Page 107 of Sloane

“There’s nothing wrong with dating a nice guy.”

“No, there’s not—as long as there’s a spark. I will not allow you to be with someone who doesn’t make you feel butterflies. He needs to make you feel like you could conquer the world with him by your side.”

The only guy to ever make me feel like I could conquer the world bailed when I needed him the most.

Jeff really was nice. And handsome. And successful.

And he did absolutely nothing for me.

I wasn’t lying when I’d told Tammy we’d had a nice time—we had. It had been a perfectly adequate evening. The doctor was a gentleman. He was polite to the server and had tipped well. We had a friendly conversation on the boardwalk, and he’d walked me to my car, where he kissed my cheek and offered an awkward hug goodbye.

Obviously, he didn’t feel any chemistry either, which maybe was just as well, considering we worked together.

So, I was shocked when I texted to let him know I’d made it home okay, and he replied by asking me to go the WWP fundraising carnival the following Friday. I didn’t hesitate to accept the invitation.

Maybe I’d never again feel the chemistry I had with Sloane. And maybe that was okay.

I needed it to be okay.

Look what passion had gotten me. Although, I was the first to admit I wouldn’t trade Millie for the world, so no regrets there. But it hurt that Sloane hadn’t even wanted to know her.

I shook my head as if to lose any more thoughts of the Marine.

“I’m a mom now. I have to think like one. I need someone I can rely on. Someone who will be a good husband and dad.”

“All great goals, but I’m still not letting you settle,” my friend warned again.

“Butterflies are overrated,” I shot back.

“You can have both, ya know. Butterflies and someone who would make a good partner and father.”

I laid a burp cloth over my shoulder, then adjusted Millie so I could pat her back to release any trapped air.

“I don’t know if that’s true—at least for me. The one time I thought I’d found him, he knocked me up and bailed.”

“At least he didn’t leave you with an ugly kid.”

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Leave it to Tam to find the silver lining.

“It’s water under the bridge. I’ve moved on to bigger and better things!”

Maybe if I said it with enough enthusiasm, I could will it to be true. What was the saying? Fake it ‘til you make it?

“Your soulmate is out there. Just be patient.”

“I have a daughter to think about. I don’t have the luxury of waiting to find the perfect guy who checks all the boxes off my list. Passion and butterflies might have to be sacrificed in favor of other, more practical things.”

“Don’t let that asshole sour you on true love.”

I shrugged. “It’s fine. I don’t need a soulmate. You know what? I don’t need anyone. My friends and family are enough.”

Tammy was gracious enough to not call me on my pity-party bullshit, and nodded, although she murmured under her breath, “I’m still not letting you settle, though.”

Changing the subject, I asked, “How’s everything going with Mr. Friends with Benefits?”

“Fine. The sex is great.”

I raised my eyebrows at her. “It sounds like maybe I should worry about you settling.”

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