Page 96 of The Disasters of Dating
I can’t help but doubt that will happen. I shake my head. Why did I break my rule? I’ve been allowing myself momentary bouts of thinking this is actually something that might pan out. Apparently, I am WRONG!
CHAPTER 28
KEATON
You are socially active and broad minded.
Learn Chinese: ??? — Gangà de — Embarrassing
Lucky Numbers: 10, 21, 36, 44
Poppy’squiet as we drive toward the ice cream shop. Not that I blame her. I’m not sure what I’d do if I discovered my dad had a girlfriend. And to find out when I had a date with me? I can’t even. But I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say. What is the protocol for something like this?
“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask quietly.
She looks out the window. “Which part? That my mom apparently has a boyfriend or that she hid it from me or that I can’t help but think that the universe was right about us after our first dinner.”
I nod my head until it sinks in what she said. “Wait, what? Why do you think the universe was right?”
She looks over at me. “Come on, Keaton. If we count the first dinner, we have had six dates or whatever you want to call them. A third of them have been an utter disaster.” She sighs. “What else are we supposed to think?”
I grip the steering wheel. Will this be her response anytime something doesn’t go right in our relationship? “I can think of several things which have nothing to do with the universe.” I sigh. “If we were a batting average, we’d be doing fantastic.”
“But we aren’t a batting average, Keaton. And in no other scenariois thirty-three percent a good average.” She turns her whole body in her seat. “But for the sake of argument, what are the other things? How can you explain why we keep having such bad dates?”
I shake my head. “First of all, I don’t think we’ve had any bad dates.”
“Sha,” she blurts.
I hurry on. “I mean, there were some unfortunate accidents the first time, but it didn’t make me want to see you any less. In fact, I think if anything, it made me want to get to know you more. Anyone who could handle that situation with the kind of grace you did was someone I wanted to know better.”
Her head tilts to the side. I love that look. It’s got a slight “you’re-crazy-but-I-might-be-on-board” ring to it.
“And second, I wouldn’t say this was a bad date either—well, except for the unfortunate time at the restaurant. I’d totally take a do-over on that part. But I enjoyed getting to know your mom and Adam. Sure, it was a little intense there for a minute, but…” I pause, not sure if I should say what I’m thinking. “I liked that you reached for me when you were facing something hard. It made me feel needed and like we had some sort of connection. Even though it was a little awkward.”
She reaches up and grasps hold of her necklace. I know—or at least Lincoln knows—that it helps her feel grounded and calm. Is she feeling ungrounded and uncalm right now? Because of her mom? Or because of me?
“Really? You don’t think we are being told we’re not a good match?” She stares at me. “Why else would everything have happened while you were there?”
I shake my head. “Did you ever consider that maybe the universe,” I’m tempted to put it in air quotes but think better of it, “put me there with you so you didn’t have to go through it alone? Maybe it happened that way to show us that we ARE meant to be together.” I smile out the front windshield. That was a great argument. I can’t believe I thought of it right in the moment instead of while I’m trying to fall asleep tonight at my hotel.
She frowns. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
I reach over and pick up her hand, folding it into mine. “Well, maybe it’s time you did. And maybe you and the universe are not quite as in sync as you think.” I look over with a grin. Did she hear my rhyme?
She looks at me through side-eyes, and I realize it was lost on her. “Maybe.” She doesn’t sound convinced, but then her voice changes. “I mean, Mercury has been messing with me big time this month.”
I chuckle and nod. “I have no idea about the Mercury thing, but I’m willing to learn.” I glance over at her necklace. “Tell me what those stones mean. Why do you rub them so much?”
She looks at me with a weary expression. “You don’t have to pretend to be interested.”
I frown, slightly offended. “I’m not pretending. They’re obviously important to you. You’ve worn some kind of stone every time I’ve seen you. And I would like to know why.”
“They’re crystals, actually.” She shifts in her seat and stares at my profile. I glance at her, as often as I feel safe, from the corner of my eye. “You really want to know about them?”
I nod. Why does she find that so hard to believe? “I do.”
She lifts the necklace over her head and holds it in her hand. “This crystal is called Apache Tears or obsidianite.” She lifts up one of the black stones. “Its properties include grief healing, grounding, and protection.” She points to the yellow crystals—both of them look totally like stones. “And this is amber.”
