Page 53 of The Perfect Love

It’s exhilarating and a little terrifying all at once, but I like it.

As I’m closing out of the message, I see a text from Trevor from earlier this morning that I must’ve missed. It’s a response to theone I sent him last night about our date and being excited for another.

Trevor: I’m already looking forward to it.

Another date. One I want to plan this time. Even if nothing can beat the epicness of our first date, I want to do something special for him. I think—way too long—about a reply, but decide not to send one. I don’t want to force a conversation. If I’m going to text him, I want it to have some kind of substance, whether it’s just fun or something more. But what I do is change his contact information toBook Boyfriend.

Cheesy.

So. Freaking. Cheesy.

But I don’t care. I’m going to let myself be all dopey and ridiculous because I haven’t felt this carefree in a long time.

I’m about to set my phone aside when another text comes through.

Unknown number: Hey, Chelsea. It’s Amanda. I got your number from Rae. I was wondering if maybe you wanted to meet up for coffee today? Get to know each other better? Let me know.

I quickly add her as a contact, then reread the text. Amazing date yesterday and now a new friend date today?

I glance at my plate of food. Robbie conveniently didn’t make coffee. It would be perfect. And I’d like to get to know Amanda better. Even if she might be asking only to get the details about my date with Trevor. Maybe she wants to know if I’ll stick around. It should still be fun, though. And I’ll never turn down coffee.

Me: Sure. Sounds fun. Want to meet at Buzzing Brews in like an hour?

Amanda: Sounds great! See you then!

One week. I’ve been in Old Lake Town for a week and more good things than I could’ve expected have come my way.

Maybe, just maybe, karma really is on my side, and she’s finally getting the universe to pay up.

The bell above the door chimes as I walk into Buzzing Brews and smile like a fool at the heavenly scent of coffee. So much coffee. They roast their own beans here, and it makes it taste that much better.

I’m debating whether to grab a table or order at the counter when the door chimes again, and I turn to see Amanda walking toward me, a bright smile on her face, and her long, strawberry blonde hair swaying behind her.

“Hey, it’s good to see you.” She gives me a quick hug.

“You too. Thanks for suggesting this.”

We move toward the counter.

“Of course. I know Rae will just walk up to people and decide they’re friends—and I love her for it—but it’s never come as easily to me. I’m glad you said yes.”

“I’m looking forward to creating new friendships too.”

We order our drinks and small talk for a few minutes. Like the rest of their crew, Amanda seems genuine, but the timing still has me thinking she asked me here for the gossip about my date. Not that I’m against gushing about Trevor. His friends would probably appreciate it more than Robbie would.

We take a table by the window that looks out over the edge of town and toward the lake in the distance, Amanda telling me about how she met Rae and the girls—and everyone else by extension—and how it’s been living at the lake house with them so far.

Once a waitress brings our drinks, she’s quiet for a moment, inhaling the scent of her coffee and gazing out the window.

Should I start another conversation? Or maybe get the one she’s interested in out of the way?

I clear my throat and take a deep breath. “So aren’t you going to ask?”

Her gaze drifts back to me. “Ask what?”

“How my date with Trevor went. Isn’t that why you asked me here?”

She scrunches her face. “I didn’t ask you here because you went out with Trevor. Well, okay, that’s why I thought of texting you. Not the date exactly, but how you reacted the other night… it had the mama bear part of me concerned. Trevor talking about the date again made me think of that and I wondered if you’re okay. I’m not here to get information from you. I’m here to build a friendship with you.”

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