Page 44 of It's a Date (Again)

“I don’t know. It was very unclear. Neither of them released one of those lame statements you write up in the Notes app and screenshot.But they’re both still friends on Instagram, so it seems like it was at least amicable.”

“So, he moves on quickly?” Maya asks.

Robbie nods. “There’s usually only a month or two between each of his relationships.”

“Maybe he doesn’t like being alone,” I say.

“That could definitely be it.” Debbie creases her brow. “My first husband had a new wife three months after our divorce. For him, though, probably couldn’t stand not having someone to lie to.” She shakes her head like she’s trying to shake the memory of him away.

“So.” I lift my chin. “I’ve got a Nickelback fan, Mr.No Relationships, and Mr.Lots of Relationships.”

“Nickelback superfan,” Robbie corrects.

“And one of them is a liar,” Maya adds.

“And if you don’t pick one before the twenty-eighth, you’ve got to marry Robbie,” Debbie says with a wink.

“That’s not true,” he argues. “Peyton and I have already agreed there is no pact.”

“I didn’t,” I say with a small smile just to egg him on.

He rolls his eyes. “And that’s exactly why I’m helping you figure this out. I won’t be your fall guy.”

“I think you two would be cute together,” Maya taunts, lifting a brow.

Debbie glances at him and then at me. “Oh yeah. I see it too.”

Robbie groans and closes his notepad. “Peyton loves one of these men. She may not remember, but she does, and I’m going to make sure she picks the right one.” He eyeballs Maya and Debbie and then turns to start disassembling his research easel and supplies.

“You’re like a knight in aluminum foil, Robbie.” Maya laughs.

I get up from my seat and help him. “They’re just messing with you,” I whisper. He bends down, trying to get the easel to fit in the carrying case. “Are you okay?”

Robbie pauses, clenching his jaw for a moment before relaxing it. “I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy.”

“Good.” He nods. “Because that’s all I care about.”

I pull my chin in and really stare into those blue eyes of his, searching them. “Are you happy, Robbie?”

He hesitates. “I am if you are.”

It’s an odd answer, but I don’t push for another response or a clearer one because I don’t want to upset him. One minute, he’s cool with the whole dating-with-amnesia thing, and the next it seems like he has an issue with it. I know he wants the best for me. And I want the same for him. We exchange tight-lipped smiles and finish packing the easel away before taking our seats on the couch.

“Do you feel a little better about going on these dates?” Maya asks.

“A little. At least I know more about the guys and myself.”

“Good, and it should help you weed out the liar too,” she adds.

“Just bring them all here. I’ll sniff him out,” Debbie says confidently.

Maya stands from her seat and starts to collect her belongings. “We know you would, Debbie.”

Debbie could identify the liar, but I think that’s something I need to figure out on my own. I did it before, and I know I can do it again. I just have to trust my heart.

Maya swings her bag over her shoulder and slips on her shoes. “I’ve gotta get to work. The jokes aren’t going to tell themselves.”

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