Page 33 of The Opposite of Romance
“What happened?”
“Just get your ass in the car and come get me.”
I splash some water on my face, not caring about ruining my makeup. This date is ruined enough on its own. My breathing picks up, as moisture stars pooling in my eyes.
It’s not the fact that this was a horrible, awkward date.
It’s not even the fact that he felt like he needed to grit his teeth to get through this date with me.
It’s the fact that his wife left him and Kayla, not caring one bit, and he’s devastated. He misses her and wants her back. David didn’t even shed a tear when I told him our marriage was done. He’s definitely not crying on his dates, if he has them, about his ex-wife who did her fucking best to keep that marriage afloat.
I pat my face dry and pull in a deep breath. Sandy will be here soon and I can’t hide in the bathroom until she arrives. Plus, I have my daughter and her new best friend to think of. It’s those thoughts that carry me back to the dining room.
“Look, I’m really sorry. I truly believed I was ready.” Will avoids eye contact when I get back, looking embarrassed.
“Don’t worry, it’s ok.”
It’s not ok.Why the fuck did he invite me here, of all places?But for the sake of my daughter, I’ll suck up my pride and act polite. I shoot him a half-smile, best I can muster and leave the restaurant to wait for Sandy.
Five minutes later, her CR-V brakes in front of me with less grace than she probably intended. I grab the door, pulling my ass inside before sighing loudly.
She stares for a second, not brave enough to ask me anything. I take pity on her.
“He cried. Over his ex-wife.” I keep my gaze ahead, but notice she winces in my peripheral vision. “Before we even ordered the food.”
A moment of silence passes. “Well … I guess it’s better than leavingafteryou ordered.”
A half-hysterical laugh tears out from me, and she joins in. Desperation and resignation swirl in my chest, exiting my body on a laugh.
I release an audible breath, finally calming down. “Where’s the list?”
“What?” She puts the car in drive and gets back out onto the road.
“Your little list, with the tropes. Do you have it?”
“Umm, yeah. My purse.”
I grab her purse and dig through it until I find the list and a pen. “I think small town single dad was a bust,” I say, crossing it off the list.
“Good thing there are an infinite number of romance tropes.” She shoots me a cautious look, as if she’s waiting for me to snap.
“Yeah, good thing.” I was actually hopeful about the whole thing, but after these two dates, my expectations have dropped significantly. “When do you need to be home?”
“Not soon. Stella’s asleep.”
“Good. I’m starving.”
“I know just the place.” She grins and steps on the gas.
A few minutes later, we’re parking in front of a pizza place right off the Main Street. A few people check us out when we enter it, so we rush to the nearest empty table. We must look ridiculous, me in a fancy date attire and her practically in pajamas, but I couldn’t care less.
Time with Sandy is exactly what I need right now.
“I don’t want you to lose hope, Sades. Maybe third time’s the charm,” she says after we order our pizzas.
The scent of pizza is ingrained in this place, and my stomach grumbles. “I’m not losing hope.”Fully.“It’s justthat…” I slurp my coke through a straw. “I’m so horny,” I add on a whisper.
Sandy giggles, her own straw in her mouth.
