Page 16 of Country Contract

I walk with Blake in my arms to the kitchen, pull open the fridge, and grab a beer. She tries to grab the bottle in my hand, but I pull it away. Once we’re back, I set her down on the floor by some of her toys and twist the cap off. Blake wants nothing to do with the toys, and she walks right over to where I am. Scooping her back up, I settle us both on the loveseat.

“I honestly don’t even know where to start,” I sigh. Jenna was not a good match at all. I had felt desperate multiple times when it came to my desire to find someone and settle down. Jenna’s desperation seemed greater, and her approach showed it.

“So, I matched with this girl, and it was something like 97 percent.”

“That’s damn near perfect,” Hunter states. I shoot him a look for interrupting, and Cassidy elbows him.

“Well, we only talked for two days before she insisted we get together. Which was fine, but once we met up, things got weird.” I take a sip from my beer and bounce Blake on my lap. Recalling the whole date makes me feel uneasy. Partly because of Jenna and partly because I feel rude for leaving the way I had.

“Weirder than the girl who was married and asked you to pretend to be her shrink when her husband caught her cheating?” Cassidy quips.

“Yes. She was just strange, talking about a future already, asking me very detailed questions about marriage, children, schools, views on vaccines for kids, color schemes that are acceptable in the home.”

“Okay, so she’s direct.” Cassidy winces.

“Where is the, what’s your favorite color, tell me a funny story part?” I argue.

“You wanted someone serious,” my brother cuts in.

“Yes, but I also wanted someone to have fun with. I feel like she was ready to be together tonight and forever. She even wanted to come to the ER with me.” Cassidy’s brows shoot up. If I was going to the ER for myself, I could see someone being kind and going with me. But going to see my family on our first date? Weird.

“Okay, that’s a bit much. Maybe she just wanted to see if you guys were truly compatible,” Cassidy tries. They don’t get it. This woman was off her rocker.

“She tried to get me to go to the bathroom with her, and I don’t just mean walk her there. She physically tried to push me in there.” Remembering her gentle shove on my chest is unnerving. Who has public sex other than teenagers? I’m a grown man.

“Maybe she—” Cassidy starts, but then I remember the most unnerving aspect of it all.

“She speaks in the third person!” I startle Blake in my lap, and she shoots a worried look up to me. I run my hand up and down her back and then look over at Hunter and Cassidy, who are sitting straighter. They turn and look at each other for only a moment before they start to laugh.

“Give me an example,” Cassidy wheezes.

“Jenna likes that, Jenna will help, Jenna likes beer, too,” I ramble.

“Only you,” my brother laughs, and Cassidy can’t help the tears that fall from laughter.

I feel bad for this girl, like I’m cutting her up to my family. How did we have such a strong match? I need to just go back to going out and trying to meet someone organically. These dates just keep getting weirder and weirder.

“Maybe you two just lucked out on the whole app thing,” I sigh.

Cassidy’s look turns softer as her laughter dies. She slides a hand up and down my brother’s thigh mindlessly.

Blake climbs to stand in my lap and starts to play with my hair, mussing it up.

“What are you looking for? Tell me about your dream girl,” Cassidy asks.

I try to picture her, but it’s fuzzy. I close my eyes and think of the house I had drawn. The tree out front with the tire swing in full motion. A little girl swings, her giggles loud and carrying over the field. A woman pushes her, and her skirt dances as the wind blows. She stands straighter when she hears the crunch of my tires and waves me home. Long blonde hair, gentle eyes, a wide smile. Her body is sturdy, maybe even taller than average. She carries herself with grace but a wildness I know will bring a fun factor to my life. She’s barefoot in the grass and laughing with our little girl.

When I park my car, the two of them greet me. She’s gentle and caring but driven and strong. She’s funny and carefree but can be serious if needed. She’s lighthearted and loving. She’s my own princess to spoil and love.

I try to form the right words and give Cassidy an abridged version.

“That’s a hard profile to fit,” she states.

“Sounds like Lynn to me,” Hunter jokes and I shoot him a look.

“It actually kind of does,” Cassidy says thoughtfully. “So, someone like Lynn?” she asks genuinely.

“I guess.” I shrug. The vibration of my phone goes off and I imagine it’s Jenna on the app messaging me to check in. Part of me doesn’t have the energy to respond, but the other part of me wants to be able to show my family how unsuitable we are.

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