Colt
Do you usually work evenings?
Me
It varies, but I can always make myself available.
I’m hoping that’s an opening for us to take this off the app and meet in person. I want friends, but I have plenty of virtual friends. I need people who don’t live in my computer.
Colt
How about tomorrow night?
I grin. Yeah, I can make that work. Once I let him know, he sends me the details for a bar he likes, The Flaming Unicorn. I’ve been there a few times, and I’m happy he at least picked a place where no one will look twice at two guys being on a date. Cardinal Falls is generally welcoming, but it’s nice to go somewhere I won’t need to look over my shoulder every few minutes.
That makes two big wins today—a big project completed and a date secured. I think that means I’ve earned a treat. I dump the rest of my dinner in the trash and grab one of the peanut butter cups I keep in the freezer. I love them, but only if they’re cold. A perfect treat.
Maybe tomorrow will be even better.
CHAPTER 2
OLIVER
Fuck. Please don’t stand me up. As much as I like to believe that my self-confidence is strong enough to take a few hits, it’s not. Not after the string of bad luck I’ve had over the last few months. Every date I’ve been on has been a complete waste of time.
I was so sure this one would be different, that Colt was different. It’s only five minutes after the time we’re supposed to meet, but still. I didn’t want to be late, so I’ve been sitting at the bar for the last twenty minutes, nursing the same beer.
“Oliver?”
When I turn, I find a tall guy with dark curls standing in front of me, looking a little unsure of himself.
“That’s me. I hope you’re Colt.” First green flag: he looks like the picture on the app. Cute and perfectly nerdy. Exactly my type. “Sit,” I say as I pull out the barstool next to me.
It takes us a few minutes to get comfortable and call the bartender over. Colt ends up ordering the same beer I’m having.That gives him another few points in my book. It’s not a requirement, but liking the same drinks could be a plus. Maybe we could even go to the brewery together sometime. They’re supposed to have cornhole and other games in the summer. I’d be terrible at them, but it still sounds like fun.
“Moving here must be a big change. How are you finding Cardinal Falls?” I ask once we’ve settled in.
“It’s been great. I haven’t gotten much free time to explore yet, but I’m working on it.” Colt seems unsure of himself. Maybe that’s just me. When we were chatting on the app, I felt like we were hitting it off, like maybe there could be something between us. In person, there’s no spark.
“Well, let me know if you’re up for some sightseeing. I’ve been here a year now and love taking people to the tourist spots,” I offer. At the very least, if we don’t end up with chemistry, maybe I’ll get a new friend out of it. I could use those. Moving to Cardinal Falls was a big change, one I don’t regret, but sometimes it’s lonely.
“You get a lot of visitors?” He stares at the counter, not bothering to make eye contact. Clearly, I’m boring him. Good work, Oliver.
“My siblings like to come to town and visit. I think they’re spying on me for my parents, but I love getting to see them, so it’s fine.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“I’m the youngest of six.” That gets his attention. He looks at me with the same wide-eyed, horrified expression everyone gets when I share that bit of information. “I know, it sounds crazy. Both my parents were only children, so they wanted a big family. It’s pure chaos most of the time, but I can’t imagine growing up any other way.” It’s true. I can’t imagine any other way. No matter what time it is, one of my siblings is always available for advice, reassurance, or bail money.
“I only have one sister, but she pries into my business enough.” He turns his head and looks across the room to the same spot he’s been distracted by all evening. I should be offended, but I don’t have the energy. Honestly, I don’t even care. He’s nice, and I thought we had something, but clearly, I’m ending this night alone. That’s fine. I’ll call it a success, considering nothing terrible has happened. At least it’s a boring story. The exciting ones are getting to be too much for me.
“Um, so what do you do for fun?” Colt barely manages to look at me as he asks the question.
I resist the urge to lie and tell him I do something exciting, like rock climbing or sky diving. “Most people might not call it fun, but I like to crochet. I find it relaxing, and it gives me something to keep my hands busy.”
“Is that the one with the big metal needles?”
“Close, you’re thinking of knitting. Crochet is similar, but you only have one hook.” I follow his gaze across the room to where a couple of guys are in a booth. “Do you know those guys?” They’re both good-looking, though right now they look pissed. Clearly, something’s going on between them. And once again, my date is a bust.
