Page 41 of The Love Wager

“You are lying,” Hallie said, leaning her backside against the wall. “No one would say that on a first date.”

“It was my fault.” He put his hands in his pockets and said, “I made the mistake of saying, ‘I would totally respect a woman who just straight up says what she’s looking for.’ ”

“Well.” Hallie rolled her eyes. “You asked for it.”

“Right?”

“Stephen’s going to come looking for me or think I have diarrhea—I have to go.”

“Do you want out?” Jack asked, looking concerned, and she wasn’t sure why the sweet expression on his face made her stomach flip.

“What?”

“Do you want out of your date early, or are you still feeling it out?”

That made her laugh. “He refers to his dogs as ‘the twins,’ so I definitely want out. But I don’t want to be rude; Stephen’s a nice guy.”

Jack took a step toward the men’s room door and said, “I’ve got you. Just blink three times when you want to ditch for tacos.”

Hallie giggled and blinked three times with obnoxious obviousness.

He gave her a chin nod before they both went into their respective restrooms. When Hallie got back to the table, Stephen was scrolling through his phone.

“Sorry I took so long,” she said, feeling guilty, “but my mom texted and it was a whole thing.”

“Oh, is everything okay?”

He looked genuinely concerned, and she was a bit bummed that she’d gotten the ick. Because he was attractive, successful, and friendly—a perfect catch for so many people. He should’ve been the perfect catch forher, but no, he had to care too much about his dogs.

Which she didn’t even know could happen.

Was she a monster?

“Oh, it’s fine, my mother is just—”

The hostess showed up at the table and said, “Excuse me, are you Hallie Piper?”

“Yes...?” Hallie glanced at Stephen, then back at the hostess.

“Your mother called, and she said to tell you that your ‘Auntie Helen is at it again, and you need to meet them in ten minutes if there’s any shot of stopping her from making the hugest mistake of her life.’ ”

Hallie swallowed.“What?”

“Is this what your mother was texting you about?” Stephen asked.

“Huh?” Hallie looked at Stephen.

“In the bathroom,” Stephen said, as if he was waiting for her to catch up. “You said it was a whole thing...?”

“Oh.” She blinked and tried thinking through what was happening. She’d made up a lie about texting her mom, but now Jack’s plan was... involving her mom...? Hallie nodded and said, “Yeah, this is that. That whole thing. Um, I thought she was over it, but clearly she still thinks my aunt needs help.”

Hallie rolled her eyes and shook her head as if she found the entire thing exhausting.

“Do you need to go meet them?” he asked.

“I probably should,” Hallie said. “I mean, we’re already finished with dinner, so we’re almost done anyway, right?”

Stephen looked like he was trying to figure out if she was crapping out on the date or if she was legitimately in possession of a wacko aunt and overbearing mother. He nodded. “Yes. Yes, you should totally go.”

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