Page 61 of Beautiful Mess

I check the time on my phone before glancing back over at him. “I’ve gotta get over to my sister’s soon, but what’s up?”

“I wanted to see if you’d be down to grab dinner and catch up this weekend,” he throws out nonchalantly.

My eyes bug out of my head. “Huh?”

Cole chuckles. “It’s been years since I’ve seen you. It would be fun to catch up on what we’ve been up to over the years. That’s all.”

My mind cannot seem to comprehend what is happening right now. “Are you asking me on a date right now?”

“No, as friends,” he says before a grin spreads, and he adds, “I mean, itcouldbe a date if you want it to be.”

“I don’t,” I blurt out, much harsher than I intend to before wincing.

“Ouch.” Clutching his chest, Cole laughs. “Why not? It could be like old times.”

I could think of a dozen reasons why not.

“I think that ship sailed a while ago, don’t you?” I ask with a smile, keeping my tone light. I may not want to go on a date with him, but that doesn’t mean I need to be mean. “And besides, I’m seeing somebody.”

Funnily enough, it’s your dad!

I’m going to hell.

Cole smiles and nods. “That’s awesome, Grace. Then not a date, but just to catch up. As friends.”

“I don’t know, Cole.”Why is this so awkward?

“Come on,” he says. “One meal with a friend.”

Before I have a chance to answer, the car door opens, and Blakely pops her head out. “Mom, can we go?”

“One sec, baby.” Looking back at Cole, I say, “Coffee, not dinner.”

He smirks and counters, “Drinks.”

“Coffee.” Lifting an eyebrow, I add, “And it’s one hundred percent platonic. I mean it, Cole.”

“Okay, okay. Deal. I’ll pick you up Saturday. How’s eleven?”

“Eleven is fine.”

With that settled, Cole heads into the store while I get in the car. By the time I make it to my sister’s, I still don’t know how I got roped into hanging out with my ex-boyfriend.

This should be positively awkward.

* * *

“Grace, what the fuck?” Georgia balks at me from across the room. “You cannot go on a date with that utter jackass.”

Taking a sip from my wine, I say, “It isnota date. I guess he got a divorce, though.”

“Not surprising,” she snorts. “You’ve always been too fucking nice for your own good. He probably purposely made you feel bad for him so you’d agree.”

I roll my eyes and breathe out a laugh. “Is the guy a douchebag? Absolutely. But I don’t think he’s conniving. He’s too stupid for that.”

Charley barks out a laugh, nearly choking on her wine. “I mean, Grace isn’t wrong there.”

“Okay, but what about the fact that you’re banging his dad on a regular basis? Does he know about that?”

---