Page 32 of Falling into Place
Four things I’m good at:
-Driving
-Opening jars
-Finding the best local coffee shop in any given city
-Killing spiders
Something new I recently learned is:
-Seersucker is a kind of fabric (I think)
My self-summary: I’m gonna be honest here. I’ve been focused on my career for a long time. Like, over a decade. After going through the process of filling out this profile, I’ve realized maybe my sisters are right (they’re the ones who put me up to this): I’ve sort of forgotten how to have fun. I’ve become an introvert, which I think is okay sometimes, because after a hard day I think I’ll always be the kind of person who wants to come home to the comfort of my home (and my dog-cat) rather than blow offsteam at a bar, and because I work in health care sometimes my brain just needs peace and quiet to recharge. And I think that’s important for anyone I might date to know that about me.
But I want to get back out into the world and figure out what, besides my job, I enjoy. I want to learn how to play and have fun again. Because I was fun, once, I swear. I know it’s in there somewhere because it comes out every once in a while and surprises the hell out of me, in a good way. I want something to look forward to.
If anyone out there is going through the same thing, or if you aren’t but you’re okay with a guy who’s kind of quiet but who might surprise you and who cares about doing good in this world, while at the same time hoping he’s bettering himself, we might be a good fit.
Or not, but we won’t know if we don’t try, right? I guess that’s another thing you can expect from me: honesty. And if my sisters’ experience with dating has told me anything it’s that not all men put that quality high on their list, and that’s a shame. Case in point: I made my sisters let me fill out this section on my own, and after they read it, they both laughed and asked if I was messing with them. When they realized I was serious they tried to delete it and rewrite it for me. I won this round, but be warned I have two sisters who like to meddle in my life and think they’re always right (they’re about 50/50).
Anyway, looking forward to meeting you.
Chapter Eight
Carly
Dear Carly,
Congratulations! After thoughtful review and consideration of your application materials, you’ve been selected as a recipient of the G. Stanley Pearce Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship. We look forward to welcoming you to campus in the fall.
—Letter from Creighton University, senior year
“I think I’ll dress you like an Englishman.”
Brooks met her gaze from across the dress-shirt-covered table. “Sorry?”
Carly ran her hand across a silk tie paired with a lavender oxford. “After the photo shoot I was thinking about your overall style and where I wanted to go from there. I think you could pull off more than you think in terms of colors and fabrics, but you won’t be comfortable. The defining feature of English fashion for men is restraint. Clothes make a statement, but they never shout and they help people noticeyou, notwhat you’re wearing. Your wardrobe will be intentional but not loud. You know?”
He stood a little straighter and crossed his arms. “I want to argue but that actually sounds pretty good.”
“Hi-hi, sorry I’m late!” a feminine voice called out through the clothing racks. Carly turned to find Cam making her way around a display of argyle socks, holding her camera protectively to her chest.
In exchange for a 15 percent discount on their purchase, Sasha had promised the owner of Empire, a men’s clothing boutique, she’d print a candid of Carly and Brooks shopping for date attire. Mode would get a mention out of it, too, so despite Brooks’s snarkyAre they gonna photograph me taking a shit, too?text when they got the email, Carly was on board with it.
“No problem,” Carly said with a smile. “We were just getting started.”
Brooks said nothing, his expression sullen.
Carly glared at him and mouthed,Fifteen percent off.
He nodded, sighed, and dutifully said, “Hi, Cam,” as if he were an eight-year-old kid whose mother was making him greet the great-aunt-twice-removed at a family reunion.
Cam didn’t seem bothered and looked around, glancing through her lens and adjusting a few knobs on her camera. “This won’t take long; I just need a few good shots for us to pick from. I’d like to get something organic rather than posed, so just proceed as if I’m not here. I’ll stay out of the way.”
“Got it.” Carly resumed her perusal of dress shirts, and Brooks came around the table to stand next to her, his posture stiff and more awkward than it had been two minutes ago. His gaze kept darting to Cam and back.
Carly elbowed him. “Just focus on me.”
