Page 22 of We Can Forever

“What about you?” I jut my chin at him.

“What about me?”

“You know what,” I volley back, not letting him get off that easily. “Have you gone on any dates lately?”

He makes a face. “I’m busy. I’ve got my shop, and I have…my cat.” He gazes into the distance, as if considering what he just said, and huffs a laugh. “That sounds pretty lame, doesn’t it?”

“Only a little,” I chuckle. “Are you sure you aren’t making excuses?”

“Trust me, I’ve been looking. On every app.” He pulls out his phone and shows me that he has at least four dating apps installed.

“So you’re on the apps, but you aren’t going on any dates?”

He stuffs his phone back into his pocket. “We’re supposed to be talking about you, not me.”

“Nice dodge.” I don’t try to hide my smirk. “But seriously, maybe you should do more than swipe left. You’re a great guy.”

“Yeah, that’s what they all say,” he retorts, rolling his eyes but looking a bit pleased. “You need to worry about yourself and the lovely lady who’s agreed to another date.”

“Oh, now the advice is back on me. Hypocrite.” I laugh, nudging him with my elbow.

“Well, someone has to help you navigate your way in the dating world. Might as well be the resident ‘great guy,’”

“Okay, so what advice do you have for me?” I’m giving him a hard time, but I’m also being serious. It’s been years since I’ve dated, and I’m so out of practice it’s embarrassing.

“Well,” he begins slowly, tapping on his chin as he formulates his TED Talk. “First, you should always listen more than you talk on a date. People love to feel heard and understood. Second, don’t rush anything. Go at a pace that feels comfortable for both of you. And third, don’t be afraid to show your quirks. Be yourself.”

“Got it.” It’s all probably obvious information to some people, but being out of the game for so long, I’m surprised I’ve even gotten this far with Hannah.

“Oh! And it’s rough out there. That’s why when you see someone special, you’ve got to take a leap.”

“You think Hannah is special?” Of course, that’s my opinion, but I’m eager to hear my closest friend’s two cents.

He takes his time thinking about it. “She seems real. Genuine. And that’s rare. Plus, the way she looked at you…” He whistles.

My skin heats up. “All right, message received.”

“Seriously, it’s good you’re doing this. It’s, uh…”

“What?”

He scratches the back of his neck, looking slightly uncomfortable. “It’s been years. I mean, I know you’ve been with women in that time…”

I look away, not proud of the occasional, casual hookups I’ve indulged in to take the edge off.

“You haven’t dated, though,” he finishes. “Right?”

“Right.” The word tastes acidic and unwelcome, the whole matter one I’ve done my best to avoid.

And for the most part, I have successfully avoided it. Being a single parent is a twenty-four-seven job, a great distraction from anything and everything. The day Katie was born, my every cell became devoted to her.

And then, when Talia wasn’t there anymore… The rest of existence kind of blurred out. All I saw was the little bubble my kid and I were in. It was us against the world.

“Not every woman is like Talia,” Nathan says quietly, as if he can read my mind.

A lump forms in my throat. “I know.”

“And it might have been easy to be an antisocial hermit in a big city, but that won’t fly here. You have too many people looking out for you.”

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