“What about work?” Wren asks.
“I have enough clients, so I don’t get bored, but not too many that I don’t have free time.“ I flip the magazine page, then stop on a picture of a cat. “Maybe I should add a pet to my board.” Silence has me looking up, and when I do, Wren gives me a look I know, from years of experience, means I am not going to like what she adds next.
“I think you should add dating to yours.”
I choke on air. “Dating?”
“Yes. Dating. Your goal has always been to have your own family, but I can’t remember the last time you went on adate. Or gotten…” Her eyes shift to Emma before moving back to me. “You know.”
“I can’t even think of the last time you were kissed,” Nat says, and I roll my eyes at their dramatics.
“I…” I start, trying to defend myself, then freeze when I realize the last time I was kissed was in February, not that I cantell anyoneherethat. Panic consumes me as I try to figure out how to respond.
“See! You can’t even remember!” Wren says, taking my hesitation the wrong way and throwing her hands up. “You need to go on some dates. Find your person. Addthatto your vision board.”
I glare in my best friend’s direction, though somehow, I’m grateful for the diversion.
“Why do I have to add dating to my board? How come you aren’t on Nat’s ass about dating?”
“Because Nat actually dates.”
I turn to Nat and glare at her because we all know her version ofdatingisn’t about finding her person, but about pure entertainment. She gives me a smug, knowing smile, and I flip her off behind Emma’s back before returning my attention to Wren.
“Wren, as much as I love that you’ve found your person and you want that happiness for everyone else in your life, I don’t need a relationship. I don’t evenwantone.”
“Well, too bad,” she says, lifting her phone, and suddenly I sense danger. My entire body stills, and I close my magazine, turning to her fully.
“Too bad?”
“Too bad. I’m going to start setting you up with people.”
My stomach drops to the floor. “Wren, no. I really don’t want?—”
“I already have the perfect option. His name is Kevin. He works at the school, and I already?—”
“Wren, no. Please tell me you didn’t.” Nat lets out a laugh, not bothering to hide her amusement, and Emma sits there with a grin, even though I’m not sure she’s one hundred percent sure what is going on. She’s just happy to be one of the girls right now. “Please tell me you did not already tell a stranger that Iwould be interested in going out with him without running it by me.”
“Just for coffee!” she says in a near plea.
“Wren—”
“I know, I know. You don’t want to date, blah blah blah. But he’s really nice, and he seemed interested. Would a coffee date be that bad?” My phone dings in my pocket, and with utter dread, I slide it out. When I look at the screen of my phone, there’s a new text from Wren, a line of numbers, and the nameKevinbeside it. “You just have to text him your availability and set something up.”
“Wren,” I say, giving her wide eyes.
“Just give it a chance! What could it hurt?”
“Well, for one, he could be a serial killer.”
“You said that about Adam, too,” Wren reminds me, and I shrug.
“Still no definitive proof heisn’ta serial killer.”
Wren glares at me, thoroughly unimpressed by my humor. “He’s akindergartenteacher, Hallie.”
“I don’t think there are rules about where serial killers work,” I counter under my breath.
“Who is it?” Emma asks, curious as ever, and Wren turns to her.
