Page 17 of Faking Romance

I blush. “Thanks, Al. It’s coming together,” I reply as I smile at him.

“Well, it looks great. Are you still opening in another week or so?” he asks.

“Yep. Our soft launch is a week from Monday. I’ll send out emails tomorrow.” I curse myself for not sending them last week, but it’s been crazy and most of the people I’m inviting already know the soft opening date.

“I’ll make sure to be here,” he says. We’re both quiet for a beat and I wonder if he just stopped by to check on the store.

“I have a favor to ask,” he says, breaking the silence.

“Oh?” I ask as my brows furrow in confusion. What favor could he possibly have?

“I overheard you telling Carly you were looking to date,” he starts. OK, where the hell is this going? “I have a friend who needs a date to a party but doesn’t know anyone who can attend with him. Would you be interested in going on a blind date?”

I’ve never been on a blind date. My entire dating life has been swiping right or being matched on some app on my phone and then hesitantly messaging the person until one of us asks to meet in person in a public venue. Shit, that doesn’t sound very romantic when I think of it like that.

“I…uh, who is it?” I ask.

He blinks at me as if he hasn’t heard, and just when I go ask again, he speaks. “Just a friend. He’s about your age.”

I want to ask why Al has friends my age, but then again, he does seem friendly with everyone in the building, hell, in the neighborhood. Maybe it’s someone who lives somewhere else on Hearts Lane?

“Just one date?” I ask.

“Just the one. I mean, unless you all want to go on another date,” he stresses.

I contemplate this for a minute. Al seems like a great guy. I don’t think he’d set me up with someone who was a bad person. Part of me hesitates to say yes because life is so chaotic right now, but a bigger part of me says fuck it, let’s do this.

“OK,” I reply slowly because I’m still not one hundred percent sure of my decision.

He smiles broadly and I see all his teeth beneath his bushy, white mustache.

“Great. I’ll let him know. Now, it’s Tuesday at six at this bar not far from here called Joe’s Tavern. Wear a red dress, OK? And your date will have a three-piece suit with a red pocket square. He’ll be at the bar.”

“Uh, OK. Red dress, got it. Anything else I should know?” I ask because now I want to know everything. Like, who is this guy? What does he do for a living? Is he cute?

“Nope. That should do it,” he says. He goes to leave but pauses and looks back over his shoulder at me.

“Just keep an open mind,” he adds, but before I can ask why, he opens the door and leaves me standing there with more questions than answers.

I turn and look at Jocelyn, who is standing with her mouth open. “Did you just get set up on a blind date?” she asks.

I shrug. “I think so?”

“Dude, you need to use this for social media. Like seriously, have our new followers weigh in on it,” she suggests. It’s not a horrible idea. I’ve been building a few social media accounts for months now. I’ve had some signed book giveaways and even did a fun book box two months ago. I started having virtual monthly book club meetings after I signed the lease on the store. I don’t have a ton of followers, but I have a fair amount.

So I walk over to my phone, open the video app, and press record after I sort out my hair and refresh my lipstick.

“Hey, romance readers. I have a hot question for you. Would you go on a blind date? I’ve just been set up on one and I need your thoughts. Drop your answers in the comments,” I say before I smile and stop recording. Then I upload it to all the accounts and wait. What will people say? Are they going to think I’m an idiot?

“Let’s get this wall finished,” Jocelyn suggests, pulling me away from my thoughts. We work together to get a fun floral backdrop set up with a neon sign that says, Happily Ever Afters Do Come True. I set up a cute camera that prints out little photos next to it if you don’t want a selfie. When we finish, I smile at the setup. It’s really adorable and it looks great.

“OK, I have to admit, I love this,” I say. Jocelyn nods and then frowns as she lifts her phone from her pocket.

“Uh, boss, where’s your phone?” she asks.

Now, I’m frowning. Where is my phone? Oh, on the desk. I walk over and pick it up and my jaw falls open. We have hundreds of new followers, and my notifications are blowing up. I scroll through them. People are responding to my video. They are asking for details and telling me to go on the date. People are posting about their blind dates.

“Wow,” I manage.

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