Page 38 of Finding My Charming

Judging by Chrissy’s face, she agreed with my silent sentiments.

“Fine Alec! If you want to go tramping around with some slut, go ahead! I’m over you and your pathetic obsession with being a DJ. You’re not even good!”

With that, she dropped her arms to her sides and held her head high as she stomped away.

Whelp. That was weird.

“Sorry about that. I really didn’t know she would be here.”

“Why would you bring another girl to your ex’s workplace?”

He began to stutter out an answer, but I cut him off.

“It’s rude and uncomfortable. Not only for her but for me.”

I took a breath and placed my hands on the table to stand.

“I’m really sorry. I swear I wasn’t trying to hurt either one of you.”

My hands trembled as I stood. The desire to slap him across his insincere face was almost too much to hold back. I picked up my cup instead and looked down at him with my worst glare. “Thanks for the drink.”

I turned on my heel and marched out the front doors without looking back or checking to see where Chrissy had run off to. I held it together until I climbed into my car and let out a frustrated cry.

What were the odds? Seriously, I’d love to know. How can one person have three terrible dates in one week? Catastrophes! Each one can only be classified as a complete disaster. I was no closer to finding the right guy, and I was going to need therapy or a few kickboxing classes to get over the emotional duress of this.

I dug in my purse, searching for my phone, and pulled it out. Pushing on the screen with excessive force probably wasn’t the best idea, but I had serious amounts of aggression to release. I punched the last icon to call Ari and threw my head down against the steering wheel while I waited for her to pick up.

“Hey! It’s still early. You did go, right?”

I groaned. “Oh, I went. I met stupid Headphone Boy.”

“Oh dear.” She obviously could sense my mood already.

“Oh dear is right! He asked me to meet him at the place where his ex-girlfriend works!”

I could hear her sigh and knew she was waiting for me to finish.

“Not only that, Ari. She was there. Not only was she there, but she was also our waitress!”

She gasped. “No!”

“Oh, yes!” I nodded against the steering wheel, feeling the pattern dig farther into my forehead. “She set down my drink and caught one look at him and went crazy. Apparently, he just dumped her because he needed fewer distractions in his life, then he shows up there with me! A new girl!”

“No.” Her voice echoed how I felt. Shocked and depressed.

“Yes, Ari. It was the most uncomfortable experience of my life. She called me a slut! I mean, I can’t really blame her. She was surprised and hurt and needed to lash out at someone.”

“Not okay. That goes against girl code.”

“I forgive her. It’s him who better watch his back! I mean, what was he thinking?”

“So disrespectful.”

“Totally.” I sank deeper into my seat with the realization that one of our few leads was a dead-end. Again.

“It will be okay, Elle. Don’t give up yet.”

“I know. I just can’t believe how these past three dates have gone. It’s like the cosmos or something are messing with me. Maybe it’s all a plan to make the right guy look even better in comparison.”