Thirty-five and Single by Laine Terri E

Author:Laine, Terri E.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Olivia

It’s disappointing Joel isn’t here when I wake the next morning. Then again, he has work too. It’s possible I just missed him leaving even though the sheets are cold where he’d lain.

The warmth next to me is Sable. She barely stirs when I get off the bed. My head pounds but duty calls. Drinking had been a very bad idea, and today I’ll pay the consequences.

It’s casual Friday, so jeans and my umpire shirt with the dentist's logo across the front is my usual fare. I check the automatic cat feeder for both food and water, refilling them both before I leave.

When I walk into the office, Cara is waiting for me.

“Have you spoken with Joel?”

I fish mouth for a few seconds, trying to decide how to answer that. Telling her that he screwed my brains out just past midnight doesn’t seem quite right.

“Why?” I ask instead.

“He hasn’t asked me out again.”

She looks at me like I should see the travesty it is.

Janet shows up to double team me. “How about you guys do a double date? My uncle is in town and he’s old—er,” she says, catching herself.

Cara jumps in. “Oh, that’s a great idea. You can convince Joel to come, right?”

There is no way I can do what she’s asking. I may not think I’m right for Joel, but I can’t watch him be with someone else.

“That’s not going to work,” I say.

“Why?” they ask in unison.

“Because I’m totally done with dating.”

Janet looks aghast. “You haven’t seen my uncle. He’s a total hottie. Inked up like Joel.”

She stares at me like I should be convinced by that statement.

“Thanks, but I’m really not up for another date.”

They’re both talking at the same time, I can barely keep up. Until I notice Janet’s texting on her phone. It’s too late to stop her when she lifts it and the sound of a snapping camera rings in my ear.

“Please don’t,” I ask.

She holds up her phone and flashes me the picture she sent.

“It’s too late. He’s interested,” she says.

I want to yell, but remember I have to work with these people.

“Janet, I’m really not up for it,” I say, searching for calm.

“Just meet him for lunch. If you hit it off, you can set up a double date with Cara,” Janet says.

I stand up, reaching the end of my patience. “Really, I’m not interested.”

“Olivia, that’s rude. He’s already coming for lunch,” Janet claims.

Dr. T comes over and it only gets worse. “Did I hear you guys correctly? Olivia’s looking for a date, because my son—”

“No,” I practically yell and they all stop.

The door opens and our next patient walks in. Everyone smiles, but quickly darts away, getting back to work. That leaves me to do my job and hand the guy the intake form.

By lunch, I’ve forgotten all about the blind lunch date until just before I lock the front door because we close early on Fridays. A large man has his hands on the door as he pushes it open.

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