“Unconfirmed,” she admits. “He mentioned something about Bernice but also said he’s married to his job. But I’ll get it out of him tonight, and if he’s single, you better be ready to mingle.”
I stifle a sigh. “I’ve only got a couple hours. I need to leave at 8:00.”
“Open mic?”
I nod. I tell the girls that I’m doing folk stuff at small open mic nights like I did in college, and they always beg to come, but I always insist I’m not ready for them to hear me yet.
It’s a lie. The open mic part. And the small part. But it’s true I’m not ready for them to hear me yet. They will not be expecting to see me in a plaid mini skirt and Doc Martens, channeling my inner Hayley Williams, my rock inspiration. With her band, Paramore, making a comeback, it’s a good time to carve out my place as the lead singer for Pixie Luna.
“That’s fine,” Ruby says. “Just make sure you spend a decent chunk of time talking to Josh before you take off.”
“Deal.” What’s it going to hurt? I haven’t been on a real date in a few months. If this works out, great. And if it doesn’t—maybe we’ll have some slightly awkward coming-and-going moments here and there, but it’s not that big a deal.
Over the next forty-five minutes, Ava and Madi filter in, and Ruby informs them that she’s found a guy for me. By six, we’re all out on the patio with our snacks of choice.
“Make sure you sit in the seat closest to his patio,” Ruby says.
“Duh,” I say.
“Looking forward to this.” Madi waves her open bag of popcorn, like she’s here for the show.
“Feels a little on the nose,” I say.
She answers with a loud crunch.
Mrs. Lipsky comes out on her patio carrying Migos, her personality-deficient Yorkie.
“Where’s Ahab?” Ava asks.
“He’s on one today,” Mrs. Lipsky says. “He’s watchingWheeland swearing at Pat Sajak.”
We all nod like this is normal, because for Ahab, it is.
Hugh and Jasmine pop out next, calling their “Hey, y’all” from the other side of New Guy’s porch. “We’ve got beer and lots of cold Diet Coke,” Jasmine says.
“I’m making cookies,” Ruby announces, and there’s a cheer from both sides of us. Ruby makes an excellent chocolate chip cookie.
“New Guy is late,” Madi notes just as we hear his back sliding door open.
“Sorry,” a deep voice says. Josh steps into view, and three sets of eyebrows on our patio go flying up —including mine.
Josh is a fine-looking man. Like, if we saw him at a bar or club, one of us would turn to the others and say, “He is fiiiiiiiiiiine.”
“Is it too late to call dibs?” Ava says under her breath so he can’t hear her.
“Yes,” Ruby says. “I’ve got a different plan for you.”
Ava looks intrigued and nervous at the same time.
“I was trying to follow up on a food order so I can contribute,” Josh says, stepping into the glow of his porch light so we can see him even better. “Oh, there it is.”
A middle-aged man carrying an insulated Door Drop bag is weaving through the parking lot, and Josh calls, “Delivery for Josh?”
The man stops and looks at his phone. “Two dozen Torchy’s Tacos?”
“That’s me,” Josh confirms, and Hugh and Jasmine cheer again as Josh takes his food and settles it on top of his smoker. He doesn’t have patio furniture yet, and Ruby, always observant, walks over to our shared fence with one of the teak folding chairs we keep for company.
“Use this,” she says.
