Page 16 of The Wrong Date Deal

“Glad we’re on the same page.”

August smiled and turned the plate so the brownie was facing Piper. “Have at it.”

“Thank you,” she said with a genuine smile. “So, how was the date?”

August scrunched her nose. “Okay. We won’t be seeing each other again, but I’m guessing it was better than yours.”

“Oh, was it obvious we wouldn’t be seeing one another again?”

August laughed. “Maybe a touch. Do you want to talk about it?”

“Eh, you know the story. Girl meets girl through anonymous dating app, girl is looking for something lasting, other girl is using the anonymity for quick hookups…”

“Ah.”

“Indeed.”

“I’m sorry.”

Piper shook her head. “It’s not a big deal. She was nice enough—I mean, obviously, or we wouldn’t have even gotten to the meeting in person stage—but we were in the market for very different things. No shame in that.”

“Some shame in her not telling you that ahead of time.”

Piper bobbed her head from side to side as she chewed on a bite of the brownie. “Maybe. I mean, that would have saved us both some time, but I guess I can’t fault her for thinking other people on an anonymous app might be looking for the same thing.”

“Still, though, nice to be clear upfront.” August hesitated. “I suppose that’s another thing I should add to my list of questions to ask before I agree to meet anyone in person.”

“Mm. Yeah. I think I’ll be asking that one myself moving forward.” She watched August speculatively as she took a sip of her drink. “So, looking forward to doing it all again?”

“Ha. No. Not really.” She sighed. “Well, not no, but…”

“It’s complicated.”

“Yeah, exactly. You never know how it’s going to go, there’s so many things to consider… and…”

Piper tilted her head, leaning a little closer over the small table. “And what?”

August looked at her, wrinkling her nose. “Ugh. It’s embarrassing, but I guess I’m a bit of a romantic.”

Piper smiled, breathing a soft laugh. “Yeah, I get that. The hope that something magical will happen, the slight dismay over how clinical it all becomes?”

“Yeah…” August was blown away by the fact that Piper just seemed to get it. Maybe it wasn’t silly that she felt that way, maybe it was okay that she did.

“I wish I could tell you it stops feeling like that, but it, kind of… doesn’t.”

August laughed. “Good to know.”

“Sorry. I mean, maybe it does when you find something lasting. Then, it might all feel wonderful, but I wouldn’t know. I’ll keep you posted.”

“It’s okay. It is what it is.” She hesitated, snapping the cookie in half and chewing her lip. “You know, it’s easier with you here. That probably sounds weird.”

“I’m good with weird.”

“Well, I know we mistook each other for our dates, and that should have been awkward, but it’s like a bonding moment, you know? Like, I’m not great at this whole thing, but at least I’m not alone in making mistakes, in being human.”

Piper smiled. “Yeah, I can see that.”

“And, then we both have dates that aren’t going anywhere, but we get to talk about it—debrief, if you like.”

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