Page 19 of The One

“My point is, you said he asked you to get dinner?”

“He did,” she said.

“Then you know he’s interested. This proves you are too. Text him now. Make a comment on George. This one over here is going to fall asleep eating. See if George is passed out.”

She looked at Ben and noticed his eyes drooping as the remains of his sandwich were clutched in his fist.

“I can’t.”

“You can,” Whitney said. “If you want to. I’m not trying to push.”

“Sounds like pushing to me,” she said while Whitney picked Ben up.

“You’re right. It is. Maybe you need that. I’m going to change him and get him down for his nap. Don’t leave on me.”

“I won’t,” she said.

She finished her lunch while she sat there trying to decide if she should reach out to Rick or not. What would she say? She so wasn’t good at these things.

Whitney was right though. Rick brought up dinner. She could at least reach out and make contact. She’d do what Whitney suggested.

Ben fell asleep eating lunch. I got a mental image of George’s face in a food bowl while he was sleeping.

There. That wasn’t so bad. He might not even respond anytime soon. He could have plans today. He did say he’d reach out later.

But she saw the bubbles on her screen and waited to see what was going on. Then they stopped. Crap, he was going to leave her on read. It would serve her right.

A minute later a picture popped up of the puppy on his back, his front paws up and bent, nice and relaxed, the back legs spread out flat. The dog was on his bed with a blanket half on his chest. Talk about spoiled.

“What’s so funny?” Whitney asked, walking into the room.

She moved her phone over to show Whitney.

“That’s adorable. You texted him I see.”

“I did. I commented on Ben passing out and asked if George did. I don’t know what to say now.”

“You really do suck at this dating thing,” Whitney said. “Say what comes naturally. Tell him how cute that is or something. Isn’t it what you thought?”

“It is,” she said, feeling like a fool.

He looks comfortable. And spoiled.

She waited to see if he read it and then the bubbles started to move. “What’s he saying?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “He’s typing.”

“See how much fun this is,” Whitney said.

“Easy for the married pregnant woman to say. I bet you didn’t think it was so much fun when you were single.”

“You’re right,” Whitney said.

The message popped up.He is both. If it’s not too forward or fast, got plans tonight?

“Oh my God, he wants to have dinner tonight,” she screeched, then slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, I don’t want to wake Ben.”

“Nothing wakes him when he’s out like this. Tell him yes. Unless you’ve got another hot date.”