Page 44 of Finding Jack
She shrugged. “I admit that I’m rarely wrong about people, but I got Paul wrong. He’s all right. I’m saying I wouldn’t give you a hard time if you date him again.”
“I’m not dating him again. This is why I don’t like to tell you stuff sometimes. I didn’t break up with Paul because you told me to. I didn’t start talking to Jack because you told me to. I have never made a single decision in my life to do anything because you told me to.”
“You should start that bacon.”
I got up and laid some strips in the skillet. “I’m not doing this because you told me to.”
“Understood.” The sizzle of cooking bacon filled the silence for a few minutes. “So is it weird for you if Paul and I both volunteer at the barn?”
“Weird in the sense that it’s a bizarre coincidence, but it doesn’t bother me at all. Wait,” I said, almost running to plop down in front of her again. “Are you trying to tell me you want to date Paul?”
She looked at me like I’d just suggested she go for a naked jog. “Definitely not.”
“Then why are you so stressed?”
“I really like this volunteering thing and I didn’t want it to be awkward for you that he’s there.”
“Nope. That’s it? That’s what you were stressed about?”
She muttered something, but I could make it out plain as day. I made her repeat it anyway. “Sorry, a little louder, please.”
She scowled at me. “IsaidI was worried I had maybe ruined your dating life because I was wrong about Paul.”
“That last part one more time?”
She rolled her eyes and rose to take her bowl to the sink. “You’re the worst.”
“Just so we’re clear, Paul was nice, but you’re right. He was too boring for me.”
“I’m glad it’s not a big deal if we end up having overlapping hours. I love riding, and the kids aren’t so bad either.”
“I’m sure they’d be honored to hear you say so.”
She flashed a grin in answer then changed the subject. “So you had a date last night. How’s Jack?”
“Fine.” So very fine.
“When are you going to meet him?”
I’d thought about it. Of course I thought about it. That’s why I had an answer ready. “I’m not.”
“Um. What.”
“That’s not what this is. Ten-hour car rides are bad for relationships.”
“But one-hour flights are good for them. Of course you have to meet him.”
“If he lived here, or even kind of close to here, yeah, of course I’d go out with him. But he doesn’t. It’s a moot point.”
“If moot means not meeting him is totally stupid, then sure. Moot point.”
“It’s a fun distraction,” I said. “Joking around with him definitely helped me see why Paul and I were a bad fit. But this isn’t about a relationship. It’s about entertainment.”
“I accept that you believe that right this moment. But is that how he’s seeing this too? We all watch the same movies. I think ten out of ten people in this exact situation would meet sooner than later.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “You know I’m not big into defining relationships.”
“No,” she agreed. “You roll with it until the guy refers to you as his girlfriend and then suddenly you’re in a relationship, and then you roll with it a little longer until you break up with him. I know your M.O., girlfriend. It’s a weird personality tic for such a—ahem.” She fake coughed.
