Page 78 of More Than a Good Friend

Ava sighs. “Dag is trying so hard to be a good friend. It’s obvious he cares about you. And I’d even venture a guess that if you weren’t dating someone, he might express other feelings. But that’s only a guess. No little bird has whispered in my ear.”

I blink, letting her words sink in. “I’d love for that to be true. We’ll see.”

She slides a finger across her lips, letting me know that our conversation stays between us, then taps the doorframe. “All right. Everything here looks clean. Go start your weekend.”

“Thanks, Ava. I hadn’t looked at it that way. But even if that’s not the case, Luke isn’t for me, which is a shame because he is a great guy.”

“He just isn’t Dag.” She grins. “Love has a funny way of surprising us. It’s often unexpected.”

Like a kangaroo in the Hill Country.

* * *

Luke wavesas I walk toward the restaurant. He chose a place halfway between us, which was thoughtful. I still have no idea what I’m going to say because “It’s not you; it’s me” seems cliché even if in this case it’s true.

His smile is tight, but he greets me with a hug, which has become the norm. “Ready for the weekend?”

“Yes. There’s a parade in town and a big dance. Everyone is talking about it.”

“Sounds fun.” He pulls out my chair, then eases into the seat across from me. “I need to tell you something. My plan was to bring it up in conversation after we’d eaten, but that seems unfair.”

I brace, ready to get dumped before I have a chance to end things. “Okay?”

“I’m moving. This has been fun, and I really like spending time with you, but part of the reason I was so busy and not able to see you often was because I was flying to Tennessee for interviews.”

Sipping water, I let him talk, relieved that I don’t have to figure out how to tell him that he’s the bird in the hand.

“I don’t get the sense you have any interest in leaving Texas, and we’re not really in a place where asking you to continue this long distance feels reasonable.”

“Long-distance isn’t what I’m wanting.”

“I thought as much. I’m not leaving for another two weeks. Maybe we could go to that parade tomorrow? As friends.”

I nod. “Sure.”

“Great. And maybe Dag and his girlfriend want to join us. It would give me a chance to say goodbye.”

“I’ll ask him.” In all my thinking about Dag, I’d forgotten about Gabby. He doesn’t talk about her, but that doesn’t mean anything. I haven’t said much to Dag about Luke.

Maybe the efforts he’s made to become the kind of guy I’d really like to date have been made because of Gabby. If she’s been dating him and teaching him how to be a great boyfriend, she deserves to reap the reward.

I’ll just go back to my dating apps and hope for the best. Or even good because the best passed me by.

* * *

When I get home,I shoot off a text to Dag.

Me:Luke and I are going to the parade. Late notice but any chance you want to double date?

Dots appear immediately, then stop. After several seconds they start again.

The Hot One:Yes. Gabby and I would love to join y’all. Fun!

Fun isn’t how I would put it, but it’ll be something.

Six months, and life has somehow gotten worse. I’m still single, and Dag has decided to give up his partying ways for a twenty-something who is genuinely nice.

And it hurts.

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