“I guess.” Seven months and two weeks, actually.
Mack and Brad nodded.
“More than time to get back in the saddle.”
“I know. I, ah, I actually have a blind date tomorrow night.” That he’d been dreading.
The group as one stared openmouthed at Reggie.
He scowled. “What? You wanted me to go on a date. I’m going on one tomorrow.”
They all started talking at the same time. “With who?” “How did you meet her?” “Prove she’s real or I’m calling your sisters.”
Reggie held up his hands in surrender. “Whoa. Hold on. The woman is real. She’s a friend of my sister’s. She works at one of the colleges and is single.”
“How old?” Tex asked. “Sixty? Seventy? Older?”
“Ass. She’s close to my age, I think.” He hoped. Reggie didn’t mind an older woman, but he didn’t think he was ready to date a grandma yet. With his sisters’ views on dating younger women, he knew his date would be nowhere near her teenage years.
“Which sister set you up?” Mack asked. “Because if it’s Lisa, you’re probably okay. But if it’s Nadia…” Mack cringed.
“He has a point.” Tex nodded. “I love your sisters, but Nadia had a warped sense of humor.” He grinned. “Love that gal.”
“It was Lisa. Trust me, I thought about that,” Reggie said. Mack had the right of it about Lisa being the safer bet. “You guys aren’t helping, you know. Hell, maybe I should cancel.”
“No, you should go.” Brad nodded. “Look, how bad can it be? You go to dinner with a lovely woman even your sister approves of, you eat, enjoy the company, and if you’re lucky, you connect and meet up for a second date.”
Mack frowned. “Huh. I thought you were going to say, ‘If you’re lucky, you don’t go home alone.’”
Tex nodded. “Or: ‘If you’re lucky, you find a few hours in the sack with someone special.’ A second date?” Tex rolled his eyes at Brad. “Nice, choir boy.”
Mack snickered, and even Reggie couldn’t hold back a smile at Brad’s blush.
“Dickheads,” Brad muttered. “It’s not wrong to like the one you’re with.”
“We know that, Brad. But seeing you in touch with your emotional side is just… It’s beautiful.” Tex wiped fake tears, which had Mack laughing even harder.
Brad sighed. “It’s Avery’s fault. She keeps making me watch these fix-my-life reality shows.”
“I love those.” Mack nodded. “Iyanla really knows what she’s talking about.” He paused as everyone looked at him. “What? I’m serious.”
Reggie laughed, needing this time with his friends. Because who knew what tomorrow would bring? Then again, Brad had a point. How bad could it be?
***
It was beyond awful. His date was pretty, pleasant, and funny. Or she had been until she’d jumped him when they’d settled inside his car after dinner. Reggie had turned to thank her for the night and been kissed, groped, and straddled for dear life.
It had been a while since he’d had sex, and having a gorgeous woman rub all over him had caused an erection to pop in seconds. But damn, he didn’t want any of it.
The date had reminded him of how much heartbreak would come at the end of it all. All the smiles and laughter couldn’t make up for the tears later. And the sex, while relieving, would only complicate matters with a woman Reggie wasn’t sure he liked that much. Funny and pleasant sure the hell weren’t the same as hilarious and captivating.
He’d nicely but firmly told her no, having to grasp her wrists to stop her from fondling him.
Since he’d driven them both—huge mistake—he had to take her home. So he got to experience her mortified tears, self-loathing, and venom for his leading her on by telling her she’d looked pretty.
By the time he’d dropped her off, he was ready to drink.
And then his sisters and father texted to remind him about Sunday morning breakfast. Where they’d proceed to grill him on the date, that was, if the woman didn’t confess what a poor companion Reggie had been before then.
Shoot me now.
***
Maggie politely declined an invitation to dinner from one of the new guys, for the third time this week, at the law firm where she worked part-time, filing. On the plus side, he looked close to her own age, was single, and didn’t live with his parents.
But shouldn’t the lawyers know better than to try interoffice relationships? She’d been down this same road before. At her last summer job, in fact, in a different office. If this one happened like the last one, she could envision the future. They’d go out, he’d offer to buy dinner. Then he’d expect her to sleep with him. If he didn’t and actually turned out to be a nice guy, he’d want to continue dating, not understanding when she needed to take time to be with Emily or Doug and Benny.
And this new guy would definitely be offended when she didn’t drop everything to see him through some drama or other. She’s already gotten the sense he was high-maintenance from his paralegal, who had a habit of rolling her eyes anytime she left his office.
Maggie needed this job to enjoy a pleasant summer before school started again in the fall. Though on a teacher’s salary, Maggie lived well within her means and could technically afford not to work a summer job. But a part-time job did wonders for her budget.
Smiling, she bumped into one of the senior partners and earned a frown. First time since she’d been working there that she’d seen that happen. Normally he was all smiles.
“Ms. Swanson, it’s come to my attention that there’s been some inappropriate behavior with you and one of our lawyers. We should discuss this in my office.”
She looked beyond him at the new guy sitting in front of the boss’s desk. Jeez, had he even waited ten seconds before telling on her for not being nice?
With a sigh, she said, “Is this where you warn me to be nicer to the new guy, or where you try to fire me for some type of relationship New Guy invented?”
The senior partner frowned. “Please, come into my office, Ms. Swanson.”
The latter then.
She followed him but didn’t bother to sit. “I’ve been working here for a month. In that time, I have been nothing but on time and professional. I do my job, and I do it well. I offer to cover for those who are late or need help.”
“But—”
“I’m talking,” she said to shut down the new guy. To the senior partner, she continued, “Now, because I told our newest partner that I didn’t think going out on a date would be a good idea, I’m in here to get a lecture about office policies. And note, I have told him no not once, but three times.”