Page 73 of More Than a Good Friend

Luke and Dag exchange a look; then Dag starts walking.

“Bears are this way. I always loved the bears. They used to have one that would sit up and pose. Remember that, Goldie?”

“Yeah. It was a grizzly bear, I think.”

We move from one enclosure to the other, looking at the different bears.

Luke bumps my shoulder. “Let me carry those flowers for you. And I’m sorry about my poor planning. They probably won’t look very nice by the end of the day.”

“You don’t have to carry them. And it was really nice getting flowers.” I can’t remember ever getting flowers, but I’m not about to tell Luke that on our second date. I’m trying not to look like a loser.

“Please let me.” He holds out a hand.

I give them over. “Thanks.”

As we approach the Komodo dragon, Luke’s fingers tangle with mine. This feels like a date. And that makes me happy.

Dag still has his hands in his pockets, and I’m a bit surprised. He hasn’t touched Gabby since she walked up, and for Dag, that’s unusual. We aren’t even dating, and he puts his arm around me all the time.

Maybe he really likes Gabby and is taking things slow. And I’m getting a front row seat. Isn’t that grand?

* * *

The hostess leadsthe four of us to a big horseshoe-shaped booth. Luke slides in, and Dag steps to the opposite end and motions for Gabby to sit down. He slides in after but leaves a big gap. Luke is sitting closer to Gabby than Dag is. He really is taking it slow with her.

At least I don’t have to watch them cuddle during lunch.

After we order, Luke and Gabby are talking about computers and the cloud. She’s just landed her first job in the same field he works in. While chatting, Luke reaches for my hand. It’s sweet really, and I’m starting to like him. He’s more of a dress-shirt-and-slacks kind of guy where Dag is a white-shirt-and-jeans cowboy, but maybe with enough time, I could feel as attracted to Luke as I’m trying not to be to Dag.

Of all the guys I’ve gone out with, Luke is the only one I could see myself dating for any length of time.

Dag bumps my foot with his boot, then looks down at his phone. I glance down to read whatever message he sent me.

The Hot One:Did you have fun today?

Me:Yes. It was lots of fun.

Why are we having this conversation over text? We have an entire car ride home to talk. And I really need to change the label on his contact.

Luke makes a point of changing topics and including me in the conversation.

Any stranger looking at us would think we were four friends out for lunch. They’d have no idea that I’m sitting here praying that Dag and Luke don’t hit it off and become great friends.

Just like always, Dag has all of us laughing.

When we’re finished with lunch and the waitress brings the check to our table, Dag snags it. “This ones on me.”

I’ve seen him go an entire evening without pulling out his wallet. Women usually buy his drinks all night long. But he’s been paying for stuff left and right today. He must really like Gabby.

That makes me a tiny bit jealous. But of all the people I’ve ever seen Dag date, she’s by far the nicest.

Luke laughs. “I won’t fight you on it, but you did pay for the nectar when we fed the birds. So thanks.”

Dag nods. “Today was fun. Thanks for letting me and Gabby tag along.”

“We’ll definitely have to double again. Sometime.” Luke squeezes my hand. “But I’d like the next date to be just the two of us.”

That would help me not think about Dag through the entire date. And I want that because I’m trying to give Luke a chance.

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