Page 12 of Keeping it Casual
But it’s not fair to mess Jeremy around, to send him mixed messages when I’ve told him I’m not interested in dating.
That thought has me taking a step back. “Goodnight.”
“Night.”
I turn and walk away quickly. I need to put some distance between us so I’m not tempted to change my mind.
His voice carries after me. “Hope you have sweet dreams.”
Chapter 5
Jeremy
So, fake dates. Turns out, they’re kind of incredible.
Maybe I should declare every future date fake in an attempt to get the same kind of connection I had last night with Dustin.
I float around my house in a dream-like state all day, replaying parts of our conversation. Replaying how the laughter lines around his eyes creased even more when he smiled. How it was so easy to talk to him, with all the things we have in common. Replaying the hunger in his eyes when we said goodbye, which I’m sure wasn’t a figment of my overactive imagination.
Lucy ambushes me as I’m coming in from hanging out the washing in the backyard. “Daddy, can we please go and get some ice cream?”
“You just made brownies and you ate half of the mixture. I think you’ve hit your sugar limit for the day,” I say.
“I’ll just have a little cone. It’s so hot, and ice cream is the best thing to eat when it’s hot. Please, Daddy?”
I’m going to have to learn how to resist those pleading eyes by the time she’s a teenager, or we’ll be in a whole lot of trouble.
“You’re definitely getting the smallest cone they make,” I say.
Lucy doesn’t even attempt to hide her triumphant expression. I’m probably not winning any parent-of-the-year awards right now.
It’s only a short walk to the ice cream parlor, but it’s so hot that I’m looking forward to my own ice cream by the time we arrive.
My heat level ratchets up another notch when we get to the counter and I spot Dustin and Lachie sitting at one of the tables outside.
Dustin raises a hand in greeting. I raise one back, then turn to scan the menu board, trying not to look too flustered.
“What flavor do you want?” I ask, looking down at Lucy.
“Cookies and cream, please,” she replies.
I order that for her and a mint-chocolate one for me from Frank, a young guy I once treated after his rugby injury. Which means even though I order the smallest size, we both end up with a double scoop.
“Can we sit outside?” Lucy asks once she’s got her ice cream firmly in hand.
I pause, indecisive.
Is Dustin going to think I’m stalking him if we go outside? But it’s a nice day, and Lucy and I usually eat our ice cream in the paved courtyard where picnic tables are scattered under leafy trees.
“Okay, we can go outside.”
We head through the doors, and my attention is immediately drawn to the table where Dustin and Lachie are sitting.
I can’t not go over and greet him, can I? That would be rude.
As I hover hesitantly, Dustin’s gaze shifts and his eyes meet mine. A slow, easy grin spreads across his face, and it’s like he’s a magnet pulling me over. Lucy trails after me.
“Hey,” is my highly original opening line when we reach their table.
