Page 47 of Clean Out of Luck

Maybe I’m just starved for human touch. Yes, let’s go with that.

I hurry and eat another cookie. I need something, anything to distract me from my wayward thoughts. Poor Wade would be horrified if he knew I was thinking about kissing him.

One last date.

I’m going to try just once more before I resign myself to singlehood for the rest of my life. If this date doesn’t work out, I’m going to get myself a cat. It will be the starter cat of my eventual cat hoarding.

Luckily, The Serendipity allows pets. Several of the residents have dogs, and one man even has a parrot—or maybe a macaw?—though I don’t know if I’d know the difference between the two.

I have tried to date many men, and something has been wrong with each one of them. And like I was telling Wade, sometimes it wasn’t my family’s fault. Like Liam. Or Peyton. They are genuinely nice people, but I just didn’t click with them. I tried to encourage Liam to go out with someone else he met, and when Peyton asked me to go out again…I tried to tell him he should get to know more people in town first.

There was no spark with either of them.

I’m starting to think that maybe I am the problem. Here I’ve been blaming everything on my brother and myoverprotective parents, but maybeI’mthe issue. So I’m going to try one last time. And then I’m going to quit trying.

What was I thinking—that I could find someone to date and marry in six months? That was a ridiculous goal. It’ll take me sixty years at the rate I’m going.

Even Jack never followed up to schedule that dinner after we talked at the courthouse the other day after he and Wade testified. I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.

But…I met a nice man at the courthouse this afternoon who invited me to dinner. I said yes. Swipe Rite has not worked for me. Friend connections have not worked for me. Work connections have failed me.

So maybe meeting a random stranger on the courthouse steps will be the answer. We’re meeting at a restaurant that’s a little ways from The Serendipity, and we’re just going to have a nice dinner. No pressure. I’ve been texting Wade every day, and he’s been letting me keep it low maintenance with my single emoji responses.

I glance out the window to make sure it’s not sprinkling before I leave for my date.

My phone chimes.

WADE

This is your daily check-in.

I text Wade a thumbs up emoji. And then, because I’m feeling extra sassy today, I send him the sunglasses emoji as well.

WADE

What has you in such a good mood? You’re overwhelming me with your communication.

SCARLETT

I’m going on a date. Should I wear a dress or shorts and a blouse?

I text him a picture of me in the dress.

WADE

Long pants and that trench coat you have.

That wasn’t one of the options.

WADE

Do you remember those fluffy footy pajamas you would wear to embarrass Phoenix? Maybe you could wear those.

SCARLETT

Very funny. I don’t think so. You’re not being very helpful. I should’ve texted Lilly.

I quickly text Lilly both outfit options. She tells me to go with the shorts and the blouse. She says it looks casual and cute and not like I’m trying too hard.

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