Page 24 of The Rules of Dating

After our trip to the Ward’s Island Bridge the other night, I’d thought he might’ve called or texted. But it had been three days, and nothing. Not a word. The question was, why the hell was I expecting a call or visit when I’d made it clear I only wanted to be friends? He was giving me what I supposedly wanted: space. Friends shouldn’t be expected to call so soon.

The trip to the bridge had been pretty chill. It was cute how into the whole thing he was, explaining the architecture and history. And Saylor seemed to eat up every word her dad said, even if she probably couldn’t understand half of it. As if a four-year-old cared about a sixteen-million-dollar renovation project. Or the fact that the bridge had been covered in yellow and featured in The Wiz back in 1978, in the scene where Diana Ross and Michael Jackson sang “Ease on Down the Road.”

You’d think Saylor did understand and appreciate it all, though. She’d smiled at everything. I hadn’t wanted to crush Colby and tell him I didn’t care all that much about bridge history. But I did enjoy the passion in his eyes when he spoke. That I could’ve watched all day. And honestly, I enjoyed spending time with him and Saylor, regardless of what we were doing.

I was apparently smitten with him, whether I was willing to admit it or not. Thus, my current situation: checking my phone and looking out the shop window for any sign of Colby.

With only ten minutes until I had to open, I decided to visit the truck outside and grab a coffee. It was one of those rare dry, breezy mornings in the city when the humidity had taken the day off. I waited in line and ordered my usual, a small coffee with one cream and one sugar. When I turned around with the little blue cup in hand, I spotted him walking toward me.

Colby was headed to work, dressed in a three-piece navy suit and looking all…rich and shit. Damn, he could rock a suit. Seeing him dressed to the nines made me want to jump him.

Instead, I lifted my cup in a salute. “Hey, you.”

“Hi.” He smiled. “Long time no see.”

“Yeah. I should be saying that to you.” What does that even mean? That I’ve been waiting for him to call? Ugh.

“The past couple of days have been a literal shitshow.”

“Uh-oh.” I frowned. “Why?”

“Stomach bug. Not me. Saylor. We’ve never been through anything like it. And on her actual birthday, no less.”

“Oh no. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. She might have gotten it from someone at the party. I got lucky. It’s so far evaded me.” He sighed. “You’re not sick, are you?”

“No.”

“Good. I would’ve felt crappy if you’d gotten it.”

“Is she okay now?”

“Yeah. We waited a full twenty-four hours on day three to make sure she was over it. But she went back to preschool today.”

“Thank goodness. I can’t imagine how horrible that must’ve been.”

“Yeah. Real sexy to be covered in vomit for two days straight, right? That’ll make you change your mind about dating me.”

“Actually, the fact that you’re such a good, hands-on dad is one of the sexiest things about you.” Agh. Speaking without thinking again. Given that I had no desire to date someone with a kid, I didn’t quite understand why him being a good father was such a turn-on. But it was. Still didn’t need to share it, Billie.

“Well, that’s a great note to head to work on. I’ll take that compliment and run with it. Unfortunately, I’m running a bit late, so…”

I waved him off. “Go! Go.”

Colby looked over my shoulder, and I turned to find his friend Holden had suddenly appeared. I’d almost forgotten he’d booked the first appointment of the day.

“Whaddup?” Holden said.

“What are you doing?” Colby asked.

“I’m actually headed over to Billie’s.”

Colby’s eyes narrowed. “What are you doing there?”

“You know that tat I have of Hailey’s name?”

Colby’s brow lifted. “Yeah?”