Page 22 of More Than a Good Friend

When I park outside her house, the door swings open.

“Right on time. I just got home from the barbecue shack. Come on in.” Her smile is wide, and like always, there’s mischief dancing in her eyes.

I inhale the aroma. “Thank you, but you don’t have to be the one paying every time. I don’t mind picking it up.”

“Goldie dear, I have more money than I can spend before my years run out. But I’m doing my best.” She motions to the kitchen table. “Have a seat. Can I get you a Dr Pepper?”

“Yes, please.”

“I thought about eating outside because the weather is nice, but I was talking to Joji earlier. She and Clint are babysitting for my neighbors tonight. And since both cars are in the driveway, they’re probably in the hot tub out back. The fence is kind of short. So we’ll stay in here and let them have their privacy.”

There is no escaping the happily-ever-afters in this town. “Good idea.”

She hands me a cold can, then sets paper plates on the table. “So don’t keep me waiting. Tell me about the dates. I still haven’t heard the update about your date from last Sunday. And didn’t you have one just this Friday?”

“Okay, so. After Saturday’s horrible date, which I should’ve left as soon as he handed me the mood ring—”

“I still laugh when I think of it being black. He should’ve picked up on that vibe.” Laughter echoes in the kitchen. “Enough about the woo-woo dude. Tell me about your other date.”

I think back to a week ago. The whole evening gave me hope that just maybe not every guy on those dating apps was a dud. “He was funny. Paid for dinner. Engaged in great conversation.”

“But?”

“After we left dinner, I never heard from him again. And when I went to message him, he’d unmatched or however that works.” I stab at a slice of brisket. “It must not have gone as well as I thought.”

“Did anything happen?” She hasn’t said Dag’s name, but it’s there hovering in her question.

“He showed up at the restaurant. Not on purpose. He looked surprised to see me. And thankfully, he got his food to go.”

She nods. “Makes it hard to not compare, huh?”

“Why can’t he be ugly? Or mean? It’s just so hard being around him right now. And he’s trying. Which somehow makes it so much harder. On Friday, he showed up with Archer. Instead of acting like he wasn’t there, I walked over and introduced my date.”

“And?”

“Dag was polite. Nice even. Except for a weird handshake that seemed like they were sizing each other up. But they didn’t start throwing punches or anything. And now, Dag wants to talk. He wants to know what I meant about not settling.”

“What are you going to do?” She drizzles sauce on her meat. “You think honesty is worth a shot?”

“I know Dag doesn’t see me in a romantic way. He just doesn’t. As embarrassing as it will be to admit to him that I’ve been head over heels since we were young, I think that’s what a real friend would do. It won’t magically change his mind. I’m not living under that delusion, but I’m hoping he’ll understand that as much as I want to be friends, I have to stop comparing my dates to him.”

Tandy lifts her eyebrows and waves her fork. “And how do you know it won’t change his mind?”

“Because this is real life. Not a movie with a guaranteed happy ending.” I finally take a bite. “It just seems like it for everyone around us.”

She grins. “I helped with some of those, you know.”

I’ve heard about Tandy dragging Kent around New York City, and the visual always makes me laugh. “You did. We need to get you a wand with a little star at the end, and you can be a fairy godmother.”

“Wand. Shwand. It’s not magic. It’s just a matter of figuring out which buttons to push.” She piles more food on her plate. “What nights are your dates this coming weekend?”

“I haven’t made any plans. The ghosting has kind of messed with my head. Plus, my niece has a birthday party on Saturday afternoon. I’m not sure how long it will last.”

“So you’re free on Friday?”

I nod as I take another bite.

“Good. I’m taking you out. Dress nice because I’m going to snag us a table at Jeffrey’s.”

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