Page 84 of Keep My Heart
‘You think you’ll start dating again?’ I blurt out.
He smiles. ‘That came out of nowhere.’
I feel my face burning up. ‘Yeah, sorry, I don’t know why I asked that. It’s none of my business.’
‘You can ask. We’re friends. You can ask me anything. And the answer is no. I don’t think I’ll be dating anytime soon.’
‘Why?’
‘I’m too busy with work to give a relationship the time it needs.’
I nod, my gaze going to my wine as I swirl it around the glass.
‘How about you? You going to sign up for some dating apps when you get back?’
I shrug. ‘I don’t know. I probably should, but I’m dreading it. I don’t even know how those things work.’
‘They’re easy. I can help if you have questions. But if you’re dreading getting back out there, you might want to wait. Attitude is a big part of having success on those things. If you’re only on there because you think you have to be, it’ll come across on the date. I went out with some women who were clearly sick of dating and fed up with men and it made for a really uncomfortable date.’
‘I just don’t think I can wait. I’m not getting any younger.’
‘Maybe just wait a month or two. Focus on yourself and doing all the things you didn’t get to do when you were with Chris. Thatmight help you get in a better frame of mind before getting out there again.’
‘That’s a good idea.’ I take another drink of my wine, then set the glass down. ‘Or maybe I’ll just be single.’
‘You don’t want that, do you? To be single the rest of your life?’
‘No, but it’s better than settling down with the wrong person just so I’m not alone.’
‘The right person is out there. You just need to find him.’
I have. He’s sitting across the table from me.
The waitress returns. ‘Can I get you anything else?’
Nick looks at me to answer.
‘I’m good,’ I tell her.
‘You don’t want another glass?’ Nick asks, noticing my wine is almost gone.
‘No. I should probably get home.’
His gaze pauses on me a moment before he looks back at the waitress. ‘We’ll take the check.’
She leaves and comes right back with the check, setting it on the table before taking off again.
‘Is everything okay?’ Nick asks.
‘Yeah.’ I force out a smile. ‘I’m just tired. It was a long day.’
‘You want to get out of here?’
I nod and get up as he puts money down for the check.
I’m quiet on the drive back to the house, my heart already breaking from the loss of a guy I never even dated.
‘You don’t have to walk me to the door,’ I say as Nick takes off his seatbelt.
