Page 17 of A Pizza My Heart

I don’t honestly know if I’m ready to start dating, but I also don’t want to not put myself out there. I’ve seen what it does to people. My best friend from California, Porter, is nothing but a bucket of anger after his divorce. He’s so bitter and sullen, and I don’t want that for myself.

So, jumping back in the saddle it is. Maybe nothing will come from it, but maybe someonewill.

“Sorry,” she says, sounding anything but. “But we just sorta used to have this thing where we talked and didn’t avoid. I guess since you didn’t really keep in contact while you were gone, I shouldn’t be surprised you don’t want to talk to me now.”

“I tried calling.”

“Yeah, like twice.”

“You didn’t answer either time.”

She stabs another onion ring into the ketchup, her irritation becoming more evident by the moment. “I was busy.”

“You were mad.”

She sighs and shoves a bite into her mouth, chewing then swallowing and looking at me pointedly.

“Fine. I was pissed.”

“I said mad, not pissed.”

“But Iwaspissed, Foster. You left me.”

I had to, I want to say.

But I don’t.

“Things were…complicated.”

Wren doesn’t take her gaze off me, and it feels like she’s staring straight into my soul, searching for answers I’m not ready to give her.

Her stare is so intense I begin to shift around because Ihaveto move. It’s too much and I’m starting to think she’sactuallytrying to read my thoughts right now.

Pickle juice. Donkey Kong. Camel toe.

“Are you doing it right now?”

I don’t have to ask what she’s referring to, because the smartass was doing it on purpose.

“This confirms it. I definitely didn’t miss you.”

She beams. “Liar.”

“Are you still mad?”

“Yes. But also no.”

“Right.” I nod. “Makes total sense.”

“It’s just… Well, I think maybe I just missed you.”

“You did?”

I dodge the onion ring she chucks at me.

“Hey!”

“Sorry, Randy!” she hollers.

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