I stare at the screen and start to type thirty different responses, but force myself to delete all of them. I don’t want to seem too eager and I need to give myself a chance to process.
June’s warning rings in the back of my head. Not because I’m scared, but there’s a kid involved. I’m sure dating looks a lot different for Cooper than any other man I’ve gone out with before. I’ve never dated a guy with a kid. But I’m getting ahead of myself because I don’t know if this is the right move for me.
I eat a couple bites of dinner and get my notebook.
A pros and cons list. It’s smart, helps me organize my thoughts, and then I can make a decision after I sleep on it.
Pros, he’s really sweet, or at least has been to me.
Cons, is this really how he is? Though I don’t know if that’s officially a con, it seems unfair.
I tap my pencil against the notebook and move on.
Pros, he’shotand I mean H-O-Thot.That cowboy hat doessomething for me.
Pros, he has always been respectful to me.
Cons, he’s maybe a littletoocharming. I don’t know if that’s a bad thing. Does that mean he’s a playboy?
Pros, he bought me flowers to ask me out.
Cons, he somehow got my phone number from my friend. Is that creepy? I don’t know. But June is also his cousin.
Pros, he’s patient.
Cons, I’m here for a year. He lives here, he has a daughter, and the last thing I want to do is create an issue. That’s not fair.
Cons, my track record is terrible.
Pros, he seems to be fine with the little information I gave him about said track record.
I stare at the page and count each one. The pros have it.
I groan and lean my head back on the sofa.
Top Gunplays in the background, and I force food down my throat, ignoring the movie. I shouldn’t leave him hanging. But I need to be honest with myself. Is this right, or am I scared of saying yes?
Chapter 16
Mae
AsI’mfinishingupa spreadsheet, my phone rings and I wince, hoping it’s not my boss. I’m a little behind because of the shop, but I’m almost done catching up. What I did not anticipate was balancing two full-time jobs.
I glance at my phone and it’s June.
Smiling, I answer, “Hey June, what’s up?”
“Mae! Hey I’m just calling to chat. I’m in between ranch stops.”
I glance at an email that popped in and force myself not to groan. My boss sent me another project due faster than normal.
The people pleaser in me can’t say I’m drowning here. It probably won’t take me that long.
“I’m fine,” I say with a sigh.
She huffs. “That was convincing. I’m tired, kind of hungry, and sore.”
“That sounds … exhausting.”
