Page 46 of You've Got Male

“Twenty-one.”

This whole thing was getting out of hand. “You let a twenty-one-year-old slide into your DMs?”

“Mom, no one says that anymore.”

“Well, no one in this house is going out with a twenty-one-year-old. He is age inappropriate for both of you.” She glared at her mom. “New rule, no younger than me for you. And no one older than Ryan for you,” she said to Camila.

“You always were such a party pooper,” Moira said.

Evie dumped one—make that three—chocolate bars into her cart and wondered if she had enough time to run and grab another bottle of wine. Scratch that: Tequila. “I had to be, with two free spirits as parents.”

“Your spirit could be free, too, if you’d just get laid,” Moira said and Mrs. Lichfield, who was walking past the checkout line, shot them a scathing look and Evie felt her face heat. She gave the woman an apologetic smile. It didn’t help. “Which is why I invited Susan’s son to dinner on Friday. You remember Susan from my yoga class. Her son is divorced, handsome, and an entrepreneur.”

He was also balding, with a beer gut, and put sugar and cinnamon in Turkish coffee. Evie didn’t trust someone who doctored up a nine-dollar, exquisite cup of paradise. That would be like adding ice cubes to a high-end pinot grigio. As for him being an entrepreneur?

“He owns his ownhot dog stand,” Evie said, but Moira just waved a dismissive hand. Oh my God. This dinner was going to happen, no matter what Evie said. The only thing that would get her out of another awkward blind date was—

“Plus, I’m dating someone.”

Moira blinked. Twice. Then dramatically flattened her hand to her chest. “I knew You’ve Got Male would work if you’d just let it.” She pulled Evie into one of those swinging-back-and-forthkind of hugs. “And you’re working it. I am so, so proud.”

Evie looked at the cashier, who was shamelessly eavesdropping. She lowered her voice. “Actually, it’s Jonah.”

Camila promptly dropped the candy bar, her bored attitude morphing into horror. “You’re dating Ryan’s dad?”

Evie lifted her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, then immediately dropped it. “Why do you sound so surprised?”

“Youhateeach other,” Camila said.

“Love and hate are closely related,” Moira said. “And it makes for some great sex.”

“Gross,” Camila repeated at the same time Evie choked out, “No one said love. We’ve only had one date.”

Wow, look at the lies falling off her lips. Granted, they did have dinner and wine and if level heads hadn’t prevailed, they might have even shared a kiss. Something that wouldn’t happen again, since that was against their ground rules.

Moira clasped her hands. “It was the night we had that double date. Wasn’t it? I knew something happened.”

“How did you know?” Evie asked casually, as if talking about a date with Jonah was the most natural thing in the world.

“Lenard said he cooked you dinner.”

“Who said it wasn’t just a neighborly thank-you for helping out with Waverly?”

“Because I saw the nice wineglasses in the sink.”

“Wineglass selection says a lot,” the cashier said. “Does this mean You’ve Got Male is off the market?”

“Yes,” Evie said loud enough for everyone in line to hear. “I am.” She handed over her credit card and started packing her own groceries. “Before you start streaming this, I want everyone to know that we’re just seeing where this can go.”

“Oh honey,” an older woman with a crop of curly gray hair said from behind—who had her camera aimed at Evie. “There’s already a poll going on over how fast you’re going to have sex. Iput a hundred on a week tops.”

It was Evie’s turn to be horrified. Strangers thought that was okay to tell someone in the checkout line?!

“Can we stop talking about this?” Camila asked.

Moira put her arm around Camila’s shoulder. “You should be happy for your mother.”

“Why? Because she’s dating my best friend’s dad? Talk about awkward. I can’t believe you didn’t ask me how I felt about it first.”

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