Page 38 of The Wrong Date Deal

“No, no,” she said, seeming sincere. “It’s just been a minute since I went out in the snow… recreationally?”

Piper laughed. “That’s fair.”

“Ford tries to get me out in it, but I’m usually busy.”

“You know you need to take breaks, right? And going out in the snow is a great way to reset.”

August shot her a look. “It’s a great way to get me craving another hot chocolate that I absolutely shouldn’t be having.”

“Says who? Have all the snow days and hot chocolate you want.”

“You’re trouble.”

Piper shrugged. “Eh. Just a little bit. But doesn’t that make things more interesting?”

“I’m sure it does,” she replied, shaking her head and looking down at the ground where her boot pressed into the snow and left a crisp outline.

Piper grinned, lifting her face towards the snow. Cold, fast flakes landing and melting on her skin sent a shiver down her spine, but it was good.

They crossed the road and headed down a side street. It was lined with cute little boutiques and string lights overhead that seemed even more magical in the snow.

“So, I, uh, took your advice,” August said, a little awkwardly.

Piper grinned. “About…?”

She cleared her throat. “Making the first move.”

“Oh. Nice. Congratulations. How’d it go?”

August grimaced. “Medium?”

“Okay,” Piper said slowly. “Medium isn’t bad.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“But it’s not good either.”

August nodded, her face a little scrunched up. “It is not.”

“What’s the problem?”

“I’m… terrible at it?”

Piper stopped and turned to look at August. “Is that a question?”

She winced. “No. More of a statement I’m embarrassed about.”

“There’s no way you’re terrible at it.”

August looked at her with wide eyes. “That’s a whole lot of unfounded confidence.”

Piper laughed. “I disagree.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“Okay, so, tell me, then,howare you bad at it?” She looped an arm through August’s and they started walking again.

“Well, you know, it’s hard to… figure out what to say as an opener. A basic greeting with no question and nothing original just starts you off on a bad note. Anything too out there scares people off, but, potentially, so does something boring.”

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