Page 6 of Scouting the Single Dad

Before him there was Brandon, who thought a “date night” meant splitting a twelve-pack of Coors Light while we sat on the end of his pier, doing nothing. I once showed up to his house in a dress and heels, hoping he would take the hint and take me to dinner.

He didn’t.

And don’t get me started on my latest ex.

Spoiler alert: I can no longer go to Star Lake Dentistry on account of him cheating on me with the town’s only dentist.

So yeah, maybe the sight of a grumpy but sexy NFL running back shielding his daughter from the rain is enough to make me wet my underwear the tiniest bit.

Or maybe my bar is too low. It’s not like Star Lake is a thriving metropolis of single, available dick. Slim pickings, if you will.

My dating pool is less a pool and more a birdbath. A shallow one. With many dead, crumpled leaves floating on top.

Blah.

My options are limited—and I do not count tourists.

With a sigh, I reopen my laptop, close out of the browser, and reopen my emails, scanning for anything new. Anything exciting to cheer me up. But come up empty handed. Just a complaint from Elenor Winfred about a pothole on Main Street, which is not my department!

I write the activity guide! I’m the cool, hip substitute teacher!

Rubbing my temples, I resist the urge to bang my forehead against the desk until either the stress goes away or I knock myself out cold.

Both sound like the perfect solution to my predicament.

I glance at the clock: Ten o’clock.

“Great. Only five more hours until I can leave.”

Chapter 1

Layla:

Hello Hayes, I hope you don’t mind me messaging you, but I’m friends with Maverick and Annabelle and she gave me your number. I was hoping we could touch base about the Fall Festival I’m organizing, so I can provide you with some details.

Hayes:

What’s up.

Layla:

First I want to say Thank You so Much for agreeing to do this. I understand you’re very busy and your season starts in a few months, but knowing you’re going to be there to draw a crowd gets me SO excited.

Hayes:

Yup.

Layla:

Yeah, so. Besides the dates that I’ve already emailed to your agent and manager, were there any questions you have?

Hayes:

Nope.

Layla:

Okay, good. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t have any concerns. Schedules can get messy.