Chapter 12
twelve
As soon as the realization hit me, it sank in like a slap to the face.
“You’re on a date with both of us? At the same time? Here?” My voice was colder than the wind outside.
Of all places. Here?
Jackson nodded like I’d just asked him if he wanted fries with his meal. “Yeah.”
Cassie’s eyes went wide, her mouth half open, as if the words were caught somewhere in her throat. “What?”
“I don’t get the big deal,” Jackson said with a casual shrug, glancing between us like we were the weird ones.
Around us, conversations at nearby tables began to dip. People were starting to catch on. I could feel their stares behind me, the pause in their laughter.
“We’re all just trying to find someone, right? It’s not like I knew either of you before tonight. This way’s just more efficient.”
Efficient.
He said it like it was a spreadsheet and not two actual human beings sitting across from him with real expectations and at least a little bit of hope. His tone was matter-of-fact, even bored.
A lot like date number one.
They really were not all that original.
Cassie’s face twisted in disbelief. “You do realize that’s not how dates work, right?”
Jackson rolled his eyes like we were being dramatic. “Whatever. I don’t need someone more uptight than I already am.”
Uptight. I smiled—tight, sharp, teeth baring.
“Right,” I said, lifting my nearly empty vodka cran and draining it in one long gulp. I set it down with a satisfying clink. “Thanks for the drink.”
Then I turned and walked away without looking back.
Behind me, I could hear Cassie mutter under her breath, “Such an asshole,” before she followed.
The moment we pushed through the bar’s door and into the open air, the cold slapped us like it knew what kind of night it had been. The heat and chaos of the dive bar vanished, replaced by sharp December air that stung against my cheeks and cut through the fabric of my coat.
I glanced down at my phone.
You just let me know when you need me to call.
All good. Solved itself.
Oh, this has got to be a good one.
Oh, it was. Maybe not good for my love life, but this one? It was gold for story time. Definitely the shortest date of the season so far. Eight minutes, maybe nine.
A new record.
Out of all of them, this one left me with a cocktail of emotions I hadn’t expected. Angry. Appalled. Slightly amused. Honestly, I didn’t even know what I was feeling—but I was feeling a lot. My brain was still catching up.
I turned to see Cassie still standing behind me, phone in hand.
“Do you want to share a car?” she asked. “We can split it so you’re not walking alone or anything. It’s way too cold.”
I blinked, surprised by the offer. “Yeah … yeah, sure. Thanks.”
It was too late for the metro anyway.
As we waited on the curb, she wrapped her scarf tighter and muttered, “God, this is why I don’t go on dates anymore.”
I let out a dry laugh. “I wish I could say the same.”
“You go on a lot lately?”
I hesitated. “Kind of. I have this … thing with some friends and friends of friends. A pact, sort of. Twelve blind dates before Christmas.”
Cassie raised her eyebrows. “Twelve? You’re kidding.”
I shook my head.
“What date is this one?”
“Um, too many.”
She whistled. “I wish you luck.”
“Thanks.” I was clearly going to need it.
“It’s just wild to me that in the world, this is what we get?
This is all that is available to us? I feel like by the time you hit thirty, it’s all weirdos or married guys or guys who were married, which makes you wonder if they can handle a serious relationship again or if they are just a man child. ”
I laughed.
“It’s not that funny.”
“I know it isn’t.” I took a breath. “I’m laughing so that I don’t cry.”
“Oh,” said Cassie, giving a small giggle herself. “All right then. I’ll take it. It’s times like this I wonder if I should have just stayed with my high-school boyfriend, gotten knocked up, and called the rest a wash. At least I wouldn’t be going through all this.”
“I get that.”
“But I had to girl-boss a little too close to the sun.” She shook her head at herself.
“That’s where we differ then,” I said.
“You made it to the city looks like.”
“Yeah, but…” She waited patiently. “I feel like I’m doing it all wrong.”
“I doubt that,” she smiled.
“I don’t know. Are you living your childhood best friend and her brother who’s been crashing on the couch for the past three months?” Or was it four now?
“Sounds like the start of a sitcom.”
“Might as well be. Especially considering him being there is just…”
“You have a thing with him?”
“What?” I snapped my attention to look at her in the eyes as she raised her eyebrows expectantly. “No. No. It’s not like that. It’s just that I haven’t seen him since we were kids. It’s the job hunting that’s been the hardest part since I got here.”
“Ah.”
“Yeah. I think that’s partially why I’m going on all these stupid dates. Figured maybe if I had a guy by the end of the year maybe I wouldn’t have to call the move a complete wash?” I said, feeling my cheeks heat. It was oddly embarrassing to admit out loud.
“What do you do?” Cassie asked.
“I’m a writer.”
“Wow.”
“I know.”
“No,” she quickly corrected. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean like wow that’s a terrible thing or anything. I mean it. It’s brave.”
“I’m just … trying to find a job. Any job at this point. Not even the bookstores are hiring. It feels like everywhere is either swamped or frozen for the holidays.”
Cassie nodded knowingly as the car pulled up in front of us that Cassie ordered on her phone. She slid in first confirming our locations with the driver as I got situated next to her, barely managing to buckle my seatbelt before the car began to drive.
“It’s brutal out there,” she said, continuing our conversation. “Not to mention the job market goes full coma mode in December. But are you freelancing? Yeah? That still counts. A few of my friends are stringing together enough gigs to basically make a life out of it. Don’t give up, okay?”
I took a breath, letting her words settle in a little. “Trying not to. I think the only thing holding me together at this point is living with my best friend, who badgered me to turn this entire mess into a newsletter.”
Cassie’s brows shot up. “This mess? You mean the twelve blind dates?”
I winced, laughing despite myself. “Yeah. That’s the one.”
“That’s kind of genius.”
“I’ll probably delete them all as soon as it’s over. I don’t need my dating disaster arc living online forever, especially if none of it works out.”
Cassie gave me a crooked smile. “Sometimes, you can make a happy ending out of anything, even the messiest start. Or at least something satisfying enough to keep going. Sorry, editorial brain kicking in. I don’t write books, but I’ve built a career picking them apart and fangirling over the broken ones. ”
That made me smile. A real smile. “No, I actually like that. A lot.”
Cassie leaned back in the seat with a grin. “Well, maybe you should get together with your best friend’s brother you’re living with?”
“Ha.”
“I’m serious. Maybe it is just me, but a minute ago when you just talked about him… sounds like there is a bit of history there. Forgive me if I’m wrong.”
Was I that obvious? “That would open up a whole other can of drama.”
“Sure, but, come on. That would be a great story.”
As the car slowed in front of my building, I pulled my bag onto my shoulder and reached inside for my wallet.
“I can send you my half over an app or—”
She waved me off. “Nah, don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks. Really.”
Cassie turned slightly in her seat, her voice softer now. “Thanks for listening to me rant and saving me from that dude. If you hadn’t walked in, I probably would’ve made excuses for him all night.”
“Anytime,” I said sincerely.
“Well, maybe I’ll see you around, Brielle. And if not, definitely let me know if I make the cut in next week’s edition,” she said with a wink. “This ride was better than half the real dates I’ve had in years.”
“Honestly?” I smiled. “Same here.”
She opened her door, the cold rushing in again. “Happy holidays.”
“Happy holidays,” I said, stepping out into the night.