Page 32 of Banter & Blushes

“I don’t want to be acougar!” I hissed, but the more I thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. “I don’t evenknowwhat a cougar is, but I’m pretty sure it’s not a grown woman makinga fool of herselfin front of a guy who’s younger than her by more than a decade.”

“Oh please, it’s not like you’re showing up to dinner in a full leopard-print bodysuit and awhip,” she teased. “But come on, he’s hot, he’s charming, and hehas a career—what’s not to like?”

“Well, it’s... it’s the age thing!” I said, my face now turning as red as my shirt. “I mean, he could be dating someonemy age, or...younger. And maybe I’m just imagining it, but I feel like he looks at me like I’m a walking senior discount waiting to happen.”

Maya stared at me, utterly baffled. “Rebecca, are youseriouslyoverthinking this? You’re making it sound like you’re a part of some ‘Over-40’s Club,’ and Luca’s the cute bartender who keeps giving you free shots. I’m sorry, but that’s not the situation. He’s into you. I can tell by the way you’re talking about him. Helikesyou. And I don’t care if you’re 38, 39, or 79—you’re still one of the mostbeautifulwomen I know. The man is not looking at you like you’re a discount anything. He’s looking at you like you’re afive-starmeal. So, what’s the problem?”

I blinked. “You’re saying he’s not looking at me like I’m... an old relic of a past century?”

“Nope,” she said with a straight face. “He’s looking at you like you’re a freakinggoddessof the kitchen, who just so happens to have tripped over herself a few times. Because you are, and he’s not blind. And frankly, if that’s what you’re going to keep focusing on, then maybe it’syouwho needs a reality check.”

I slumped into the couch, suddenly feeling like I had a hundred thoughts racing through my head at once. “So, you’re saying I should... just go for it?”

“Heck yes,” she said with a wink. “And if you don’t, I’ll personally hunt you down anddragyou to Luca’s kitchen for a second round of disasters. And trust me, I’ve seen you trip. You don’t want that on your conscience.”

I sighed, trying to ignore the annoying little voice in my head that kept reminding me of the one major flaw in this plan—his age.

But then again... maybeMaya was right and I was the one making a bigger deal out of it than I should.

If Luca was into me—and it sure felt like he was—then maybe, just maybe, I was the one standing in my own way.

Ugh. This whole situation was starting to feel like a rom-com... with way too much internal drama.

BRO ADVICE THAT COULD GET ME ARRESTED

LUCA

Ihad been standing in the kitchen for at least ten minutes, trying to lookbusyso I could avoid the one person I really didn’t want to talk to right now. But no matter how many knives I pretended to sharpen, or how many pans I set on the stove like I was preparing for some kind of culinary symphony, I knew I was eventually going to have to faceJoe.

Joe was my best friend. He was also my worst friend when it came to matters of the heart. The man had an opinion oneverything, especially my romantic life—or, more accurately, the shockinglackthereof. He was always quick to remind me that if I wasn’t making some kind of bold, life-altering move towardtrue love, then I was wasting my time. Or, at least, that’s what he told me every time I saw him, which was about twice a week—whether I liked it or not.

"Hey, Luca! My dude!" Joe’s voice rang out from the doorway, followed by the unmistakable sound of sneakers slapping against tile. “I’m here. I’ve beenthinkingabout you.”

I closed my eyes and sighed. “Oh, God. No. Please, Joe, I really don’t need relationship advice right now.”

Joe strolled into the kitchen with all the swagger of a man who thought he wastheexpert on romance, despite the fact that his dating history could be best described as a collection of catastrophic failures. At 41, the man had literally once tried to ‘win’ a girl back by showing up to her job with anentirepizza—then proceeded to eat the whole thing himself before she even got off her shift. And somehow, in his mind, this was “a bold move.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked, as if he didn’t already know. “You’re brooding again, man. What’s going on with you and that girl you’ve been talking to? What was her name?Becky?”

I froze, caught completely off guard. “How in the world do you even know her name?”

He shrugged, grinning. “I’m aman of mystery. I know things. Like, I know you’ve been hanging out with her all afternoon. And from the looks of it, you’reveryinto her. Your kitchen’s been a little extra spicy today. And I’m not talking about the chili flakes.”

So, stalking. Right. I rolled my eyes. “Joe, what are you even talking about? I tripped over my own feet and broke, like, a thousand plates. That’s not exactlyspicy. It’s more like...disaster.”

He waved me off like I was being ridiculous. Of course, I was. And once Joe got on your scent… “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Look, the real question is:What’s stopping youfrom going all in on this? You’reclearlyinto her, right?”

I blinked. “Well, I... uh, yeah. I mean, I guess. But I’m not sure I’m the best guy for her.”

Joe dramatically placed a hand on his chest, feigning shock. “What? You, Luca? Not good enough? Come on, man. You’re achef—you’ve got the skills, the looks, the charm. What’s the deal? Are you worried she’s going to run off because you’re a little younger than her? Is that what this is?”

I winced. Of course he noticed. “I don’t know. I mean, yeah, she might feel a little weird. She’s a little older, and... I don’t know. Maybe she’s looking for someone a little more...mature.”

How Joe managed to uncover my vulnerabilities, I would never understand. It was as if he had an instinct for it, and the impact was instant. While Rebecca was here, I felt confident, able to keep her engaged. But now that she was gone, I was left alone with my thoughts, and a creeping sense of doubt.

“Pfft,” Joe said, swatting at the air like my concerns were nothing but smoke. “She’s just awomanlooking for a guy who knows how to cook a decent meal and doesn’t trip over his own feet every two seconds the way she does. You’rewayahead of the game. Honestly, I think you’reunderestimatingyourself. This is the perfect opportunity to swoop in and make it happen.”

I stared at him, trying to process the idiocy that was unfolding before me. “Swoop in?Make it happen? Joe, I’m not exactly just going to go over there, grab her and tell her we’re a thing now. Things like this take planning. She’s got her own life, her own job back home. And I know that you know she’s not from around here. I can’t just tell her to throw everything away for a guy she’s only met. I can’t just?—”

---