Page 8 of Falling for Red
Thursday, July 3rd
Reading the note for maybe the twentieth time, I don’t know what to do. Sleeping on it didn’t help either. Do I go out with the firefighter? I wish I didn’t feel so skeptical.
Pay for the babysitter?Maybe he has a single mom kink. This is some experienced single-mom flirting.
Don’t be so jaded.Nicholas could have coached him at the bar yesterday. It’s really thoughtful to think about that. Little does he know I’m going to be child-free for a couple of nights.
I stare at the note, eating another truffle from the box of chocolates that were in the bag. My mind flashes to the dates I’ve been on since the divorce. One guy had an intense timeline for marriage and kids. Who knows if I’ll ever do that again, marriage and more kids. Most days, I’m too overwhelmed to even remember to eat, let alone add more responsibility to my life.
Tonight, I’ll be both child-free and not working. I can’t remember the last time the stars aligned like that. So, it’s achoice between reading a book in the bathtub or a date with a hot firefighter. The safe option or the risky one.
I’ve never gone for a Captain-America-looking guy before. Blond hair, blue eyes, military, and named Jake.How unoriginal.Not that my red hair, blue eyes, girl named Claire, Chicago suburban, Irish self is all that original.
Jake’s nothing like the guys I typically go for. For whatever reason, guys with accents have always been my weakness. Especially guys born outside of the States. My ex’s voice always did make me melt—before everything fell apart, anyway.
What’s the worst that could happen?The date sucks, and I leave. No harm done.
Marriage changed me. I used to be an eternal optimist. But now … I’m more cautious. Maybe it’s time to lower my defenses just a little. Just for tonight.
Fuck it. If he can take me out tonight, he gets a date. If he can’t, then he won’t.
Claire Moore
Thank you for the chocolates and stuffed animal. It was very sweet. You can take me out to dinner tonight.
I giggle when I see how fast I get a response.
Jake the Firefighter
Tonight. Perfect. I’d like to pick you up at seven and take you to La Nonna.
Nowthat’sa first date. The most expensive restaurant in town. On a holiday weekend … there’s no way we can get a table.
Claire Moore
You sure you can get a reservation on such short notice?
Jake the Firefighter
Positive. If you want to do that, we’ll do that. We can go anywhere you want, but I’m hoping you let me take you to the nicest place in town.
Stop smiling!Although this is sounding more exciting than my book and bath by the minute.
Claire Moore
La Nonna it is. And no babysitter necessary. My daughter will be with her dad for the weekend.
Please don’t cancel at the last minute,I beg the universe. But I doubt he’d miss the chance to parade her around like a trophy at his brother-in-law’s lake house nearby on Delavan Lake. He’ll have a full weekend of everyone telling him how great of a father he is and how much of a bitch I am for leaving Chicago and petitioning for primary custody.
It’s fine.In this small town, she can have a normal childhood where preschool isn’t tens of thousands of dollars and where you can walk on the sidewalk without having to look over your shoulder. It’s what’s best for her, and it’s also what’s best for me. There was no reason for me to stay in the city once we were done. Honestly, I don’t know where we’ll be in five years, but Lake Geneva is good for now.
My phone buzzes with a call from Jake, surprising me.Wait. Why is Jake calling me?I look at Gabby playing with her new stuffed animal on the living room floor and make my way to the kitchen.
“Hi,” I answer, sounding more nervous than I’d like.
“Hey. How are you doing after yesterday?” His voice is sexier than I remember, and it’s messing with me.
“Fine.”
