Page 9 of Minted

Dave shakes his head. “Did you think some woman was going to show up and present an engraved invitation that said, ‘Bentley’s Future Bride’?” He snorts. “Think again. Life doesn’t work like that. You’re going to have to work for it.”

“What does that mean?” I lean back against the wall, a little annoyed by the direction this conversation’s headed.

“Are you dating?”

“Where would I even meet someone? I can’t date someone at work. You saw what happened to Barbara.”

“There are other ways,” Dave says.

“Like what?”

“Online dating profiles for one,” he says.

I explode away from the wall, more irritated than I usually get around him. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I’m not,” Dave says.

“You never online dated.”

“I got lucky and met Seren before I had to, but. . .” He opens his hands, palm up. “I’d hate to see you alone forever.”

“Because marriage is so perfect?” I arch one eyebrow. “Tell that to Barbara.”

“It’s got its limits,” Dave says, “but if you find the right person, yeah. It’s pretty close to perfect.” The soft look he has when he looks at Seren makes my heart contract. It’s times like this, when I’m the loser who just can’t find anyone, that really sting.

“I better head home,” I say. “Early morning tomorrow.”

“Tell your uncle bye,” Dave shouts.

Even with his headphones on, half-dancing while talking to his friends, Killian hears his dad and steps toward me. He pulls one side of the headphones back. “Sick gift. Thanks, Uncle Bentley. You’re the best.”

I wave and smile, and then I’m headed for my sportscar. I finally got one that’s not a Bentley a few years ago, and then I went a little crazy and bought two more. They’re all actually pretty nice. As I climb into my McLaren 720S, I think about Dave and his doom and gloom threats. “What does he know?” I mutter.

But by the time I get home and walk into my empty apartment, I can’t help wondering whether he’s right. I’m over forty now, and I kept thinking I’d just meet someone. . .but I haven’t. I’m still alone. I hate the idea of online dating, but. . . Was he right? Do I know nothing about women or finding the right one?

When I go over the whole incident with the gift in my mind, I have to concede that he might have a little bit of a point. Sulking in the corner after wresting the gift out of Barbara’s hands might not have been a Prince Charming move, even if she’s just a friend. I text Barbara, because I was too cowardly to do the right thing, but I have to do something.

YOU’RE A GREAT AUNT. I’M SORRY FOR SNATCHING THE GIFT AND MAKING YOU FEEL BAD, IF I DID. YOUR GIFT WAS GREAT.

She doesn’t reply, which shouldn’t surprise me.

It does surprise me when Dave calls.

“Hello?”

“So. You’re home. Did you do it?”

“Do what?” I feel a little strange, like he has cameras on me or something. Does he know I texted Barbara? Is she still there? Did he see it? Are they talking about what a jerk I am?

“Did you look up online dating sites?”

I can’t help my sigh. “Seriously?”

“Because I looked into them after you left, and for the record, it seems like if you want a match that ends in marriage, eHarmony is your best bet.”

“Dave.”

“Bentley, I’m serious. Look, you might hate it, but you can’t say you hate pistachio ice cream until you’ve tried it, so just make an account and see what happens.”

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