“Why, thank you!”
“So, honestly, are you okay? Not too upset that it didn’t go well?” I ask, and she shrugs.
“I’m okay, I suppose. I’m more bummed for you. I know you wanted Jaci to be the ‘right girl. ’” She uses air quotes. “Your perfect ten and all that. I hope you can find her. You deserve to be happy, Matt.”
I furrow my brows. “You do, too.”
She shrugs. “Meh! Think I’ll go back to my humble apartment and keep to my simple life. I’m happy there.”
“You’re not giving up, are you? Not after one setback? No, Alex, we have to get back on the horse. We have to try this again at least one more time.”
She screws up her face and snorts. “Seriously?I think one douche canoe is about all I can bear. Aren’t they all going to be like Logan?”
“Well, I’m on the app, and I’m not like Logan,am I?”
Alex purses her lips. “Well, I suppose not. But you don’t tell the truth either. So I guess I have to expect a different kind of guy when I meet them on the internet.”
Sighing, I nod.She’s right.I know there is a lie in my profile, but I have to. I can’t come right out and advertise who I am.
I guess Logan and I aren’t that dissimilar after all.
Fuck. I’m a douche canoe, too!
“Anyway, I guess what I’m saying is don’t give up just yet. Mister Right is out there for you, Alex. Maybe going for the guy with tattoos and bad-boy looks isn’t the right type for you. Has that worked in the past?”
She lets out a stifled laugh. “Nope, definitely not.”
“Then change it up. Go for a guy that you wouldn’t normally go for, maybe?”
Alex nods. “Okay, fine. But if I’m doing this once more, you are, too,” she demands.
“We’ll do it together again, okay?”
“Deal, but on one condition…”
“Okay, name it.”
“In a couple of days, the women’s shelter I stayed at is having this nighttime fundraiser thing, and I think it would be really cool if they had a big name come along. Ria was going to attend,but she’s too, um… yeah, anyway, she can’t go. So maybe you could go in lieu? I know I’m asking a lot, but…” she trails off.
Swallowing hard, I want to ask why Zaria can’t go. I want to think it’s because she is too messed up over my brother. That perhaps they can work it out and get their act together, but it’s what she didn’t say that sounded different, like maybe there’s more to the story. I hope it’s not because she’s already moved on.
Goddammit! Nate will be devastated.
“Matt?” Alex asks, making me realize I was lost in my thoughts and hadn’t actually answered her.
“Sorry. Yes. Of course. That sounds like fun, actually. What would I need to do? Anything official?”
“Nope, just come and hang out with me. Participate in the activities and talk to the women. That’s it. There might be some reporters, so you might need to tell Tillie you’re doing it.”
“Sure, I’ll fill her in. Tillie and Oliver will be cool. Any publicity for the band is good. Thanks for this, Alex. Thanks for thinking of me. Why didn’t you ask Nate?”
She winces. “A lot of the women there know Ria, and they’ll probably be talking about her. Didn’t want to upset him, you know?”
“You’re good to him. Thanks. I do appreciate it.”
She snorts. “Ah, well, someone’s gotta be nice to the moody bastard. He doesn’t always make it easy, but he’s a good man, just a tad broken right now. We can try to fix him, but he needs towanthelp in order to receive it and all that jazz.”
“Yeah, he’s gotta try to calm himself down. Remember to be… cool, calm, collected.”
