Page 30 of Save the Date

“I told her I’d only make a recommendation if Chris and I are allowed to come.”

“Jackie! What are you trying to do, scare him off?”

“If a free dinner with your immediate family is enough to scare him off, good luck planning the wedding.”

Emma tried to stop her face from betraying her feelings, but she wasn’t quick enough and Jackie noticed.

“What?”

“It’s just… I think I really like this guy. I know it’s only been two dates and we haven’t even kissed—”

“You haven’t kissed yet? What if he’s awful at it?”

“He won’t be. Or maybe he will be and it will ruin everything.”

“It won’t ruin everything. Chris was a tongue darter when we first met and now he’s fine.”

“What is a tongue darter?”

“You know.” Jackie quickly stuck her tongue in and out of her mouth a bunch of times. “But I told him to stop and he got better. Men need direction or they’re completely useless.”

Emma tried to vanquish the image of her hugely successful brother-in-law playing what sounded like tongue Whac-A-Mole in order to focus on the task at hand. “I’m just worried that if I bring up Operation: Save My Date I might sabotage something real. Or the potential for something real.”

“Emma.” Jackie squatted in front of her sister, which was a little awkward because Emma was currently sporting a cumbersome knee brace. She needed to wear it for the next two weeks before starting physical therapy. It wasn’t an ideal time to have to dress with a brace in mind, but she figured if she didn’t make a big deal about it, neither would her subscribers. “You can’t give up just because you’re scared. If Will doesn’t get what you’re trying to do, then he isn’t the right guy for you in the first place.”

“Is that true though? Because what I’m trying to do is pretty bananas.”

“How many new YouTube subscribers have you gotten since you announced the plan?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Fifty-two thousand.” Jackie waved away Emma’s surprised look. “I’ve been monitoring the stats. This thing you’re doing ishuge. People are invested. It’s giving them hope for their own lives.”

“Or they’re watching to see me fail.”

“Who cares why they’re watching! You can’t give up now. It wouldn’t make any sense.”

“You don’t think fostering a healthy relationship without a ticking clock makes sense?”

“Not really. Because what happens if he turns out to be another Ryan? You’ll have invested years of your life in another failed relationshipandyou won’t be socially relevant or have a best-selling book. How is that the smarter choice?” Jackie was now standing above Emma with her arms crossed. Emma felt like she was in the principal’s office. “Tell me. How is that the feminist option? You’d be putting a man’s preference above your entire life and career.”

Emma nodded as Jackie’s words sunk deeper and deeper. “You’re right. I’ll tell him and see what he says. If he says no, it won’t be the end of the world. I’ll just keep looking.”

“Exactly. And I’ll help.” Jackie smiled before returning to her position behind the tripod. “Now go check the mirror before we start recording. You have lipstick all over your teeth.”

***

“Look at you,” Will teased as he opened his front door to reveal Emma, her knee brace and a star-covered cane. She was glad his downtown apartment building had an elevator, even though she otherwise loathed the area. “I love the outfit.”

“Thank you. I ordered these leggings special so they wouldfit under my brace. They’re already tearing,” she announced with a hair flip.

“Sexy,” Will said seductively. Emma’s brain knew he was kidding, but her body…not so much. She resisted the impulse to push him against the door and see if his tongue darted or not. “Come on in.”

Will led the way into his one-bedroom apartment. It was on the eighth floor and had huge windows looking out over the closest Los Angeles had to real city streets. The floors were made of cement, but Will had managed to make the space feel inviting with different colorful rugs. His walls were covered with podcast art and framed photos of what Emma assumed were his travels. She tried not to appear overly curious, but she was happy to see everything looked clean.

“How are you feeling? I bought this sectional so you could put your leg up.” Will gestured to the inviting navy couch.

“Really?” Emma asked, completely shocked—until Will started to laugh.

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