Chapter 24
PETE
His phone rang again. It was Mom. He hadn’t even had a chance to listen to her voicemail. “Hey, Mom, what’s up?” he asked, stepping away from Shelby and Jim.
“Pete, I’ve been worried sick. I’m so sorry about the video.
I never should have told Jim it was okay to post that, and to be completely honest with you, I’m a bit rattled that he did.
He made it sound like it was a fun little laugh.
Not something that would take the internet by storm and put you smack in the middle of the eye of the hurricane. ”
Pete laughed and shook his head. “That’s a lot of metaphors, Mom.”
“No, honey, really. I’m so sorry. I’m horrified. I had to help at the store, but I’m leaving now, and I promise my first task is to find Jim and make this right. I’m going to ask him to take the video down immediately.”
Pete’s gaze drifted to Shelby and Jim, who were deep in planning mode. “Well, I don’t think he’s going to do that since I just agreed to sign on for a dating adventure with Voyager.”
“What?” Mom sounded shocked.
“Yeah.” He could hear the surprise in his own voice.
“You know what? You inspired me. I mean, if you can be brave and put yourself out there, I figured I can, too. Why not? It’s an opportunity that a lot of people would beg to be part of, and it fell in my lap.
I’m not mad, and I don’t think Jim meant any harm. It’s cool. I’m good. We’re good.”
The line went silent for a minute.
“Mom? Are you still there?”
There was a sigh, a long pause, and then a chuckle. “Yes, I’m here, and well, that’s a relief. I’ve been in full panic mode since I saw the video.”
“Mom, you know I’m an adult, yeah?” Pete teased, hoping that she’d stop beating herself up.
“Yeeeessss.” She stretched out the word. “But it’s impossible not to worry. And this one was on me.”
“Don’t sweat it. I’m excited.” Pete adored his mom, but sometimes it was hard for her to see him as an adult. Maybe that was another reason he’d been hesitant to tell her about his search for his birth father. He needed to do this on his own. For himself. “See you here soon?”
“On my way. Love you.” She hung up.
“Was that your mom?” Jim asked when Pete rejoined their conversation. The muscles in his jaw twitched. “Is she upset?”
“No. I don’t think so. At least not once I told her that I’m game to be your guinea pig for Love Island, or whatever the latest dating show is. Reality TV isn’t my thing.”
“Shocker.” Shelby grinned, tucking her curls behind her ears. “I would have sworn you were glued to the TV for Love Island.”
They spent the next twenty minutes peppering him with questions. Jim took written notes while Shelby typed frantically with her thumbs.
“Okay, I think we have enough to start compiling a plan for Let’s Find Pete a Date,” Shelby said when they finished. “We’ll work on a stronger name for that.”
Jim patted his shoulder. “Thanks for being such a good sport.”
Pete liked Jim. He knew he was probably projecting. It was something he had done since he was a kid, but he wondered if his dad would be like Jim—calm, funny, the kind of guy who genuinely seemed to be looking out for everyone.
And then there was Shelby.
Elise wasn’t wrong. She was really cute.
What the hell are you doing, man? Pete chided himself as Shelby and Jim ducked away to find a spot to sit down and craft a social plan for him.
Why had he agreed?
It was like they were talking and, all of a sudden, he was saying yes.
That wasn’t his style.
Pete didn’t need to get set up.
Did he want to go on an air balloon ride in New Mexico or bake blueberry pies in Maine? Maybe. With the right person.
With a rotating group of strange women?
Not really.
He watched Shelby run her hand through her bouncy curls. He noticed the way her lips twisted into a half frown when she was concentrating, and the way she would absently twirl a strand of her hair around her finger.
Was it because of her?
Had he agreed to this mess because of Shelby?
They would get to spend more time together. That was a plus. Maybe he should back out now. Before things got out of hand. But then again, this would be a chance to spend even more time with her.
Elise dragged him from his thoughts. “Pete, Petey, Pete! Over here.” She danced like she was at a rave, trying to get his attention. She and Mom were over near the bandstand.
Pete headed toward them. The judges had taken their seats, and the DJ encouraged the contestants to line up along the edge of the park.
Anyone participating in the costume contest would walk up along the main path and then cross over the gazebo so the judges could get a close-up look at the intricate details—beading, sequins, glittery crowns, you name it.
A professional photographer was stationed at the base of the gazebo to capture photos of everyone.
“You made it,” Pete said, squeezing in next to them. “How was the store?”
