Page 32

“So, yeah, I pretty much do yoga every day. If you want to come to one of my classes, I would love that.” Patrice flicks her long blonde hair and eyes me. “I mean, I’m very limber. We could even practice in⁠—”

“Hey, I’ll be one second.” I hold my hand up and get up from the table. “Excuse me, please.”

“Oh, okay.”

She looks disappointed, but I can’t stop myself from heading toward the back of the restaurant.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Dalton says. “I’m surprised to see you here. Who’s the blonde?”

“Patrice.”

“Patrice? Wow, you never told me you met a Patrice.”

“She’s a blind date I was set up on.”

“Oh, who set you up?”

“Rosie.”

“No way. What? I thought she was into you.”

“Yeah, well, we kind of have this thing going where we’re trying to set each other up. Don’t ask.” I roll my eyes. “Anyway, she set me up with this yoga instructor, and, yeah, she’s pretty, but all she does is talk about yoga, and you know I don’t give a fuck.”

Dalton starts laughing. “Oh my. So, what are you going to do?”

“I’m about to end this date and go home. I’m over this. I don’t know what Rosie was thinking.”

“Well, maybe she deliberately set you up on a bad date with someone boring so you’d give her a chance.”

“Nah, I don’t think she’d do that.”

“You don’t?”

“I mean, maybe.” I shrug. “Actually, you’re possibly very right. Anyway, I’ll see you later.”

“Sounds good.”

I head back to the table, and Patrice is sitting there, sipping on her drink.

“So, I hate to do this, Patrice, but I have to get going. It was very nice meeting you.”

“Is that your way of trying to come to my place tonight?” She giggles as she pushes her breasts forward. “I mean, I don’t mind. I may need to tidy up a little bit when we get in. I have two dogs, and I didn’t vacuum today.”

“No, I actually need to get home, but I really hope you have a great evening, and it was nice meeting you.”

“You’re really leaving?”

“Yes, I’m sorry. I think you’re a lovely lady, but right now, I need to work on something,” I mumble and throw down a hundred dollars on the table. “Please get whatever you want on me.” I nod my head and then hurry out of Mama’s Kitchen, pull out my phone, and call Rosie.

“Hello? Rosie speaking.”

“Did you set me up with the yoga instructor because you knew she would annoy the shit out of me?”

“What are you talking about?” she gasps. “Why would I do such a thing?”

“Because you have to know I’m not into yoga and definitely not into someone who only talks about yoga.”

“I didn’t even know her. How was I to know she only talked about yoga?”