Page 28 of The Little Black Book

Zoey:Seriously? Zolo’s? What are we, twenty-one?

Me:Young at heart, baby. Young. At. Heart.

Zoey:Let me guess…this was her idea.

Me:It was.

Zoey:I knew you’d never pick someplace like that. It’s a bona fide meat market.

Me:Who says bona fide? Old people like us.

Zoey:Speak for yourself, old man.

Me:We’re the same age, Z. If I’m old, you’re old.

Zoey:How dare you!?! *angry face emoji*

Me:Fine. Neither of us is old. We’ll fit right in with the kids at Zolo’s.

Zoey:That’s better.

Zoey:And how, exactly, am I supposed to listen to your conversation and observe in a loud nightclub?

Me:I don’t know. Read our body language? See how we move together?

Zoey:*bleaches eyeballs*

Me:Ha. Ha. Very funny. *eye roll emoji*

Zoey:Fine. I’ll be there. What time?

Me:You’re the bestest. 9 p.m.

Zoey:I’ll be there. And I’m bringing Ava. No way am I going to be the lonely old chick in the corner by herself.

Me:You’re not old, remember?

Zoey:Yeah, yeah. See you Friday.

Me:See you Friday.

I drop my phone to the sofa beside me and sigh. This is going to be fun. Abigail is a great girl.She’llfit right in at the club.

I didn’t tell Zoey this, but she’s twenty-four. Nine years younger than me. And while I didn’t see a problem with the age difference before, my conversation with Zoey about our age difference with the crowd asZolo’shas me a little on edge.

Is Abigail too young? Did our previous attempt at dating fizzle out, not because of our schedules, but because of our age difference? Are we just at two different points in our lives?

I look around my house, the empty silence enveloping me. I’m thirty-three, and I’m ready to settle down. I bought this place three years ago, and I’ve been fine rattling around alone here until recently. Maybe it’s because Jared connected with Sophie and formed a solid, lasting relationship. Maybe Zoey’s right, and I’m just getting old. My biological clock is ticking, so to speak. I want what Jared has. Stability. Someone to start a family with.

Is that person Abigail? Doubtful, especially with her being so young.

But I’m going to keep the date, anyway. Abigail could be my perfect match, and I’m not going to blow it by letting a little thing like an age-gap get in the way.

I’m going to give this thing a fair shot, and it’s going to be fun.Somuch fun.

* * *

Abigail looks…amazing.I spot her waiting near the entrance as I pull into the lot and park. My eyes devour her as I jog in her direction. Her dress is skin-tight and so short, all it would take is a gentle tug to reveal…everything. Her brown hair is sleek and straight, falling in a shiny curtain around her shoulders. And her legs look sexy as fuck in those sky-high heels.

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