Page 135 of The Fix-Up

“Of course.”

“I have a letter that needs mailing. Would you drop it off for me?”

FIFTY-NINE

Love is YOU!

—EVERETT, AGE 5

“Do I have to do this?” I whined.

“Yes,” Ali and Mae said at the same time. And because they were worried I might make a getaway, they flanked me as we walked down the street toward Bookmarks, the bookstore in town.

“You promised us three blind dates. We have one more shot,” Mae said, Lulu strapped to her chest. My niece was almost six months old and cuter than ever. She faced forward in Mae’s carrier, her arms and legs kicking in excitement. I guess it was worth it to see Lulu even if it meant I had to go on yet another blind date.

“I sort of figured there was an expiration date on those dates.”

“Wrong. Honey and blind dates. The only two things in the world that don’t expire.” Ali stopped in front of the bookstore.

I sighed. “It’s only been six weeks and I’m not sure I want to get back up on that horse for a good long while. Plus I’m going to have to pretend to be interested in everything he says.”

“That’s the spirit,” Ali said.

“Who am I meeting again?” I asked in resignation.

Mae and Ali shared a look.

“I need to tell you a couple of things,” Mae said. “He has a few…areas of concern.”

“What does that mean?”

“He does have tattoos,” Ali said. “And he knows how to ride a motorcycle, and he plays the guitar.”

I threw my hands up. “Why even bother? You’re just wasting my time now. I could be home with Oliver.”

“Just try to go into it with an open mind,” Mae said. “You never know.”

I held a finger out to Lulu who grabbed it and stuffed it in her mouth. “Lulu, I like you more than your mama, you know that?”

“He knows you’ll be wearing a red dress.” Ali pulled a piece of lint, or maybe a crumb from the cookie I ate before we left, from my dress. “He’ll find you.”

“Fine.”

“Smile,” Ali demanded. “And stand up straight. And don’t make that face.”

“What face?”

“The one you’re making right now.”

Ali and Mae stood back, inspecting me with a critical eye. Lulu smiled, a string of drool dangling from her mouth. “You’re both acting weird.”

“Just go in,” Mae said, waving a hand at me.

“And call us later,” Ali said.

I pulled open the door and stepped inside. Bookmarks was a cute little shop with both used and new books. A teenage girl behind the counter said hello. On a table right at the frontwas a huge display of pirate romances by Alicia Night. Front and center,The Pirate’s Booty. I still hadn’t finished that book. Maybe one day. I made a beeline for the true crime section. Nothing like serial killers to keep a girl warm at night.

Keeping my eye open for tall, dark, and handsome. Or maybe short, blond, and okay-ish? Ali and Mae had given me very little information about this guy. I had no idea what his name was or what he looked like. Blind date was right.

---