“All you did was what?”
“My neighbor Alex.”
Ellie laughed out loud. “The hot firefighter? Damn, girl. That’s awesome.”
“I don’t know what got into me,” Julia said. “I guess it’s just been too long. He was standing in my kitchen, Cal was at my mom’s, and all my willpower shot right out the window.”
“So, how much work did they do to his calendar photo?”
“They waxed him. But other than that, I’d say none,” Julia said. “He’s pretty ripped.”
“I knew it,” Ellie said. “Well, I had a feeling anyway. So now what?”
“Now, nothing. It was a one-and-done. I scratched an itch. Now I gotta get back to work finding someone who will give me what I need.”
“Does he fit anywhere into your matrix of husband material?”
Julia didn’t have to see her to feel the over-the-phone eye roll. Ellie was as enthusiastic about her husband hunt as her mother—that was to say, not very.
“No.”
“Didn’t you say he was great with Cal when you were sick? Like, how he handled Charlie dying and Cal wetting the bed and stuff.”
“I suppose,” Julia conceded. “He was also really great when Cal was sick too.”
“So…”
“I don’t know.” She was hoping for someone experienced with kids. Preferably with some of his own so she could gauge his relationship with them. That wasn’t necessarily nonnegotiable. The deal breaker was him saying he didn’t want kids. “He was both forthcoming and adamant about not wanting to get involved with a single mom again. Guess he tried that, and it didn’t go so well.”
“Well, don’t count him out yet,” Ellie said. “You and Cal can be pretty charming when you want to be.”
Julia laughed. “Yeah, a woman drowning in debt and a precocious, rambunctious five-year-old. Hot!”
“I’m just saying.”
“Why’s it so hard to meet a decent man?” Julia asked.
“That’s actually a great idea for a video topic. Dating in the big city. Or dating as a single mom. Rate dating apps. Something like that.”
“Hm. Maybe.” Every once in a while, she’d do a more personal segment about how life was going and what she was up to. Those videos always got positive responses and lots of engagement.
There were millions of people in New York City, but without a job or a place to be around others all day, it was hard to meet those people.
“It’s probably something a lot of women struggle with,” Ellie said.
“True. And not just dating, it’s also hard to make friends,” Julia said. Finding a man was difficult, but it was even harder to find a good girlfriend. “I could make it about connecting with people in general.”
“And not only in NYC, but anywhere,” Ellie said.
“Yeah, that’s true.” Julia jotted down a note to think about it later. “I mean, how sad is it that you’re one of my best friends, and we’ve never even met?”
Ellie chuckled. “It’s tough to make friends when you’re so pretty. You know how women can be.”
Julia harrumphed. Her sister said the same thing, but Julia had more faith in her gender. She should put more effort into reconnecting with her pre-marriage friends. After marrying Sean, she’d lost contact with the few friends she did have. She and her sister were close, but Mary lived in the suburbs and was busy with her own family.
“So, what are your plans for Thanksgiving?” Ellie asked, changing the subject.
“Bake pies and overeat. We’re going to my mom’s for dinner. Guess it’s just another day for you over there?”
