Page 62 of Sweet Rivals

TheBakingChick: Yep.

I didn’t remember if I had ever told him the specific beach I lived at, seems like a stupid move, but I must have.

PotatoBake888: Alright, let’s meet at the fudge place on the boardwalk.

That was probably public enough. But also took us dangerously close to the bakery. What if Jared saw us? Oh! What if Jared saw us! I would love to see his face when he saw me on a date. Now I had to make it happen.

PotatoBake888: How about tomorrow at twelve. If you don’t think I am a total weirdo, I can take you out to lunch.

TheBakingChick: Sounds good.

PotatoBake888: See you tomorrow.

I stared at those words for longer than was healthy. Was this a mistake? No matter how I imagined this going, it felt like the answer to that question was yes, of course it was. Still, even if this meeting crashed a burned, there was a potential silver lining. Maybe Jared’s ego could be taken down a notch by seeing me with a date, then it would all be well worth it. But I wasn’t sure my own ego, or fragile heart, could handle the pain of it not working.

When I finally closed the computer and got into bed, I stared at the ceiling as shadows danced in the dark. Excitement and terror mixed with utter confusion as I thought about meeting PotatoBake888. He was everything I wanted, and yet I couldn’t stop thinking about Jared. How had I gone from swearing off all romance to having two complicated men occupy all my thoughts?

Chapter Forty-Three

In the light of the day, I regretted all my choices. Every single choice I had ever made in my life up until the moment of getting dressed in a cute sundress and walking out my door felt like the worst possible mistake.

Jenna: Going to meet a stranger on the boardwalk. If you don’t hear from me in an hour, send search and rescue.

I sent the text to Cat. She had been texting me for a week asking if I was okay and what had happened with Jared, and I had ignored her. I felt kind of bad springing this insane news on her, but it couldn’t be helped. Someone had to know.

I walked to the beach like I was walking to my own funeral. I should have been excited, but I just felt anxious. Anxious that he was a creep. That I would fall for him, but he wouldn’t have feelings for me. Anxious that if Jared saw us, he would be upset—which was the whole point but also somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I didn’t want to see him upset. Too late now. I was on my way. There was a chance Jared didn’t show up at all, which also upset me.

I got to the boardwalk early. It occurred to me as I climbed the steps that he might get there early too, and then I wouldn’t have the extra time I wanted to wrap my head around meeting this absolute stranger who wasn’t a stranger at all. People dated online all the time. I was overthinking this—like everything.

I got to the fudge shop and spun in a circle like an idiot but didn’t see anyone that looked like they were looking for someone. So, I sat on the bench out front and waited, watching the people passing by in their happy little vacation bubbles and wishing I could switch places with them.

I looked at my phone. Five past twelve. Oh my God, was he going to stand me up? I took a deep breath and told myself to stop being crazy. I sat with my leg bouncing up and down, checking my phone every few minutes. When he was fifteen minutes late, I felt like an idiot. He wasn’t going to show.

What was wrong with me? Was I so awful that no one wanted me?

When Jared materialized out of the crowd, interrupting my self-loathing, tears burned my eyes. My brilliant plan of making Jared jealous had backfired tremendously. Now, I found myself heartbroken and vulnerable all over again. I looked down at my flip flops, hoping he would get the hint and keep walking. Of course, my luck wouldn’t be that good. I felt his arm brush mine as he sat down beside me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, grasping desperately at anger rather than heartbreak.

“Walking to the bakery,” he said with a shrug.

“Well, you can keep walking,” I said. “I’m waiting for someone.”

“Who?” he asked.

“None of your business.” I turned away so I could more discretely wipe away an errant tear.

“Listen, I know you hate me with the fiery passion of a million suns and all that, but could you walk with me for just a second?” he asked.

“I just said I am waiting for someone,” I said.

“It will only take a second. Your friend can wait,” he said.

I looked up and down the boardwalk to see if any men were walking with purpose toward the bench we sat on. I didn’t want to go with Jared, but I also couldn’t bear the thought of waiting like a fool.

“Fine,” I said. “But just because I am coming with you, doesn’t mean I forgive you.”

“Of course not,” he said.