Page 17 of Perfect Enough

Me: Doesn’t everyone like dogs?

Josh: THANK YOU! I said the same thing.

Me: Who doesn’t like dogs?

Josh: This girl I went on a date with last night. When I told her a story about the dog I had growing up, she screwed up her face and asked me why I would ever want a dog. I was floored.

Me: I hope you got up and left her with the check.

Josh: LOL! I didn’t, but when she asked when we could see each other again in a text this morning, I told her I was spending the evening with my dog. It was a white lie…I don’t have a dog. She then proceeded to tell me she didn’t think we were compatible after all, after which I sent a thank you to the dating gods.

I laughed…and wondered why I was relieved he hadn’t spent the entire night with his date.

“Why are you laughing, and who has you smiling like that? I haven’t seen that smile in months, Sophia!”

Nearly dropping the phone, I jumped when my mother entered my office.

“Mom? I thought you were on a cruise.”

She gave me a confused look. “I was. I just got home.”

I closed my eyes. “Right, sorry, I forgot today was Thursday. How was it?”

Putting her hands on her hips, she tilted her head. “Stop avoiding the question. Who are you talking to?”

“No one.”

“Sophia!”

“I’m not talking to anyone, Mother. I am, however, texting someone.”

“Who?” she asked, slipping into the chair on the other side of my desk.

Feeling my throat tighten and my hands start to sweat, I frantically tried to come up with a waynotto involve my new text friend. But before I knew it, the word was out of my mouth before I could stop it.

“Josh.”

Her brows rose. “Josh?”

Nodding, I replied, “Yep.”Oh, God, please don’t let her see right through me.

“Josh…as in?”

I cleared my throat. “The guy I’m talking to.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What does that mean? And you just said you weren’ttalkingto anyone, but texting.”

Well…here goes nothing.

“We’re seeing each other.”

Her eyes lit up, and her body nearly vibrated with excitement. “You’re dating someone?”

Pressing my mouth into a tight line, I nodded. “Yep.”

“Well, how long have you been seeing him?”

I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my back, and it took everything I had not to squirm in my seat. I blew out some air before saying, “Just about three weeks.”