No More Horrible Dates by Kate O'Keeffe

Author:Kate O'Keeffe [O'Keeffe, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781690621195
Publisher: Wild Lime Books
Published: 2019-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

A few days later, I’m sitting at my desk, deep in thought about sponsor signage at games (really, I’m so lucky to get to think about these things), when my desk phone rings.

“I’ve got a special delivery for you at reception,” Harriet, our receptionist, says down the line.

“Oh, that must be the contract from Derek, although it’s a little early,” I think out loud as I check the wall clock.

“Girl, if the contract from Derek comes in the form of, like, the most gorgeous bunch of red roses I’ve ever seen in, like, my whole life, then you’re totally right.”

That gets my attention. “Roses?”

“Mm-hm.”

“I’ll be right out.” Heat radiates across my chest as I skip joyfully through the office and out into the reception area, a big goofy grin on my face. I’ve never gotten flowers at work before, so this is super exciting for me.

I’m greeted by Harriet and a very large, very red, very beautiful bunch of roses in a glass vase, tied up with a big pink ribbon.

“I bet I know who they’re from,” she says with a knowing smile. “A certain Hawks player you were spotted with on the beach, looking very cute.”

There were photographers at the beach that afternoon, despite the fact that we were too busy enjoying our newfound truce and burgeoning friendship to notice. The photos turned up online and even got printed in the city’s newspaper, although being a Millennial, it took Ed the Generation Xer to spot them.

I eye the bouquet. Along with at least two dozen red long-stemmed roses, there are not one, not two, but three teddy bears holding little love hearts between their paws.

Love heart-holding teddy bears? Seriously?

I open the card and read the message.

Wooing, Part 1. Nick xoxo

My heart drops a fraction as my frankly misguided euphoria evaporates. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the generous gift. The flowers are perfect, and the teddy bears…okay, the teddy bears are a bit much, even though I know they’re totally tongue in cheek. It’s just that, as silly as this may sound, I know this is only Nick playing the fake dating game. He’s ticking an item off my wooing list.

Red roses are meant to be from the guy of my dreams, the guy I’m head over heels in love with. He’s meant to be the one sending me flowers (without the teddy bears, of course, because there’s no way I’d fall for a guy who thought it cute to send me stuffed toys). He’s meant to be the one I can’t stop thinking about. Not the guy playacting my boyfriend who doesn’t mean it.

I slot the card abruptly back into its envelope as Harriet says, “Girl, you are so lucky.”

I paste on the camera-ready smile I’ve mastered in recent weeks. “I am. Really, really lucky.”

“What’s it like to date Nick Zachary?”

“It’s amazing. Really, really amazing.”

“I bet it is. That guy of yours is, like, so hot.” Her hand flies to her mouth. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.

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