each one?” Eliza clarifies, flashing me a wicked grin. “That sounds like fun.”

I prop the phone up on the vanity in the bathroom so I can continue FaceTiming her while I finish getting ready. “It’ll be a little more in-depth than the five-minute speed-dating thing. Maybe it’ll give me a chance to connect with someone. Or at least see who I can really mesh with. Plus, I had to fill out a lot about my interests. Supposedly, they’re going to match us accordingly.”

“Oh! That’s just perfect.” She beams, clapping her hands together. “I love that for you. I can’t wait to hear how it goes—and Iexpectyou to tell me this time,” Eliza adds with a serious look. “I’m not playing, Amy. You better tell me how it went.”

“Okay, okay,” I say sheepishly. “I was justsodisappointed last time—but like I already told you, my coworkers Zach and Nellie made me feel so much better about it.”

“Yeah, there’s always going to be a critic, no matter what it is.” Eliza gives me a reassuring smile. “I’m really excited for you, you know. You’re one of the best people I know, and you deserve your happily ever after.”

I blush. “Thanks, friend. You deserved your happily ever after, too, and honestly, I’msoglad it wasn’t with Devon.”

“Me, too.” She laughs, shaking her head. “Although, if it weren’t for him breaking up with me on the same day I lost my job, I may have never moved to West Falls and met Nick. So, I guess in some ways, I’m grateful for him.”

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