Page 52 of The Wrong Date Deal

August frowned. She wasn’t even sure how to explain it. Luckily, Meilíng knew her well enough to give her the space to think, and started driving, leaving the car in silence until August was ready to voice her concerns—even if she couldn’t quite name them exactly.

“It’s…” August sighed heavily. “I wish I knew. I guess, gut instinct, we’re not going to be a good match and there’s something a little… depressing, I suppose, about going into a date knowing that but still feeling like I have to go because if I lose hope, what am I left with?”

Meilíng shot her a sad, sympathetic look. “I’m so sorry it’s not going well.”

“It’s really fine.” August waved a hand, batting the apology away. “These things happen. I’m hardly the only one going through it.”

Indeed, she’d made a whole pact and, later, a friend, from the fact that there were other people struggling with the exactsame thing she was. That didn’t stop it from feeling weird when she wasn’t getting good dates, though.

At least she was getting dates, she supposed.

“I really was lucky with Noah, huh?” Meilíng said with a wince. “I was so hoping you’d have the same luck.”

August laughed. “I’m glad you were lucky. And I didn’t have any delusions that I would be the same.”

“Don’t say that,” Meilíng insisted sadly as she pulled into a parking lot. “You’re wonderful and you deserve good things.”

August smiled, grateful for Meilíng’s belief in her. “Well, maybe tonight will be the one after all.”

Meilíng shook her head and got out of the car, waiting for August. “You don’t have to say that just to appease me,” she said when August joined her.

“And you don’t have to feel bad because it went easily for you. I’m genuinely so happy for you and Noah.”

Meilíng smiled and nodded but then stayed quiet, pensive the whole time they were ordering and moving to sit down. August supposed that, when they’d met for lunch, she had tried to be optimistic about the whole thing. Now, things were taking a slight… turn.

She sipped her drink carefully as she waited for whatever it was Meilíng was working towards.

Eventually, she took a breath and looked at August. “Do you regret taking my advice to use Hummingbird?”

“No,” August frowned. “Why would I?”

“Well…” Meilíng chewed her bottom lip momentarily, hesitating. “You’d been out of the dating scene for a minute, you were adamantly against apps and things, and I kind of forced you into it.”

August barked a laugh. “You did not.”

“I mean, I kind of did…”

“Meilíng, you absolutely did not. You heard about something that was working for people, it worked for you, and you told me about it. I could have refused. Hell, I could quit it any time I want.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I am. I know I’ve been… resistant to dating in the last few years, but it was time to get back out there and, even if it’s not going as well as it did for you, I’m glad to be trying.”

Meilíng studied her, a concerned pucker between her brows. “Well, you know, Valentine’s Day is just a few weeks away. There’s probably lots of people looking for love, and I’m sure you’ll find the right one amongst all of that.”

August laughed. “I’m not desperate to have someone by then, don’t worry.”

“You deserve it, though. You deserve to have someone looking after you, someone who really cares about you. Especially after—”

“It’s really okay.” She held up a hand. “It was a good relationship that went bad. That’s all.”

Meilíng adjusted how she was sitting, straightening up slightly. “Well…”

August shook her head. “Fine. It wasn’t… great in the end. And it’s taken a while to… want to get back out there. But this way isn’t a bad way to do that. Maybe it’s… exactly what I needed. Nothing too much too fast, you know? Meet different people, take it slowly. Ease back in.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I am.” August smiled. She really meant it.

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