Chapter 9
NINE
MOLLY
Idon’t know what horrible acts I committed in a past life, but tonight feels like punishment. If these are the best single men Chars has to offer, sign me up for a convent. I’m done. The only man here worthy of my time happens to be my brother’s best friend.
Joshua Greenfeld.
My pen hovers over the paper as I contemplate what it might mean to write his name instead of any of the eligible men I’ve met tonight. Josh makes me feel things I have no business feeling—but then, I’ve always been a sucker for punishment.
With a deep sigh, I write his name and hand my submission to Lolly. She beams at me with her trademark cheeriness.
“It’ll take me just three minutes to process these, and I’ll have your partner ready to go.” She places my sheet on the growing pile, then takes one from Elena.
“Loretta, I expect to be paired with my number one this time,” Elena says with a delicate sniff. “Otherwise, I will be leaving that review.”
Lolly’s smile turns brittle. “Elena, as I’ve explained before, the final dates rely on mutual pairings. If your interest doesn’t feel the same connection, I can’t pair you. I can’t force anything. But, if you like, I can work with you separately to—”
“No.” Elena taps her list. “I expect you to pair me.” She spins on her heel and marches toward the bathroom.
“Gee.” I lift an eyebrow at Lolly. “She seems fun.”
Lolly sighs, glancing at the list. “She’s been to thirteen of these events and is starting to get desperate.
Comes on too strong, makes assumptions. She’s actually a nice person when she’s not terrified of dying alone.
” Another sigh escapes her. “I firmly believe there’s someone for everyone.
But some days…” She shakes her head, forcing a smile.
“It’s just a matter of time, right? Maybe tonight’s the night. ”
“Maybe,” I say, trying to sound optimistic. But Lolly’s lack of a wink unsettles me.
Imagine that.
I head for the bar, searching for Josh. He stands to the side, two glasses in front of him.
“Is this for me?” I ask, reaching for one.
“Yeah. It’s not your brother’s brew, but it’s not bad.”
I down the wine in one hit.
“Damn, girl.” He grins, gesturing at the bartender for another. “Bad night?”
“If your experience was even half as bad as mine, you’d be contemplating celibacy too.”
“Nah.” Josh leans comfortably into me, his hip brushing mine. “I can’t stand collars. And while black’s a good look on me, I’m not into robes either.”
I chuckle as the bartender pours me another glass. “Your mother would be happy though.”
“Priesthood or grandkids. Those are my only two options.”
We both laugh. I trace my finger along the side of the glass, surprisingly at ease with the silence between us.
The airhorn blares, and Lolly holds up a clipboard. “We have our pairings!”
She begins reading them off, sending couples on their way.
My tongue feels like it’s swelling in my mouth. My palms sweat, and my heart pounds harder with each name she calls.
Josh reaches out, intertwining his fingers with mine as Elena’s name is announced.
“Don’t sweat it. I put you down.” He gives my fingers a reassuring squeeze. “It’ll be the date we tell our ki—”
“Joshua Greenfeld,” Lolly interrupts.
“Wait. What?” Josh blinks, startled, turning to see Elena smiling triumphantly at him.
“Uh, there’s been a mistake,” he calls out, glancing between Elena and me. He turns to Lolly. “I didn’t put Elena down.”
Lolly’s smile stays in place but looks a little brittle. “Yes, you did. We never get our pairings wrong!”
“No, I—”
“Josh,” I whisper, catching the embarrassed flush creeping across Elena’s face as her smile falters. “Just take her for a drink.”
He looks at me, then back at Elena, sighing as he runs a hand through his hair. “This is not how tonight was meant to go.” He squeezes my hand once more before heading toward Elena.
I sit back, waiting for my name to be called, watching couples pair off. Something settles deep in my gut, achingly familiar yet strangely new.
I wanted the date with Josh.
It hits me—I’m experiencing a mixture of resigned melancholy and blossoming hope. The familiar ache of wanting someone I can’t have merges with the fragile hope that maybe, possible, hopefully, he might just feel the same.
“Hey, looks like we’re paired up.” Syd, the guy with the eyepatch, interrupts my thoughts.
I offer him a weak smile. “Looks like it.”
“Don’t worry,” he says, grinning. “You weren’t first on my list either. I know this is just a casual drink.”
I blink, a genuine smile tugging at my lips. “Oh really? And where did I rank?”
“Sixth. But that’s only because you’re obviously into Mister Tall, Dark, and Handsome. I’m not normally inclined to go for guys, but even I have to admit he’s a spectacular specimen.” Syd jerks his head toward the bar, where Josh and Elena are sitting.
I press my hands to my cheeks, feeling the heat of embarrassment. “Am I that obvious?”
“You?” Syd chuckles. “Nah. Him? Oh, yeah.”
“Wait. What?”
