“Sure.” She won’t find anyone who will rise to the level of sacrificing reserved parking.
“You have to go in with an open mind,” Ruby insists. “You have to be willing to give them more than a date or two. If it’s not going to work after a first date, you’ll have to give me good reasons why. I need to know that you’re keeping yourself open to this process.”
“I have no reason to agree to this,” I say.
“Because I’m good, and you know you’ll lose your parking space,” Ruby says.
“Won’t happen.” I’m positive.
“Then take the bet.” Her eyes gleam with a challenge.
“You really don’t have a reason not to,” Ava says. “And honestly, I think it would be good for you.”
Madi nods.
I roll my eyes. “This is so stupid. Fine.”
“If you eventhinkyou’re in love, it counts, even if you haven’t said ‘I love you’ out loud by New Year’s.”
“No way,” I say. I’m not concerned about losing but it’s always smart to hedge your bets. “We both have to say ‘I love you.’”Easiest bet ever.
“Fine. But you can’tnotsay it just to keep your parking space.” Ruby gives me such a confident smile that it shakes me for a second until I remember all the bad dates I’ve been on since breaking up with Bryce.
“I’m in,” I say. I’m keeping my permit.
“The bet is on,” Ruby says. “The countdown begins at midnight.”
Chapter Four
Sami
“You’reup,”Rubyinformsme from the sofa when I walk in the door around five. Band practice had run long, but we’d dialed in one of our original songs, and I’m feeling good about performing it tonight.
“For what?” I ask.
“The bet. I found a guy for you.”
Is she kidding? It’s only been three days! “Did you make me an app profile or something? That’s a loophole. We should have stipulated that these have to be dates with people you know.”
“Itissomeone I know, and it’s someone you’re going to get to know at the patio party.”
I pause with my foot on the bottom step. “The new neighbor?” I’d gotten her text about the party.
“Josh,” she confirms. “And remember, you have to be open-minded about this.”
I walk back into the living room and sit on the coffee table. “Tell me what you know.”
“Very cute,” she says. “Joey’s height.” She measures all men against her brothers’ heights, so that makes Josh around six feet. “Possible workaholic. Short haircut but a beard. The kind that’s more scruff.”
“I like the beard part.”
“You’ll like all the parts,” she says. “Very fit. Dark blond. Pretty eyes. Maybe dark blue? But long lashes. Great smile. Possible dimple.”
“Just one?”
“Just one.”
I groan. I’m a sucker for a dimple, and she knows it. “Are you even sure he’s single?”
