Page 32 of About That Rule

CHAPTER13

DESPITE THE OFFICIALawkwardness between them, they still had a dinner date planned two days later. Communication was through text, only deciding on where to go and what time. There was a slight pang of hurt when he reminded her to take pictures so they had more evidence to show the judge. She couldn’t even bring in her humor to defuse the passive aggressive messages.

Despite the glaringly obvious reasons she should have packaged her feelings for Nate and shipped them off to Antarctica, never to be found again, she still thought about the kiss.

While she was at work and responding to emails.

When she went to lunch with her coworkers.

Watching Hulu before bed.

Nate and his distracting lips were unforgettable. To make it worse, she stood in her closet, shuffling through her clothes, trying to find the perfect outfit. This was not how someone who stopped things from going further acted.

Her phone rang, and she smiled when she saw it was Charlotte. “Hey, there, sister from another mister.”

Charlotte laughed. “I love how you answer the phone. What are you doing tonight?”

Ugh, she wished she could confide in Charlotte. She was her one friend who would listen, not judge, and then give sound advice. But this was subject non grata. Still, she could share something about her night.

“Getting ready for a date,” Samantha said. She was desperate for some outfit suggestions. “And I have no idea what to wear.”

“Where are you going? And with who?”

“We’re going to Foreign Cinema. I’ve never been before.” Samantha had been pleasantly surprised when Nate had made the suggestion. She’d figured after their make-out encounter, he’d suggest somewhere to get beer and wings.

“I haven’t either!” Charlotte excitedly announced. “What number date is this? Is it too soon for Rafe and me to crash?”

She chuckled, imagining Nate’s face if Rafe and Charlotte surprised them for an impromptu double date.

“It’s way too soon.”

“Hmmm, but this man obviously means something if you’re going to such a fun date spot. Did you pick the spot?” Charlotte questioned.

Samantha shifted through the dresses in her closet, nowhere closer to being ready. “No, he did. And before you ask, I’m not telling you who’s taking me.”

“I get it. You don’t want to jinx it,” her friend agreed. “I’ve been there, married that.”

“No, no, no,” Samantha said quickly. “We are nothing like you and Rafe.”

Other than the whole Vegas wedding thing.

“Sure…” Charlotte sounded skeptical.

“We aren’t.”

“Okay.”

“Seriously, it isn’t like that.”

“Then why are you freaking out over what to wear?”

“Zip it,” Samantha said, trying to sound laidback but still fumbling over her attire.

Charlotte laughed again. If only she knew how not funny this was. “Don’t go overboard. Where a sexy shirt and jeans.”

Those words had her stopping in front of her silk, black, off-the-shoulder shirt.

“You’re a genius! I’ll do that and promise to tell you if the restaurant is worth the visit.” She took the shirt of the hanger and left the closet.