Page 64 of Matched with Her Athlete Boss
We’ve made it through the aquarium and I’m itching to dig out my phone and call Kenzie, or text her at least.
“How about we walk over to the bakery right there?” she points and I have to squint to see the name of the place.
“Sure,” I say. “So, how did you decide to go through a matchmaker?” Not my best conversation starter, but hopefully it will finally break through the ice we’ve had throughout the aquarium.
Melissa blows out a breath. “I’ve been on a lot of dates, usually with people my friends or family have tried to set me up with. I know they have good intentions, but they miss the mark every single time. I figured if I could have a better assurance of having similar interests to the guy, I might as well try. What about you?”
“To be honest, I’m ready to settle down. I’ve achieved a lot of success and I want someone to share it with.”
Her expression is unreadable so I do what I’m good at and keep talking.
“It’s hard because my parents were able to meet by chance and then got married soon after. That’s not as easy when my life is on the road and in and out of the city a lot.”
“Marriage, huh?” Melissa says, giving a small laugh. “That’s going kinda fast, don’t you think?”
I turn to study her. “Are you not the marrying type?”
“I’ve had a lot of boyfriends who’ve dragged their feet when it comes to saying ‘I do’. But we’ve only just met, so that’s a little intimidating.”
And of course, I messed up on something so small. Maybe I need to have someone coach me through the first several dates so I don’t screw them up.
“Sorry, I don’t want to give you the wrong impression. I’m not saying I’ve got a ring in my pocket and am going to get down on one knee right here. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m motivated to get there sooner, rather than years down the road.”
We order a pastry and then sit on a bench in the sunshine.
“That’s always good to know.” Melissa is avoiding eye contact with me and I’ve officially struck out on this date. Would things have been different if Kenzie had been here to help the conversation?
Then again, she’d been engaged to someone who dumped her for a Thai princess. She’d probably have a few things to say.
We sit in silence, eating the food and I’m retracing steps to see where I went wrong. What are the characteristics that are similar between the two of us? Because it was like striking out left and right.
“Wrap it up,” the ear piece says.
“Thank you for a nice time, Melissa,” I say, standing. She gives me a short hug and nods.
“It was fun to hang out today. I hope everything goes well in the coming weeks.” With that, she turns away and tosses her pastry wrapper in the garbage. She’s gone within a minute and I’m still standing there, feeling like a heel.
I blew another chance at a match, but I don’t want to settle. I want to keep the woman I’m in a relationship with in my thoughts and close to me.
Pulling out my phone, I go to text Kenzie.
What had ruined the date? The fact that I kept wondering what she was up to rather than paying attention to Melissa? Or that I’d mentioned marriage?
I’m going to say the marriage bit sealed the deal of no second date.
The biggest question is why? What is it about Kenzie that keeps pulling my thoughts in her direction?
The relatability, the dry humor. The fact that she doesn’t bend over backwards to try and impress me.
Do I have feelings for Kenzie? A few seconds ticks by and I think my heart is telling me yes. Probably not the four-letter word kind of feeling, but there’s something there.
Now I’ve got to figure out how far I’m willing to go with it and see if she even feels the same.
My phone rings with Owen’s name on the screen. It’s early for his call. Hopefully nothing happened.
29
KENZIE
