Page 27 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

I haven’t worn that specific dress—a formfitting, especially short one—since I was in high school.

I was the captain of the cheerleading squad back then. A carefree, popular girl desperate to catch her crush’s attention. And it worked. I’d have Theo drooling all over me by the end of the party, but his desire was always short-lived, gone by the time the alcohol left his system.

“Fine, just don’t wear that.” He mocks my sweatpants and T-shirt. “Crazy cat lady isn’t your look.”

Irritation fuels thefuck yousmile on my face. “No shit. I thought dirty sweatpants were perfect first-date attire.”

He doesn’t let my sarcasm bother him. “Now, what did we say about your rambling?”

His pop quiz irritates me. We went over this earlier.

“Count to three in my head before I speak. It’ll give me time to think about what I’m going to say next.”

“Good. And for the confidence thing?” he carries on with his questionnaire.

“Fake it until I make it.”

“And how are you going to do that?”

“Eye contact.”

“Good girl.”

TJ’s phone goes off in his pocket before I have a chance to answer. He plucks it out of his jeans to check the screen.

“Shit, I have to take it.”

TJ steps out of my bedroom into the hall and picks up the phone. I can’t hear what the person is saying, but I do hear what sounds like a woman’s voice.

Maybe it’s his sister’s school calling to let him know she’s done something?

“All right, I’m on my way,” TJ says, a hint of discouragement in his tone.

He’s back in my bedroom in no time. “I have to go. Thanks for the lesson.”

“I’d thank you, too, but I think I’ll wait and see if your advice is complete bullshit first.”

“Fine by me. It’ll give me time to make room in my house for the giant fucking gift basket you’re going to send me.”

I wrestle a grin. “We’ll see.”

I follow as TJ ambles to the living room to gather his things. He’s just walked out of the house when my phone chimes with a new message.

Aaron

Hey, Lacey. Sorry I didn’t reply before. I had to get a new phone. What time did you want to meet up tomorrow?

Lacey

It’s official. I hate first dates.

It took me twenty years to figure that out,I know, but I’d never really been asked out on a date before now—high school me would just hook up with guys running in the same social circle as I did, no first date involved.

And it’s not Aaron’s fault. He’s been a perfect gentleman so far. He’s opened every door for me, offered to pay for my coffee, and he’s been giving me his undivided attention for a half hour now.

So why do I hate dating so much?

Blame it on the question he just asked.

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