Page 15 of Rounding Third

Liliana: Relaxing at home?

Smithy: Eh, sounds boring. Try again.

Liliana: Going out to a really nice restaurant?

Smithy: Getting closer, but not quite there.

Liliana: I don’t know! What are you doing tonight?

Smithy: Hoping a pretty girl will join me at Kennedy’s Pub.

Liliana: I'm sure if you put a post on social media, you’ll have thousands of them.

Smithy: I want one beautiful woman in particular.

Liliana: Yeah? Have you told her?

Smithy: I’m trying, she doesn’t seem to be getting the memo.

Liliana: Have you tried a carrier pigeon?

Liliana: Sky writer?

Liliana: Ad in the paper?

Smithy: Liliana.

Liliana: Travis.

Smithy: Please come to Kennedy’s Pub with me.

Liliana: I wouldn’t want to get in the way of you meeting with a pretty girl.

Smithy: I’ll see you at six. If you’re nice, I’ll take you out for dinner afterwards.

Liliana: Pizza?

Smithy: If that’s really what my girl wants, then sure.

Chapter 7

Liliana

“Do I look awful?” I prop up my phone and take a few steps back so Winnie can see my outfit.

“Dang girl! You look hot! Smithy’s going to be tripping over his feet when he lays eyes on you!”

“I'm serious, Win. Do I look ok?”

“I wasn’t joking. You look amazing. If Smithy doesn’t make a move, are we moving forward with this date? Kevin said he’d love to go out with you. I truly think he’d be a great match for you.” Winnie smiles sadly.

She knows how much Smithy means to me and how badly I want to be with him. I know she’s not trying to kill my hope, she’s just trying to give me another option. She’s showing me I can have an amazing life with someone other than Smithy.

“I’ll let you know. I need to go though. Are you going to meet me there?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there after the boss gets home. Bye!” She always refers to the family she works for as her bosses. It’s a little weird, but I'm used to it at this point.

I tuck my phone inside my purse and slip on my cowgirl boots. Smithy bought these for me for Christmas and I don’t think he’s seen me wear them yet.

---