“Nothing, I just… I dated a guy that was on the keto diet.”
“Tell me it was a special diet for his health.”
I absentmindedly twirl my hair, trying my best to lookCoolandCasual. “It wasn’t. He, um, had a podcast…about ‘Living the Keto Lifestyle.’”
“You dated a man with a podcast? A man with a podcast was your boyfriend?” A huge grin spreads across his face as I glare at the gap between his teeth.
I huff and cross my arms. “Why are you smiling? Shouldn’t you be jealous or something?”
“Jealous? Of the Keto King?” Danny’s shoulders shake with silent laughter. “I’m thrilled, Gracie. This is the best news I’ve had all week. The bar for me is much, much lower than I thought.”
“Hey!”
“Can we call Ben about this? I really want his take, and I haven’t talked to him in forever.” Danny pulls his phone out of his pocket. “Is his number the same as it was in high school?”
“Ben liked him!” I protest.
“He didn’t, Gracie. He didn’t,” Danny says matter-of-factly.
I shoot up from my chair. “Fine! He didn’t like him! He told me to burn my phone, so I wasn’t tempted to go on dating apps anymore! Is that what you want to hear? Stop laughing!”
“No, I just—” He breathes between wheezes. “I just can’t stop thinking about him looking down upon your precious strawberry milkshakes. I bet you were secretly enraged.”
“I just drank them by myself when he wasn’t around,” I admit quietly.
Danny stands up and holds out his arms to me in mock sympathy. “Aw, come here. I would never deprive you of your milkshakes. Your milkshakes are safe with me.”
I begrudgingly walk into his arms. “Okay, now I feel like you’re making it a sex thing,” I mumble into his shoulder.
“Just say when,” he murmurs in my ear.
My body buzzes with electricity at the implication. Even though I’m not ready to return his “I’m in love with you,” my body feels extremely ready to see his body naked.
“Let’s forget about the Keto King,” he announces as I try not to grin.
Danny pulls back from our hug and takes a few steps toward the main sitting area. I follow him and sit down on my loveseat. Looking lost in thought, he surveys the space in one glance.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why do you live here?” His voice comes out gentle, almost careful, as he lowers himself next to me on the small couch. “It’s nice, but I know you can afford a bigger place.”
“I never wanted a whole house.”
“Why not?”
“I just knew I would never be able to maintain the upkeep, like shoveling the snow, mowing the lawn, doing repairs by myself. I don’t have anyone that can help me with any of that, and I couldn’t pay someone to do it when I first moved back to Ohio. I was saving every penny I could for the launch of my clinic, and we’re still paying back the start-up loans.”
Danny frowns and scratches his facial hair. “I hate that you didn’t have anyone here to help with that kind of stuff, Gracie.”
“It’s not like I need a ton of space for one person, anyway. Living so close to Mae, but not with her, was actually the hardest part.”
“Mae must have been so proud of your clinic.”
“Yes, she was.” I smile fondly. “Actually, I still have her sourdough starter in the fridge. I bake a homemade loaf of Mae’s sourdough every Sunday. It helps me feel close to her.”
“I’d love to make it with you sometime.” His large hand blankets mine, warming it up.
