Page 20 of Five
My own margarita has left a circle of moisture on the metal table, and I trace a finger through it. “I figured I’d tell you tonight.”
“And yet I still had to drag it out of you.”
“Caro… It’s just not something I want to think about.” I look down into the bowl of my nearly empty margarita glass. Lifting a finger, I motion to the waitress for another. “It brings back memories, you know. All the police cars and stuff...”
Caroline nods. “Yeah. I get that.”
I look at her and know that yes, she does get it. She’s been there since the beginning…knows that any kind of interaction with the police is bound to remind me of my brother. A long look passes between us, and she visibly shakes herself.
“Okay, you’re off the hook. So now that’s out of the way…let’s not think about it anymore. I have news.”
I resolve to be less fixated on myself and my problems and sit up straighter in the booth. “Okay, hit me with it.”
Caroline vibrates with excitement. “I found the app to end all other apps.” At my look of confusion, she shifts closer, leaning over the table on her forearms. “A dating app, you goober.”
“Oh.” I wave my hands before me. “Nope. No, thank you. I am really not about dating anyone right now.”
“Shut it. You remember that girl Jude? From Chandler U? With the three boyfriends? You were fascinated by her.”
I remember. Caroline was a few years younger than we were, while Jude was in classes with me, a fellow student at Chandler University around a decade ago when Caroline and I were there. Some weird computer error had placed her in a dorm with three of the hottest guys on campus, and instead of telling anyone and getting moved to a girls’ dorm, she ended up falling in love with and getting married to the three of them.
We ended up working together at a local restaurant-bar and becoming good friends, and yes–I was fascinated. Still am, if I’m honest.
Heat suffuses me at the memory of walking in on her having sex with the three of them after their graduation party years ago.
The idea of having not one, but three men to warm her cold feet at night and leave the toilet seat up still boggles my mind a little. We all knew, though, when she hitched her star to those of Galen, Ezra, and Baron in college, that they would be together forever.
It’s unconventional, but to each their own.
“Yeah, yeah…I remember. And then you did all that research and found that woman…what was her name?”
“Violet Gordon-Woodhouse. She had what, four husbands?”
“Something like that. My hero.” I fan my hand across my chest and flutter my eyelashes.
Caroline laughs. “Anyway, I found a dating app for people who are interested in polyamory. It’s literally called PolyApp. I almost died when I found it, and Nevee… you are going to use it. Gimme your phone.”
"I'm too busy for dating."
She wags her finger at me. "I don't think so. You are thirty-two-years old, andmybiological clock is ticking, for God's sake. Phone."
I have no resistance when Caroline snatches my phone and unlocks it. She downloads the app and immediately starts setting up a profile, beginning with several selfies while we’re sitting there in the booth.
She knows I won’t do it, otherwise.
As we leave the Harbor Lizards later that night, I give Caroline a hug and wave my phone at her. “As intriguing as this is, I just want you to know that I have no intentions of using this app. I’m not in the right place for it.”
I haven’t dated in a while. Life is too busy with the daycare, and I have impossible ideals of what I want. Last time I used a dating app, it was exhausting trying to weed through the duds. Especially when in the end…they were all duds.
Caroline laughs. “Yeah, okay. You’ll have a date by this weekend.”
Shaking my head, I stick my tongue out at her and leave.
The hell I will.
That night, though, I find myself scrolling through the images of guys out there searching for a woman to share the love with their friends. They’re weirdly not…weird. Most of them appear normal, anyway.
One in particular catches my attention. Oliver with the leagues-deep blue eyes and a soulful expression that hints at secrets. Oliver, who touts himself as a hopeless romantic and an introvert who loves reading and sitting around watching the sun set.
