Page 18 of The Wrong Date Deal

Piper groaned as she wrapped a cream and brown blanket scarf around her neck. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly. Hermes is bringing it over and we’re going to binge-watchSVU. So, you know, if you want to cancel…”

“Wanting to and being able to are not the same thing.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket, checking the time.

A new message was waiting for her. She assumed it was Claire, checking whether she’d left yet. However, when she unlocked her phone and checked the message, she was delighted to find it was from August, wishing her well for tonight. August, it turned out, had plenty of experience with her colleagues trying to set up the singles in the office.

Piper grinned and shot back a quick reply. Over the last few weeks since they’d met, they’d been in almost constant contact,even when neither of them had a date. It was nice. Piper found herself smiling at their messages a lot.

“What’s that face?” Massima asked.

Piper looked up as she slid her phone back into her pocket. “What face?”

“That one,” Massima said, watching her with narrowed eyes. “The smile. Is it your new friend?”

“No. I’m simply thinking about how far gone on Olivia Benson you’re going to be when I get back.”

“I don’t believe you, but I don’t care because you’re right. Text August for all I care. Tonight is about delicious pizza and Detective Benson.”

Piper laughed. “Ask Hermes to bring me an extra pizza? I guarantee I won’t be relaxed enough to eat properly at Claire’s.”

“Sure. But it’ll be cold.”

“I don’t care. Giorgio’s pizza is good regardless of temperature.”

“I don’t know. I think it would be pretty bad frozen.”

“Thank you, Massima,” Piper said, shaking her head. “I’m going now. See you later.”

“Have fun. We’ll try not to miss you too much.”

“Somehow, I think you’ll manage.”

“We will, but it’s still nice to be nice.”

“Pretty sure I read that on a glass somewhere,” Piper called as she headed out the door. It was a reference to a glass one of their friends had brought them back from a trip to Minnesota. The state outline and the phrase were printed on it. Neither of them had ever really figured out why that was the gift they’d been given.

Outside, the evening was already dark and freezing cold, but Piper’s ride was on time, so she only had to wait on the icy sidewalk for a minute before the blue sedan pulled up and she clambered into its warm interior.

In the car at the minute. If I don’t text back, it’s a blue Volvo. Driver’s name is Ted.She typed and sent the message to August without really feeling at risk, but it was good practice and they both knew it.

Does Ted seem questionable?August replied almost immediately.

Not especially. Seems like a regular guy, just doing his job. Picture of his kid? Grandkid? Not sure, but they’re hanging from the mirror.

Cute. I’m glad he seems fine. You can send me your location, if you want?

Piper raised her eyebrows as she read the message.Does that mean that if the dinner’s going terribly, you’ll burst in to save me?

Haha. Yeah, me and my team of comic book heroes who help me burst in right on time and save the day.

Piper laughed out loud, but at least attempted to keep the volume down. She didn’t want to creep Ted out.Honestly, I think that would be the only thing that would make this dinner interesting.

Ooh. Ouch. Claire’s going to be devastated.

Piper stared at the phone deadpan.I wasn’t planning on telling her. Were you?

Nah. I like you a lot more than I like Claire. But, you know, best keep me on your good side.

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