I scoff. “Justawful?” That’s worse than being dismembered first.
“But,” she continues like she didn’t hear me. “You could also find love and happiness.”
That’s a whole different fear. “And then lose it.”
“It’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all,” she says.
I’ve heard that phrase before, but I don’t understand it. If you know you’re going to lose something, it’s stupid to want it in the first place.
Love, if it truly exists, simply isn’t wise. A smart person, aka me, would avoid it at all costs.
“Give me your phone.” Karli says before taking it without my permission.
“What are you doing?”
“Accepting his date for you.”
“Karli, no!” I try to steal itback,but she swings it out of reach. I don’t want to lead this poor guy on. Our relationship, whatever it is, can’t go anywhere. Even if there’s a part of me, small as it may be, that kind of wishes it could.
“Don’t worry, I’ll hide in the restaurant or wherever and spy, so you don’t turn into vulture food.”
I hear the littlewhooshof the message being sent.
“Well, when you make it sound so appealing, how can Inot?” I say, deadpan.
I could fight her on it, but she won’t rest until I go out with him. I told her I would go on five dates. Better to appease her now and get thisover with sooner. But it doesn’t stop the fear from bubbling up. I’m not really afraid of getting abducted. It probably doesn’t happenthat often. Right?
Love scares me far more.
I reach for a lock of hair, and it turns to instant tangles between my fingers.
What if I meet this guy, and he doesn’t live up to the person I’ve built in my mind? Or worse, what if he does, and then he breaks my heart? I’m not sure I can handle either scenario.
Karli grabs my hand, effectively putting a stop to my hair twirling.
“It’s going to be fine,” she says, squeezing my hand.
I eye the ceiling, waiting for the lightning to strike. Why did I agree to her dumb project?
Chapter 9
Michael
I drum my fingers on top of the napkin dispenser. Then force them into my lap, but within moments I’m itching my arms.
Juliet is late. By one minute, but still. There’s a lot riding on this date. A job, three hundred dollars, and the chance to prove my sister wrong. I do like Juliet. I’m not just doing this for some bet. I’m nota workaholic either. I’m opening my heart to love because I believe in it. And I need the promotion.
Semantics.
I tip back with my chair to catch a glimpse of the front door.
No one.
What if she changed her mind? I can’t fall in love with someone I’ve never met. Supposedly, people do it, but what if the person they thought they knew turns out to be someone completely different?
I guess Sean doesn’t have to know. That’s my fallback plan, anyway. Pretending to be madly in love shouldn’t be too hard. Lennox probably knows a good rom-com movie that could help me out.
I drop my chair legsunder the table and pick up the saltshaker.
