How was he ever going to get her to recognize she loved him? And she did; he knew it. But what if it were a platonic love that never grew into anything else? He doubted he could take being only a friend to her forever.
10
Rae was thinking of Dylan’s nightmare first date as she walked to the restaurant only a block from her apartment complex. Milo had seemed nice in their conversations. When he’d suggested they meet for an early lunch one Saturday and the weather was forecast to be nice, she’d decided not to drive. Truth be told, though, she’d rather be at the complex’s playground with Dylan and the children.
As she approached, she noticed a tall slender man searching the people in the parking lot. She knew him instantly from his online photograph.
“I think you must be Milo,” she said, extending her hand. “I'm Rae.”
He turned to her and blinked, looking surprised, his red-rimmed eyes dilated. She hoped he didn’t have pink eye.
“Rae. Rae.” He frowned like he was trying to remember why the name was familiar. Then his expression lightened. “Oh, yeah. I remember now. Rae Cavanaugh.” He shook her hand but glanced over her shoulder, seeming to search for someone.
“If this isn’t a good time,” she said, taking a step back.
“Oh, no.” Milo looked at her fully then and grinned. “You’re a total bae. This is perfect. Let’s go in.”
The slang termbaebugged her. He thought she was a babe but hadn’t remembered he had a date with her? He didn’t offer his arm which was good because the guy was giving off uncomfortable vibes.
Milo chattered on about things he was interested in, things she didn’t remember being in his profile. It made her think about poor Dylan and his date with the cougar, and Rae wondered if she had a catfisher too. If she was going to keep doing this, she’d have to come up with an emergency back-out-of-a-date plan for awkward situations. Like this one. Since she wasn’t comfortable with unnecessary rudeness either, she sympathized even more with Dylan’s situation.
Milo started asking all kinds of questions of Rae, things he should have already known from her profile and messaging exchanges. Maybe he had a sieve for a memory, like the one for names. He also kept looking over her shoulder. She shifted in her chair, wondering if something was going on behind her. The TV on the wall was playing a commercial, so maybe he’d been watching the baseball game instead of talking to her. She doubted it though. He didn’t look like a sporty kind of guy.
Unlike Dylan. She wondered if they were still at the playground or if he’d taken the kids in to get lunch. It’d be a lot more interesting there with them than here with this guy. She glanced at Milo again and blinked.
“Um,” she pointed to his face, “your nose is bleeding.”
“Oh, yeah.” He put a napkin to his nose. “That happens sometimes after.”
And then she put the pieces together, the runny, red eyes, the out-of-it attitude, and now the blood. He was definitely high. Rae put down her menu, glad they hadn’t ordered yet.
“This isn’t going to work, Milo.” She stood.
“Wait. You don’t have to go.” He stood, his words half-hearted, and his gaze darted to the door.
Rae glanced that way and saw a pretty blonde enter, searching the room. His expression brightened with recognition.
“The next time you make dates with two people,” Rae said, picking up her purse, “I’d recommend you not make me one of them.”
“Yeah.” He chuckled, reminding her a lot of the Disney character Goofy.
Shaking her head, Rae headed for the entrance. At the door, she glanced back. Milo and the blonde were all over each other. There was no way Rae would have been kissing him.Ever.
She sent Dylan a text.
A dud. Where are you guys?
His response was almost immediate.
Just leaving the playground to have lunch. Want to join us?
Rae quickened her pace, anxious to get back to the people she cared about.
Should we have a picnic?
I asked the Littles, and they’re jumping all around. I’ll take that as a yes.
She grinned. All this morning she’d been dreading the date, but now she felt like she’d been freed from a terrible burden and might float away.
