Page 49 of The Winslow Brothers

Sophie

I chew nervously on my lip as my date pours me a glass of wine from the bottle he ordered for us and try to smile as he meets my eyes.

His name is Nathan, and we matched on TapNext about an hour after I created my profile. To say I’m apprehensive to be implementing Dr. Winters’s homework is an understatement.

Hell, I didn’t even give myself time to make a pro-con list about the guy. Or to run a background check.What if he’s a murderer or something?

Swallowing thickly, I force myself to focus on Nathan again as he speaks.

“Honestly, I was a little shocked to see a woman as beautiful as you are on TapNext. Normally, they’re…” He laughs a little, and my eyebrows draw together. He’s trying to give me a compliment, I know he is, but I can’t help but wonder where he was going with that statement about the rest of the female population. Sure, I never thought I’d end up on a dating app myself, but it’s not because there’s anything wrong with them. The problem is with me and how awkward I am.

Funny you should mention it, Soph, because I’m pretty sure you’re being awkward right now.

Subtly, I shake my head to clear it of all my rambling thoughts and focus on my date again.

With jet-black hair and a strong jaw, he’s not exactly hard to look at. And he’s been nice, too. He pulled out my chair when we got to the table and asked me about my wine preferences before selecting a bottle. And he hasn’t been staring at my breasts or anything any more than expected. All in all, he’s been a gentleman. I don’t have a whole lot of tingles or the urge to jump him immediately, but that could come with time. Obviously, I just need to get out of my own way here and let the date happen.

I clear my throat and force a smile to curve the corners of my lips upward. “Thank you.”

“Did you just get out of a serious relationship, or…”

I shake my head. “No. I mean, I’ve dated, but no…I haven’t been in a serious relationship in a while.”

“That’s interesting. Huh.”

God, why does this have to be so hard? Why can’t coming up with things to say be as easy as coming up with excuses to leave? Honestly, I’ve got a ton of those.

Hamster care.

Needy mother.

Cat with cancer.

Grease fire in my apartment.

Really, the list of excuses seems endless.

“What about you? Why haven’t you settled down?”

He shrugs then, glancing over his shoulder briefly before coughing and looking back at me. “I just…wasn’t ready until now. I’ve been more focused on my career.”

My eyes widen with excitement.Finally, something we can talk about.“That’s great. I’m really career-centric too. What is it that you do?”

“I’m a gamer.”

“A gamer?”

“Yeah. You know, like on Twitch? I livestream and people watch.”

I nod, though I don’t know that I could do much else if I wanted. I was expecting something, I don’t know, a little less isolated.

His business is about keeping people in their houses watching their computers all day, and mine is about getting them out. To parties, to events, to all manner of social engagements. Fucking hell, I feel like I just consumed a bag of lemons.

Coincidentally, another viable excuse.

“What about you?”

I swallow hard to stave off a sigh. This is like hearing from a fish about how great the ocean is and then having to tell them you hate water. “I have an event planning business. Sophie Sage Events.” I wave my hand in front of my face. “We do allsorts of stuff all over the city. Private parties, corporate events, weddings. That sort of thing.”

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