Page 48 of Actually Yours

The frantic notifications from my phone send arrows shooting through my frontal cortex (that’s in my brain, right?)and I blindly reach towards my bedside table where I know I’d plugged my phone in last night. The one and only responsible thing I’d done last night.

Peeling an eye open—why must the sun be so bright?—I read the first message. It’s from Dr. Dave. The Jerk.

DAVE: Amelia, I’m so sorry about last night. We had an emergency come in at the hospital and I only just got out of surgery. Can I make it up to you?

I see this message was sent at 7.33 a.m.He’d been working all night? Saving a life, no doubt. Maybe he’s not quite the jerk we’d labelled him.

I swipe the message away, leaving thoughts of Dr. Dave for later, and read the next one.

AMY: Bella told me what happened. I’m SO SORRY! Wait till I get my hands on Dave…

I sigh.Poor Dave. The wrath of Amy is quite the sight to behold.

BELLA: Are you OK? Call me! Come to the café for some hangover-curing treats.

This is why she’s my best friend. Already in solution mode for the damage those cocktails had caused.

I send her a quick thumbs up, knowing she’ll be worried about me until I respond and then read the last message, my heart racing as I do.

JAKE: Play me!

My heart sings as I press on the link he’s sent with the message, a grin splitting my face in two as the first notes of ‘New Romantics’ blare out of my phone. Jake can’t have known, but this song is a favourite of mine.

The words pour out of my body, my pounding headache all but forgotten as I channel the power of Taylor Swift and get mysorry butt out of bed. Bad dates be gone. I’m ready to face the day. Just like Jake had known I would.

*****

“So, we’re done with the dating plan?”

My friends give me matching sorrowful looks, and I harden my heart against every one of them. It’s all their fault that I’d been suckered into four dates from hell in the span of less than a month. I think it’s officially time to retire them as my matchmaking team.

“What about the month of horrors that I’ve just described to you makes you think I want to continue with this debacle?”

We’re sitting in Amy’s living room—Amy who’s been apologising profusely to me via calls, texts and carrier pigeons (OK, that last one may be a stretch)—under the guise of discussing the latest book club book. We’re supposed to be analysing the wonders of Emily Henry’s latest masterpiece, which I devoured and adored, but instead are focussed on my dismal love life.Again.

“But we only got up to the letter D.” This protest comes from Madi, who I had thought would be the last person to be on board with a matchmaking scheme, given her eternally single status, but who instead seems to want to see this whole thing through. Right down to the letter Z.I wonder if she has a zookeeper friend that she’s dying to set me up with?

“That’s more than enough terrible dates for me to know that it’s quitting time.”

“To be fair, you didn’tactuallyhave a date with Dr. Dave.”

I throw a pillow at Lilly to get her to shut up. What about being stood up by a man does she not understand? I’m not exactly keen to give him another shot.

“OK, if you won’t go for any of the guys we set you up with, what about Jake?” Bella asks, a sly grin creeping across her face.What’s she playing at?

“Oooh, yes. Date Jake!” Lilly’s face is shining with excitement at this idea and I throw another pillow at her. For good luck. And to shut her up.

“Who’s Jake?” Sammi asks, her eyes pinging between me, Bella and Lilly.

“Jake is Robby’s delectably handsome, wiser and infinitely nicer older brother.”

When did Bella become Jake’s biggest fan?

“Robby?” Sammi looks confused. “Your ex-boyfriend Robby?”

“Yes,” I say, shooting Bella a meaningful look. “He’s my ex’s brother. So not an option for me.” Even though I desperately want him to be.

Shut up, inner voice.

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