Page 15 of The Wrong Date Deal

“Yeah. Although, one of them went so badly in the first five minutes that I said I was going to the bathroom and just fled out the back of the restaurant.”

“Oh, no!” August looked at her with wide eyes.

“Eh, it happens. I’ve just done this enough to not stick around when it’s going like that.” She shot August a look. “Go on enough of these and you’ll see.”

“Can’t say I’m looking forward to that.”

“Nobody ever is, but maybe you get a good story out of it.”

August hummed. She’d heard that sentiment a lot lately. Against her better judgment, she glanced across the coffee shop.

It took a second, but there, between an adorably rambunctious family and someone on a laptop—headphones in like they were pretending to be anywhere but here—was Piper. Alone.

August schooled her expression and tried to casually glance around the café. There was no sign of the woman who had been Piper’s date.

She glanced back at Piper, who looked up, met her eyes, half smiled, and raised her coffee in silent cheers.

Maybe August’s date was going better than Piper’s was. Piper’s might just be another story for the dentist’s office.

August looked back at her date and resumed the small talk as they both drained their coffees.

By the time both cups were empty, August felt like they’d both talked a lot, but that they knew very little that felt real about each other. The conversation hadn’t been unpleasant, but they’d known they wouldn’t be seeing each other again, and they’d simply been filling time.

Rhiannon stood up, pulling her coat and hat back on. “Well, it was a pleasure meeting you—and getting to be your first online date.”

August laughed lightly. “You too. Thanks for going easy on me.”

She gripped August’s shoulders and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek, barely touching the skin. “Take care of yourself, August. I know you’ll find the right one. You’re a good date.”

“Thanks. You too. And, good luck with the van.”

“You can follow along on Instagram if you like. But try not to get too jealous of my amazing life.”

“I will do my best.”

She laughed and headed for the door.

August supposed she should have done the same. Instead, she found herself glancing back towards where Piper had been sitting. She was still there, now nursing a different cup and reading a book she’d presumably been carrying in her bag.

Making a decision, August headed back to the counter. It wasn’t as busy in the café with the midafternoon lull, so she was served immediately, and quickly found herself walking over to Piper’s table carrying another cappuccino and a small plate with a brownie and a cookie on it.

“Do you carry a book in case your date is really boring and you need a nonverbal way to signal that they should leave?” sheasked as she placed the items on Piper’s table and sat down. The family had left, but the laptop person was still tapping away at the side of them.

Piper looked up laughing. “No, but I’ll definitely try that next time.”

“I’m sure it would make for a good story.”

“I don’t doubt it.” She shook her head as she slid a receipt between the pages she’d been reading and put the book back in her bag. “I bring it just in case I get stood up. Looks a lot less like I was waiting for someone. Plus, then I get a lovely afternoon with a book.”

August nodded. “I’ll remember that tip for next time.”

“Do,” she said, nodding and amused.

“So. I wasn’t sure what you liked, but I figured you’d probably be on board with either a brownie or a cookie.”

“Ooh, brownie. I’m all about death by chocolate this afternoon.” She tilted her half-empty cup towards August, revealing she’d switched from coffee to hot chocolate.

“An excellent choice.”

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