Page 19 of One More Chance

“The words you’re looking for are infuriating and intimidating,” she says.

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Listen, he comes off like that, sure. But he’s not doing it on purpose. He’s not arrogant. He’s actually a really genuine person,” she says.

I narrow my eyes at her, unsure if she’s being truthful.

“Trust me. I saw him before he was this way, too. When he was just skinny little Jensen no one paid any attention to,” she adds.

“And he was the same?”

“At his core, yeah. The package is a little different. And the flare, sure. But he’s never stopped being who he’s always been.” Cora finishes the last bite of her fudge bar and walks out of the kitchen, taking a call from her mystery date.

We’ve all come to learn that his name is Alan, and he’s a minor league baseball player of some sort, but we don’t know of the team.

I think about what she said, the things Jensen has said, and while he’s a great friend so far, I realize that’s all he’ll ever be. And, it’s a little difficult to practice dating with someone who isn’t actually interested in you. You can only take the practice so far.

I should set up real dates. I think I have to.

Jensen steps inside the kitchen, interrupting my thoughts and looking around like he expected someone else to be in here.

“Cora’s upstairs I think,” I tell him.

“What’s your idea of a perfect date?” he asks.

“Me?”

“Of course you,” he says.

“I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it,” I confess.

“Well, think about it.” He laughs.

I sit back in my chair at the kitchen table, my eyes darting around the space to avoid landing on him. “I always wanted to take one of those cooking classes for couples, where you prepare the meal together then sit and eat it at a nice little table. Charles thought it sounded stupid. He never wanted to go camping, either. I always loved camping when I was a kid. Sorry, this is turning into a things-Charles-hatedlist,” I say, laughing.

“Maybe they’re sort of the same list,” he says, and I never thought the truth could sting so much. Such a simple truth. But perhaps he’s right. “What else?”

“Campfires. Swimming in the lake. He never bought me a teddy bear. I thought everyone did that. He said they were stupid and we were adults.”

Jensen stands there quietly, like he’s calculating a plan, like he’s sorting out the details of something. “Okay. Tomorrow, after I get back from the music shop, meet me on the porch. I’ll figure everything else out.”

I nod, not entirely sure what I’ve signed up for, but on board nonetheless. I shrug. How bad could it be?

I scroll through my phone until I get to where I was going before I was sidetracked.

Steve:Hey :)

Me: Hi there.

I don’t put the smile at the end of my response because it’s stupid. However, I’m willing to overlook it on his end because desperate times and all. Beggars and choosers and whatnot. Maybe it won’t be so bad. It’s not like the smile will be at the end of every single text he sends. Maybe he’s just trying to seem non-threatening in the beginning.

I hear the unmistakable and apparently very specific app notification tone ding.

And here we go.