“Absolutely bananas,” Elise said. “I think that might be the busiest I’ve ever seen it. We felt bad leaving, but most people are here now for the costume contest, so things had slowed.”
Mom caught Pete’s eye. “You’re sure about this? Everything with Voyager?”
He waved his hands toward his face. “Oh, yeah, so ready. Bring it on.”
“Okay, that makes me feel so much lighter.” Mom wrapped her arms around both of them, pulling them into a hug. “You two, I just can’t thank you enough for encouraging me to do this. It’s all a whirlwind and keeping me on my toes to say the very least, but I’m having fun, and I hope you are, too.”
“Don’t you mean ‘forcing you to do this,’ Aunt Mimi?” Elise teased, fiddling with the brown ribbons on her braids.
“Yes, some of that, too. But this has already far exceeded my expectations, and it’s so wonderful for the Green Grocer.
This is the boost we needed.” She released them.
“I never would have said yes if it weren’t for the two of you.
” Mom ruffled his hair the way she used to when he was young.
“How about you, honey? You’re positive you’re not doing this to make me feel better?
” The slightest flash of concern crossed her face.
“Wait, doing what?” Elise asked, the corners of her eyes crinkling.
Pete glanced toward where Shelby and Jim had been sitting, but he lost them in the crowd. “Nah, it’s all good.”
“Are you sure?” Mom’s lips pursed tightly as she studied him like she used to when he would tell her he didn’t feel well and couldn’t go to school. “You’ve seemed a bit off the last few days. Is everything okay?”
“Hold up, you two.” Elise looked from him to Mom and back again. “What are we talking about here?”
“One sec,” he said to Elise before responding to Mom.
“I’m fine. It’s all good,” he lied, hoping that she didn’t pick up on it.
He tried to be discreet about his search for his birth father, and this certainly wasn’t the right time to get into it.
Then he stuffed his hands in his pockets, turning his attention to Elise.
“Sorry. I haven’t had a chance to tell you this yet, but Jim and Shelby want to work on a spinoff campaign with me.
” Heat rose to his cheeks. “Sort of a social media dating experiment I guess.”
“Wait, what?” Elise tossed her hand in the air to stop him.
“Hold up. Say more. Tell me everything. Do not spare a single detail. You, Pete Brown, agreed to do a social media dating experiment? Am I in the Upside Down right now?” She stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes back in her head.
“Someone pinch me, please.” She thrust her arm toward him. “No, really, pinch me.”
The DJ announced that the first age category was making its way toward the gazebo now.
“Give it up for over-fifties! Remember, your voice counts, too. Our judges will be scoring each costume on originality, details, design, and more. But I’ll be asking for your applause.
If you see a costume you love, be sure to whoop and holler because there is a crowd favorite award, too. ”
“They’re figuring it out right now, but they want to roll with this idea of setting me up on dates,” Pete whispered over the noise of the crowd. “They’re even talking about sending me on dating adventures—like a ski trip in Switzerland or backpacking in Oregon.”
“Shut up.” Elise punched him in the arm. “You agreed to this? You?”
Pete nodded, enjoying watching his cousin’s reaction. “I did.”
“You agreed to getting set up with strange women. No chance.” Elise shook her slowly. “Aunt Mimi, is he okay?”
Mom pressed her hand to his forehead like she was trying to make sure he wasn’t feverish. “He feels fine.”
Pete rolled his eyes and chuckled. “I don’t know what came over me.
It was a split-second decision to say yes.
But like I told Mom, she’s my inspiration.
I figured if she was brave and agreed to put herself out there on the internet for everyone to see, I could do it, too.
” He just wished he could be brave about his personal quest. If she knew he was looking for his dad, would it change things between them?
“Yeah, but your mom isn’t dating a bunch of dudes,” Elise said. “This is way different, Pete. You’re basically like the social media version of The Bachelor.”
His stomach churned at that thought. “No. I trust Shelby. She’ll be there. She’ll probably travel with me if Voyager decides they want this to go bigger.”
“Ah, okay, okay, I see.” Elise’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “It all makes sense now.”
“What?” Pete’s throat closed tight. Did Elise sense that he had a crush on Shelby? He wouldn’t put it past his cousin. Sometimes he felt like she knew him better than he knew himself.
“Nothing,” Elise said breezily. Then she looped her arm through his and nodded toward the gazebo. “We’ll talk about it later. Pay attention. The contest is starting.”