Page 5 of Fixing Up My Love Life

Her lips tremble, just barely, before she bolts to her room and slams the door.

I sigh and head into the kitchen. McDonald’s bags litter the counter. She already ate—with him.

I clean up the mess and stash her sandwich in the fridge. Maybe I’ll take it for lunch.

Was I too harsh?

No. I was being a dad, protecting her from making mistakes she’ll regret.

Still…maybe if the house felt less temporary, she’d feel more grounded. Half my stuff’s still in boxes because I haven’t let myself settle in.

I grab my phone and open the app store.

Current.

My finger hovers the screen, then I tap. Too late to back out now.

I enter my info and select a few decent photos. Nothing too flashy.

With a heavy sigh, I start swiping. No one standsout. Then?—

Hazel.

Wind in her hair, sunlight on her face, that quiet smile in the image hits me harder than it ever should have. She looks the same. Maybe even better.

Hazel, 42, Twin Waves.

My four girls are my life. I’m a divorced boutique owner who loves reading and long walks on the beach. Cliché, I know, but still true.

I swipe right.

Nothing happens.

Of course not. I just made the profile. She hasn’t seen me yet. But would she swipe right?

Four girls. I read the line again, stunned. Hazel has four daughters. That’s a full-on girl gang. She always had that fierce, nurturing streak—but this? That takes grit. A kind of strength I didn’t give her credit for back when I left, back when I thought I needed to outrun this place to become someone. Turns out, she was becoming someone too.

I’m going to be sick.

I take a deep breath. Then another before setting my phone face down.

TV will take my mind off her. Then I’ll go to bed. I’ll talk to Caroline tomorrow.

Maybe ask Mom for advice. She always knew how to handle me.

This could go three ways:

A. She matches and responds positively.

B. She matches and responds negatively.

C. She swipes left.

And I can’t decide which one I want.

CHAPTER 3

Hazel

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