Page 23 of I Think He Knows
A nice man who’s clean-cut handsome and seems kind.
A nice man who’s not Carter.
And this unfortunate little fact hit me like a ton of bricks to the chest when Andrew excused himself to go to the bathroom and the first thing I did was send Carter a picture of my freaking pizza so I could smile at his reaction.
It was immediately clear: Andrew wasn’t the guy who was going to help me get over my feelings for my best friend.
This realization simmered in my gut for the rest of the evening. And because I knew I couldn’t give Andrew what he deserved—a fair chance—I did the only thing thatwasfair: I ended things as we were finishing up our pizza, so things wouldn’t get awkward if he tried to kiss me goodnight or something.
Andrew, being the stand-up guy that he is, accepted this with grace, noting that he had fun with me. He still paid the bill, despite my vehement protests. Because he’s a nice man.
“I ended it. He wasn’t right for me,” I finally admit.
“Sorry, Lan.” His tone is neutral, sincere, but impossible to read.
“Don’t be, I’m good.” I say this with conviction, but I feel ridiculous. I’m burning through dating prospects like matches while Carter goes on date after date with the actual “sexiest woman alive”. I clench my jaw and, most definitely against my best interests, I ask, “How’s Freya? You seeing her tonight?”
“Tomorrow,” he says. “But there’s something I need to be clear about, Freya and I are—”
“Oh, cool. Well, we’ll both be on dates tomorrow night, then!”
What?
There’s a short pause. “Didn’t you just say you ended things with that Andrew guy?”
I look down at my lap and twist my skirt in my hand.“Yup. And now, Mindy’s setting me up with a doctor. A sexy doctor. Saving the best date for last and all that.”
Liar, liar, pants on fire!
Next to me, Mindy has stopped her ridiculous “Baby Got Back” lip-syncing and taken up open-mouthed staring. I stare back at her, widening my eyes. She nods in understanding and whips out her phone.
Let’s hope the doctor has no plans for Saturday night and loves last-minute surprise blind dates.
Because this is what my life has come to.
“The best for last,” Carter repeats, his voice a little far away. And I suddenly feel acutely aware that heisfar away. Over two thousand miles away, to be exact.
I laugh a tad maniacally. “Well, hopefully last. This guy checks off all the boxes on paper, so fingers crossed he’s the one.”
I have no idea what I’m doing right now, but here I am. Designating a person I’ve never so much as laid my eyes on to be my future soulmate. Not crazy at all.
And in exchange for my bucket of crazy, I’m treated to a laugh like a crackling fire in a log cabin—warm, cozy. Something I could bask in forever.
No!Not something to bask in. Something that’s too hot to handle. Something that…
Oh, for goodness sakes. I am so freaking screwed.
“I’ll cross my fingers for you, then. And if Pizza Face stops by tonight, I’ll get him to cross his, too. You know, before he bludgeons me to death.”
“I hear he prefers sharp objects. Likes to make a scene.” Like someone else I know. That person being me. “Have fun with Freya tomorrow.”
“Have fun with McDreamy.” Carter sounds highly amused.
As we hang up, I shake my head and gloomily say, “Please tell me the sexy doctor has no plans for tomorrow night.”
In response, Mindy simply presses her palms to my burning cheeks and looks me in the eye. “Just friends,mybutt.”
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