Page 28 of Broken Dreams
She nods, hand over her mouth.
After our dance, we sat at the bar, talking about what we thought this first week should look like and how to proceed. We both have kids, and while they’re toddlers and would never remember this, he and I agreed that we needed to act with their best interests in mind. So, the first week will really be just like if we started dating for real. A weekend dinner, a movie, maybe a surprise lunch, but nothing with the kids unless it’s about school or something.
Also, we agreed we didn’t need some elaborate lie, we just stick to the truth, minus the fake-dating agreement.
“You know I had a date on Saturday?”
“Yes, with Dan, right?”
“He was a total creep. Grady’s date stood him up, he heard the things Dan said, stepped in, and we ended up getting a drink at the bar. One thing led to another, we danced, laughed, and then he asked me out again.”
Chloe’s cheeks are going to hurt from how hard she’s smiling. “And you said yes!”
“To a date, Chloe, not marriage.” Sheesh. She wasn’t this excited about anyone else. “Why are you beaming?”
“Because Grady is hot! Like super hot. Not only that, he’s one of us. He gets you and what you’ve been through. I don’t know, it just seems perfect.”
At this rate she’s going to be picking out invitations.
“Nothing is perfect. We know that.”
She waves me off. “Yeah, yeah, but I don’t know, this has potential.”
I rest my hand on hers. “Potential to go either way so...reel it in.”
“It’s reeled.”
I laugh once. “It’s so not.”
“I’m working on it.”
“Okay.”
That wasn’t so hard. It’s all true, and he did ask me out for Friday and then if I’d like to go to his brother’s for a barbeque. He assured me it wouldn’t be a thing, but the sooner we went around his family, the better.
Therefore, technically, we are dating.
At least that’s my story.
“So you danced?”
I nod. “I’m shocked you haven’t heard all the details. I already got a text from Devney about it.”
“I’m low on the gossip line. It’s always the Arrowoods who get it first. So, you danced, how many times?”
“Two.”
“Did he cop a feel?”
I roll my eyes. “Did you hit your head? What is wrong with you?”
Chloe has always been excitable, but this is next level, even for her.
“Nothing, I’m just hopeful, that’s all. I’m also really proud of you for putting yourself out there.”
“I won’t lie, after that last date, I was ready to call it quits.”
She gives me a sad smile. “I get it. I had more Dans and Phils than I care to admit. It’s why I just can’t do it anymo—”
