Page 65 of More Than a Blind Date

“You’ll be perfect for the job.” She pats my arm. “I’ll arrange an interview.”

“Thank you so much, Tandy.”

“My absolute pleasure.”

I’m loving my newfound family. Floofy is too.

CHAPTER 28

DALLAS

I’ve made it three whole days without speaking to a single soul. Any business dealings I’ve handled through text. Anderson has called five times, and I’ve sent him to voicemail every single time.

Sleep isn’t happening because when I lie down at night, I hear Rose sobbing. I sat on her porch for thirty minutes, waiting for the torture to end. But by now, she’s busy getting the new location stocked with flowers and ready for the grand opening.

And if I think about Rose getting to do what she loves, it makes breathing a bit easier. Avoiding people helps too. But I ran out of bread yesterday. And I’m down to a few crackers and one serving of peanut butter. I don’t even have jelly.

So I’m going to risk being around people.

I’ll run to Keyhole and have lunch at the diner. It’s out of the way, and it’s unlikely I’ll run into anyone from Matchmaker or Stargazer Springs. A hot meal and more time alone are what I need.

Colt’s truck isn’t by the barn, so I don’t have to pretend I don’t see him. That’s a relief. And I avoid driving by the brand-new rec building where Tandy has her office. She’s busy planning activities for the couple that’s about to subjectthemselves to cupid’s arrow. If they only knew how much it can hurt.

With the windows down and the radio blaring, I make my way down the country road to the diner.

After parking, I pull my hat low and make my way to the corner table. I don’t need a menu to know what I want. It’s Thursday, and the special is meatloaf. That’s what I’m having.

Someone bumps the table, but I don’t look up. That only invites conversation, which is what I absolutely do not want. I plan to speak only to the waitress when she asks for my order.

“What can I get ya, hun?” The waitress sounds like she’s in a hurry.

“The daily special. And a coffee.”

“Got it. And what about you, sweetheart?”

Who is she talking to?

Colt says, “I’ll have the special and a large Coke. And this’ll all be on one check.”

“Coming right up.”

I cannot sit here and pretend that he’s not sitting across the table. “Hey.”

“By the looks of it, by that I mean you, things with Rose didn’t go well.”

“I heard that her parents were going to let her run the new location, which is what she wants with all her heart, but only if she broke it off with me. I could’ve handled the ending better. Her sobs on the other side of the door still ring in my ears, but what other choice did I have?”

“Is that a rhetorical question or do you want me to answer? Either way, I’m going to tell you what I think. You could’ve chosen to talk to her.”

“I know what Rose wants. She told me.”

“What else did she say?”

“You seriously want me to relive the conversation? It was hard enough the first time. Her last words to me were ‘I thought you were different.’ I don’t even know what that means.”

“I do.” Colt leans back as the waitress sets down our drinks. Then he tears the paper off one end of the straw wrapper and blows, pegging me in the face with paper. “She asked for your help because her parents were trying to run her life. They were trying to make decisions for her. Do I need to say that part again?”

I blink. “Okay, so maybe I messed up a little. But she wants to run that store. She told me when we were at the hotel.” I close my eyes and feel Rose snuggled against me.

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