Page 35 of Clean Out of Luck

“No. Absolutely not! What kind of water are you drinking there?” I point to the water bottle that’s constantly glued to her side.

“The normal kind. You should try it sometime,” she claps back.

It’s also a fair clap back because I really don’t like to drink water. It doesn’t taste good. I’d rather have a soda.

“You should think about it. Carson, Ashlyn, and I were talking about it the other night when I was at their house. We think you guys would be a really cute couple. I know it might seem weird since you guys grew up together but maybe think about it.”

“He thinks of me as a little sister!” I can feel my cheeks warm up because I can honestly say I don’t think of him as a brother. But I’m not about to admit it to Lilly. “How weird would that be?”

“I see you didn’t deny the possibility, so that must mean that youareattracted to him and that you could possibly see him as something different.” She jumps on my lack of defense. Sometimes I hate that she knows me so well.

Doesn’t matter what I say. She’ll find some way to turn it around.

“You have to have at least thought about it,” Lilly says with a laugh. “That man is gorgeous.”

I shake my head slowly. “I’m not going to pretend with you. I think Wade is one of the best-looking people I’ve ever seen. I also think there’s no way we could ever look at each other in a non-platonic way. Even more so now that he’s stepped into this weird brotherly role in my life. He’s not acting like someone I could date. He’s acting like Phoenix.”

Lilly sighs. “Well, that is unfortunate. Let me think about your problem. Surely we could find someone for you to date he would approve of.”

“This isn’t the 1800s. I don’t need his approval.”

“Then why are you answering to him?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

“Which is exactly what I mean. I think there’s more between the two of you than you even realize.”

I turn very slowly to stare her down. “Lilly?”

“Yes?”

“Drop it.”

She sighs and cracks open the water bottle, taking a long drink. “How was your Swipe Rite date?”

“Married.”

She chokes on her second drink of water. “What?”

“Yup.”

“My dad had a friend who knew him! Said he’d drawn up their new house plans and did good work! He didn’t say a word about his marital status.”

“Given the man’s obsession with architecture, I’m sure he did do a good job. But he’s still very married.”

“Dang. I’m sorry. I feel like I failed you on that one because I told you he’d be worth meeting,” Lilly mutters. “Let me think for a minute.”

She pulls her phone out and starts scrolling.

“Okay, what about this guy?” She flips the phone around.The man is wearing a jacket, jeans, and hiking boots. He has a nice smile on his face, looking right at the camera.

“He’s cute.”

“Perfect. This is my cousin who just moved to town. I’m setting you up.”

I sigh and lean back to rest my head against the back of the bench. “I’m thinking about becoming the next great Miss Bates. But I don’t think Jane Austen would even think my life exciting enough to immortalize in writing.”

Lilly laughs. “Now you’re just being morose. We’ll find you somebody. Or maybe you’ll realize they’re closer than you think.” She winks at me.

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