Page 9 of Ruined By the Hunk

I’m no good at this!

I haven’t been on a date in almost ten years and it ended with me crashing my car and swearing off men forever.

What do normal women do in these instances?

Before I can talk myself out of it, I dial Bridget’s number. She picks up on the second ring, her voice as bright as ever.

“Good morning!”

“Bridget, it’s Alice,” I say, a little too loud, my voice a mix of excitement and nerves. “I…think I might have a date tonight. With Hunter.”

There’s a pause on the other end. I’m about to repeat myself when Bridget squeals, so loudly I have to pull the phone away from my ear. “I knew it! I knew he was interested. Okay, what do we need to do? Clothes? Hair? Make-up?”

“All of it,” I say, letting out a half-laugh, half-groan. “I have no idea what I’m doing here.”

“Well, lucky for you, I have some ideas. And we should probably call Harper too,” she says, already sounding like she’s rifling through her closet for options.

“Harper?” I ask, unsure. I love Harper, she’s quickly become one of my best friends, but she’s also Hunter’s sister-in-law.

“Oh, definitely Harper,” Bridget insists, not giving me a chance to argue. “She’s known Hunter longer than any of us. She’ll know exactly how to calm your nerves.”

Within seconds, all three of us are video chatting and I find myself at the center of an odd strategy session.

“So,” Harper begins, her voice both excited and gentle, “Spill it. How are you feeling?”

“Nervous,” I admit, twisting a lock of hair around my finger. “I don’t know why he wants to go out with me.”

“Oh, Alice,” Harper says kindly. “Hunter’s a great guy, but he wouldn’t ask you out just to be kind. It’s because he sees something special in you.”

Bridget jumps in. “And you’re fun and beautiful. We just need to get you out of your own way.”

A tiny spark of confidence flares up at their words, though doubt still lingers. “I mean, he does make me feel…different,” I say quietly. “Like I’m not just some ordinary girl to him.”

Harper laughs. “You’re not ordinary. Trust me, Hunter’s lucky to have your attention.”

“So, what should I wear?” I ask, feeling a hint of excitement creeping in. “I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard, but…”

“I have the perfect dress. Do you remember that red wrap dress I bought when we went back to school shopping a few weeks ago?” Bridget asks.

“Oh, that would be perfect,” Harper agrees. “And your hair in soft waves? It’s romantic but still you.”

“I’ll come over with the dress this afternoon,” Bridget promises.

“Can I come to play too?” Harper asks. “Since we found out about the baby Miles has been driving me nuts.”

“The what?” Bridget and I both ask at the same time.

Harper’s smile beams through the screen and she nods. “Yup, a new St. James is coming next year.”

“Congratulations, Harper.”

“I want to hear all the details,” Bridget says.

“All of them?” Harper asks with a smirk.

“Maybe not all of them,” I answer. Accepting a date with Hunter is a big step. I don’t need to hear about his brother’s sex life right before we go out.

“I’ll be there this afternoon and you can ask me whatever you want to know.”

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