“Oh man, you didn’t know?” Syd throws his head back, laughing uproariously. He calms down a moment later, waggling his eyebrows. “The guy has it baaaaad. Practically salivating over you. After this, you should throw him a bone. Let him take you out sometime.”
I glance back at Josh, studying him with fresh eyes. “Huh.” Shaking my head, I turn back to Syd. “So, who was your top pick?”
“Elena.”
“Her?” I snap my mouth shut, immediately embarrassed. “I mean… I’m sure she’s nice.”
“She’s not.” Syd grins, glancing back at the bar. Elena leans against Josh, her hand on his arm, her body angled toward him.
“She’s a complete bitch. Wants kids and marriage in a year. Comes on too strong, cuts you off if you say one wrong thing. She’s cold, uncompromising, and has zero game.”
“Sounds… delightful?”
He chuckles. “She’s the only reason I come to these things.
She wants everything I do, and the bonus is I get her.
Her body’s banging—even if she looks like a schoolmarm.
One day, she’ll see me as a viable partner, and then I’m taking her to bed until she lets those walls down.
Someone hurt her, made her feel desperate.
I won’t.” His eye gleams. “I can’t fucking wait. ”
“I…” I search for words. “Good luck, I guess?”
“You wanna double-date with them? You get your time with lover boy, and I’ll drive Elena crazy. Win-win.”
I tilt my head, considering his offer. “It’d be rude to interrupt, right?”
He jerks his head toward the bar. “She’s about to go stage-five-clinger on his ass. No. We’re doing him a favor.”
I chuckle. “Fine. Lead on.”
Syd strides to the bar, grinning as Elena clocks us. Her face darkens as he bounds up beside her.
“We’ve decided to double-date,” he declares, signaling the bartender.
“Excuse me?” Elena shifts on her stool, glaring at us. “Is this a joke?”
“Psh, nah. We’re good,” Syd says as the bartender arrives. “A Jack and Coke and…” He nods at me.
“Just a Coke, thanks,” I say, hovering awkwardly.
Josh pulls out a stool and gestures for me to sit. I perch on the rickety seat, slightly concerned by the wobble.
“So, Josh.” Elena turns back to him, a forced smile plastered on her face. “Do you own your own home or rent?”
Josh’s beautiful dark-whiskey eyes flick to mine before answering. “I own.”
“Mortgage?”
“No.” He doesn’t elaborate. The bartender slides a glass in front of me.
“I also own,” Syd cuts into the conversation, grinning. “But the bank says I’ve got a few years left to pay it off.”
“Is it an apartment or townhouse?” Elena completely ignores Syd, her grin now sharp and brittle.
“Well, I have an apartment on the east side of town, but it’s being rented since I spend most of my time in—”
“Oh, that’s a shame.” She sits back, shaking her head. “Apartments just aren’t good for raising a family. No room to run around.” She fiddles with her straw. “Have you thought about selling? Maybe moving to a townhouse or somewhere with more space?”
“Leaving the ci—? No.” Josh shakes his head firmly.
“I have a townhouse,” Syd interjects again, leaning closer to Elena.
“Even has a car spot—not that I use it—and a little courtyard garden. Picked it up for a song, flipped it. Three bedrooms, one and a half baths. I’m not planning to stay there long-term, though.
Once I get married, I’ll sell it, move to the suburbs, settle down, have three kids.
Want ’em to have a yard, a dog. Good, clean air. ”
Elena slowly turns her head toward Syd, her eyebrows lifting. “And what do you do exactly to make the kind of money required for three kids?”
Syd grins. “IT, baby. The military paid for my education, but I’ve been out for a while now. Set up my own company. We build apps.” He shrugs. “I can build them from anywhere. I figured Chars was a good place to start before moving on.”
“Ever thought about moving to Silicon Valley?” Josh asks, leaning casually against the bar.
“Nah. No one needs to be over there these days. Besides, most of my clients are based in Astipia.”
Josh nods. “Makes sense.”
“You own your own business?” Elena asks, her posture shifting as she leans closer to Syd.
I glance at Josh, catching the grin tugging at his lips.
“I do.” Syd reaches into his pocket and pulls out a business card. “See?”
He hands one to Elena and then passes one to Josh and me. Elena lifts the slick black card to the light, clearly impressed. Syd jerks his head at Josh, silently asking for permission. Josh shifts, making room for Syd at the bar. He slides into the seat beside Elena.
“You didn’t put that on your questionnaire,” Elena says, frowning as she tucks the business card into her handbag.
Josh’s hand settles lightly on my back. I glance up, catching the playful wiggle of his eyebrows. He tilts his head toward the door. I nod, quietly grabbing my purse and slipping off the stool.
“The questionnaires are bullshit. Who writes what they’re really like on there?” Syd answers as Josh and I start creeping away.