Page 24 of Love Inn Books

When the door shuts, I say to my dog, “Let’s get out of here.”

I lock the office and head home. After I get him fed, I look around at our mostly empty house. I scan the fridge and see nothing remotely appealing and note that I’m also out of beer. I need to go to the store, and I need to get out of this house. I’m restless.

I nab my keys. “I’ll be back, buddy,” I tell him, then head out in search of food. I miss Sasha’s cooking, but I don’t want to go there tonight. As I drive down Main Street, I see Paige’s bus parked in front of Freedom Pie.

What’s she doing here? Is she really on a date? I pull in and park. I need to see what her idea of real romance is. Plus, the thought of her on a date with some other guy is making me crazy.

I scan the restaurant, only to find her in the corner by herself. She’s reading and eating a salad with a small pizza in front of her. She’s alone.

The hostess approaches me and asks, “Table for one?”

“I’m meeting someone, thanks.” I head over to Paige’s table and slide in across from her.

She looks up in surprise, then looks around quickly, then looks back to me.

“How’s your date?” I ask. I steal one of her breadsticks and take a bite, my eyes never leaving hers.

10. paige

Never Going Back Again

I stare at Preston,who’s sitting across from me, casually eating one of my breadsticks. I don’t even know what to say to him when he asks about my date. I’m busted.

Well, the truth is I did have a date. Then when I was getting ready, he texted. He said something like: “Hey, can you send me a photo of yourself right now as proof of what you look like? The thing is, I’ve been catfished a lot by fat chicks. You understand, right?”

Deleted and blocked. I have found this is usually how it goes with dating apps. I moved to Freedom Valley to get away from the big city life with big city jerks and try to find someone maybe in a smaller town who isn’t shallow and gross like city guys. But I’m disappointed that they all seem alike. And now here I am, sitting across from Preston. The exact type of guy I ran from in the city. It never works out for me with good-looking, successful guys. Why is he even here? To gloat?

I sigh and put down my Kindle. I’m clearly not reading any more tonight. “What do you want, Preston?” I take a bite of my salad as I wait for him to answer.

“Just passing by and thought I’d get some pizza. But look, you’re here and you have pizza.” He grins as he takes a slice and starts eating it.

Just then, the server shows up. “Oh, I didn’t know you had someone coming,” she says. Then she turns to Preston. “Can I take your order?”

“I’ll take another pizza just like this one and a piece of tiramisu. Two spoons.” He smiles at her and then turns, locks his eyes on me, and takes another bite of my pizza.

What a little shit.

“And to drink?” she asks.

“Just water, please,” he says. He looks back at me curiously, like he can tell I’m upset or something.

Once the server leaves, he asks, “So what happened?”

“Nothing.” I shrug. “He seemed flaky, so I decided to take myself out instead.”

I confidently flip my hair back and smile at him. But inside, I’m... sad. I’m just not sure nice guys exist anymore. Maybe Preston is right. Maybe love isn’t real. But I’ll be damned if I lethimknow that. He’ll use it for ammunition to mock me for the rest of our time working together. No, thank you.

“Huh. So how’s the real-life romance life, then?” he asks.

“It’s fine. How’syourlove life, Preston?” I challenge back.

“Fine.” He shrugs.

“You should read one,” I say as soon as the idea hits me.

He chokes on his pizza and rubs his chest. “What?” He reaches for his water just as the server sets it down.

“A romance book,” I say. “You should read one. I have the perfect one for you.”

---