Page 6 of Wanting Happily Ever After

She shrugged again. “Byron Smith has asked me out a few times. Maybe I’ll—”

“You’re going to go out with Byron Smith? Annie’s dad?” Brody raised his eyebrow and almost laughed.

Something about his response pissed her off a little.Wasn’t she good enough for Byron?She sat up straighter. “Why not?”

Brody outright laughed, only causing Sarah to bristle further.

“Why not, Brody?” She leaned forward and stared at him. “Why shouldn’t I go out with Byron? What’s wrong with him?” She truly had no real intention to go out with him, but Brody’s reaction was rapidly changing her mind. “He’s a nice guy.”

“That’s just it.” Brody laughed harder, and shook his head. “He’s aniceguy. A banker, single dad. Nice and solid. Super dependable.”

Sarah fumed. Byronwasa nice guy. And she was a nice woman. And if she wanted to date him, she would. And she would not let Brody make her feel any way at all about it. Her annoyance rose, which was likely what led her to say what she did. “Well, I’m going out with him.” The words came out of her mouth before she even realized what she’d said. “So I guess I’ll see for myself if he’s a nice guy or not.”

In a flash, Brody was silent. He paused, his beer bottle halfway to his mouth. “Wait? Seriously? You’re actually going out with him?”

It didn’t seem so funny all of a sudden, but still, Sarah nodded. “I am. Later this week.” She took a deep pull on her beer bottle. She’d sort out the logistical details of theactualdate later.

“Really? Next week?” Brody hoped he sounded casual and unaffected. After all, he didn’t have any right to sound anything but. They were, in fact, only friends. Still.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

“Yup.” She nodded and took another sip of her beer. “Like I said, he’s asked me out a few times, but there’s no time like the present, right?”

He nodded, because what else was he going to do? “Why not?”

“Exactly.” She looked directly at him. “Why not?”

This was his chance. This was where he could tell her exactly why not. This was his moment. Where he could tell her that he’d wanted to ask her on a proper date from the moment he’d met her. But he’d waited. He’d given her time. He’d…damn it.

“Well, that’ll benice.” He knew he was being a dick, but he couldn’t help it. “Byron is a veryniceman and I’m sure you’ll have a perfectlynice time.” Not at all like the amazing, life-altering time you’d have with me on a date.He wanted to say it, but he couldn’t. It wasn’t fair. Not now.

“It will be.”

If Sarah thought he was being a jerk, she didn’t say it. But he was being a jerk and he couldn’t seem to stop himself. “I mean, if you like that kind of thing.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“You know,” he continued. “Safe, predictable, mundane.”

“Mundane?”

Brody regretted his choice of words. He was being a first-class asshole. There was nothing wrong with Byron. He’d meant it when he’d said he was nice. That was the only way to describe it. He wasnice.He was a good dad. Annie was a good kid. He had a good, stable job at the bank, an amicable relationship—from all accounts—with his ex-wife, and he was…mundane.

“I’m sorry,” Brody said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said that. Byron is a good guy and I’m proud of you for getting back out there. Really.”

She nodded and looked out into the dark yard.

He couldn’t help but think of the ring in the top drawer of his dresser. It was his grandmother’s ring. A ruby set in platinum. It wasn’t an engagement ring by any stretch of the imagination, not at all, and even if it was, he wasn’t so delusional to think that he was ever going to give it to Sarah. But yet…when he’d opened the package his mother had sent him from home with a variety of items, including the ring, the only finger he could picture it on was Sarah’s. It was inexplicable, considering they were nothing more than friends. But still.

He blushed and inwardly groaned when he’d remembered how he’d shown the ring to their mutual friend, Faith Turner. They’d all been at a wedding reception to celebrate Damon Banks and Katie Langdon’s nuptials. He’d catered it, of course, and although he’d never usually drink on the job, it was a friend’s event, and not so entirely professional. So he’d had a few drinks, which had likely made him a little sentimental, and perhaps, wishful.

Brody had been watching Sarah and Rory twirling on the dance floor when he’d shown Faith the ring that had only just arrived. He’d told her that he was going to give it to Sarah.

He could just die of embarrassment now. Hell, he couldn’t even ask Sarah on a date. And clearly, she wasn’t interested in him beyond a friendship. He’d jumped the gun, that was all. He shook his head and took a deep pull on his beer bottle, draining it.

When he put it down, Sarah was watching him. “What?”

“I was just wondering what you were thinking.” She tilted her head and her dark hair fell down over her shoulder.

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