Page 38 of A Pizza My Heart

“And ruin all the good luck oozing off it? Nah.”

“Or, you could, I dunno, try some practice dates?” Drew tosses out casually.

“Practice dates?” Foster’s brows inch together. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Well, I’ve been fortunate enough to be on the sidelines all week long and witness the atrocity that is your dating skills. You can definitely tell you haven’t been single in ages. You have zero game.”

“You know, I might have only just met you this week, but I can already tell you’re my kind of people, Drew.”

My best friend lifts a shoulder. “I keep it real. It’s my motto in life.”

“So, you’re saying I need to go on some practice dates? Can’t we call this entire week practice then?”

She shakes her head, her dark brown locks bouncing. “No. You need to do it with someone who won’t be afraid to tell you when you’re being an idiot, someone who could give you notes. Someone”—she snaps her fingers together—“I got it! Since Wren here hasn’t dated in ages either and she’s dying to get back in the game, you two can practice date each other!”

Drew claps her hands together, excited about this “revelation” of hers, which I feel like she’s been plotting since earlier this afternoon when she somehow got it stuck in her head that I have feelings for Foster.

I raise a brow, giving her a frosty stare. “Gee, crazy of you to come up with this right on the spot like that, Drew.”

“I know, right?” She flips a hand through her hair. “And while I’ve been observing your dates from afar this week, Wrennie here has hadfront-rowseats to every hot mess show. That means she can give youthoroughnotes.” The corners of her lips turn down. “You’ll probably have to spend a fewlongnights together, but since you’ve been gone so long, Foster, I’m sure it’ll be great for you two to catch up.”

“I don’t know…I feel like he can keep doing what he’s doing, use all these LustStruck dates as practice.”

Foster rubs a hand over his chin, his fingers scraping over the hair there. “I don’t know, Birdie. I think she might actually have a point.”

“A p-point?” I sputter. “You cannot be serious. It’s a horrible idea!”

“Why?”

“What?”

“Whatwhat? I saidwhy,” he repeats. “Why is it such a horrible idea? I think it’s genius. It would take the pressure off me, plus it can take the pressure off you.”

“What pressure?”

“For you to start dating again, like Drew said. You said you used to be good at it, but it’s been a while. Maybe this can be a practice run for us both, get us ready for the real thing.”

I can’t believe he’s actually considering this.“I can’t believe you’re actually considering this.”

“Why not?” He rolls another set of silverware. “It makes complete sense to me.”

“I don’t know, Foster, maybe the fact that we don’t even like each other likethat. It would be hard to date someone—fake or not—when you don’t have romantic feelings for them.”

He gives me an easy grin and winks. “Nah, just makes it so I don’t have to worry about you falling in love with me.”

“Ha!” I snort. “As if. You’d probablylovethat.”

His hands pause for just a millisecond then he’s back to rolling.

“Sure, Birdie. The thing I want most is for my best friend’s little sister to fall in love with me.”

“He’s five minutes older than me! That doesn’t make melittle.”

“Little Birdie,” he teases.

“Shut up,” I growl with false annoyance. I want so badly for it to be real, but I actually kind of missed the nickname.

There’s a commotion in the back room, and I’m almost certain it’s our busboy Brad dropping yet another bucket of dishes.

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