Page 37 of One Small Spark
“Your grannies spend a lot of time around Callahan’s forearms, do they?”
At least Rhett doesn’t seem annoyed that I keep bringing up another man. Not as annoyed as I am.
“Uh, we’re all in the same book group.”
“Yeah? What kind of books?”
I hunch over and slowly slurp up my ramen broth. This conversation is all downhill from here, I can tell already.
“Romance.”
He mirrors my action, his eyes practically dancing. “Tell me more.”
“That’s probably a bad idea all around.”
He smiles even wider. “I’ll take ‘Incriminating Subjects’ for one thousand, Alex.”
I raise a hand to stop his train of thought. “No. No way. That’s not it. It’s more that…”
Yeah. I’ve got nothing. I drop my hand.
Rhett just chuckles over his soup, unbothered.
“I’m really sorry.” For accepting his invitation when I knew I was a mess, for bringing up Callahan all night, for being a general wreck of a person.
I should be delighted to be on a date with a guy who by all accounts is excellent at his job, smells nice, and is fun to talk to. Rhett is so cute, he almost hurts to look at. And he seems to be interested in me at least a little, which is all kinds of flattering.
And yet…no spark.
“Don’t be sorry. I’m having a good time learning about Sunshine and making a friend.” He seems to really mean it, at least.
And I did say I wanted more single friends. I just didn’t specify a gender.
“When you come back to town, I’ll give you names and numbers of half a dozen single women.”
He holds his hand out over the table. “Done deal.”
I shake his hand, relieved he’s not offended.
He releases me. “Did you want to talk about Cal?—”
“No.”
“Oh, thank God. I’d make a terrible therapist, but I figured I should at least offer.”
TWELVE
WREN
My girls’night was a bust. My date with Rhett was a bust. It’s time for a dose of the best self-care around: August cuddles.
I fire off a text to Tess before I leave the restaurant. She claims I’m welcome anytime, but not even I’m obnoxious enough to drop in without any warning. There’s already a car in the second parking spot on Tess’s side of the duplex when I get there, so I park in front of Ian’s half.
I check my phone, but she gave my text a heart. Thank goodness her guest doesn’t mean I can’t visit. I’d hate to go three for three with spoiled evening plans.
I don’t even manage to knock on the door before it’s pulled open and a little someone launches himself at me.
August squeezes me around the waist, his chin tipped all the way up. “Wren! Did you come to say goodnight?”
