Page 34 of About That Pact

“All joking aside, what was your SOS text about?”

Charlotte did her best to avoid what she really wanted to ask because it didn’t make sense. She was still trying to wrap her head around these reemerging feelings that had sprouted up for Rafe. It was probably attributed to the lack of male companionship in her life and Rafe was filling some sort of void. She clung to that because she didn’t want to get hurt again.

Who was that woman?

Are you dating people?

Do you feel this weird connection or is it just me?

Yep, she ignored all those questions because, in the end, the answers meant nothing. His friendship, or rather, his appearance, wasn’t leaving her life. Their families were too closely tied together. It was better to ignore her feelings for the sexy Italian.

Plus, her career was important. She didn’t have time to date. If she did, it wasn’t going to be with someone who had a history of breaking hearts.

“The paper is doing a ‘dating in the age of technology’ piece, comparing dating tactics. The piece has different bloggers going on dates from Tinder to picking someone up at the bar. I was assigned to a blind date, which was a mess. She barely spoke, and when she did, it was only to give me one-word answers. I am ninety-nine percent sure she was either working or playing Candy Crush since she was on her phone the entire time.” Rafe cut into his steak.

“I needed the date to end because it was painful. My boss, Lance, is going to hear shit from both of us,” he finished.

“Poor thing,” she said slyly. “You need your boss to set you up.”

His grin was sinister. “Do you think I need someone to set me up?”

“Probably. You’re such a bore.”

Rafe’s confident chuckle filled the small space between them. “I am not a bore. So, now you know about my worst date, what was yours?”

She was shocked. How was a woman not going gaga over every word he said the worst date? Women could talk all night about bad dates they’d been on.

“Aside from present company?” Charlotte needed to add teasing Rafe to her hobby list.

“As long as we both agree this is a date.”

“Not likely. I can’t believe that woman was your worst date. I don’t even know where to begin with mine. In high school, my first date with Adam—”

Rafe pretended to gag.

“Zip it,” she pointed her fork at him. “On our first date, he brought his mom.”

“Maybe it was a parent rule,” he said, surprisingly defending Adam.

“That would make sense if his parents had been overbearing. They weren’t. He just wanted his mom to meet me to see if she liked me.”

He grimaced. “I can’t believe you dated him for two years.”

She was surprised he remembered. He had an elephant brain.

“It wasn’t like I was experienced enough to know his mom tagging along was weird, we were in high school,” she reminded him. “In college, I went on a date where the guy got beyond drunk. Ugh, he was a sloppy mess. I needed to use the bathroom, and he asked if he could join me so we could have sex. I said no, and he got mad since he had to pay for dinner. This was after he hit on another girl. He decided to leave and threw up on the table as a parting gift.” She shuddered. “This is why I always go Dutch and offer to split the check. I don’t want anyone to assume I owe them anything.”

Charlotte had a million more stories she could share. “Once, this guy couldn’t stop talking about his ex. I felt so bad for him, it turned into a therapy session. He ended up crying because he didn’t know how to get her back. I learned to never ask about past relationships on a date early on.”

Rafe’s eyes got larger as each story passed.

“On a lighter note, I had this guy take me to a karaoke bar. I was pumped, thinking how much fun it would be.” She couldn’t stop her snicker. “He was on stage almost the whole night and had the worst voice ever.”

“On behalf of men everywhere, I’m sorry.” Rafe gave her a half-smile while shaking his head in astonishment.

“It’s okay. I took a video and showed my friends the next day.”

Her spunk was undeniable, and he admired that about her. “That’s funny. But I meant I’m sorry men treated you this way.”