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Braden
Maia sets another plate of nachos in the center of the coffee table, and we all lean in and start pulling chips off. We’ve been at Maia’s apartment for a half hour now, but we’ve all barely spoken. We’re too busy shoving cheese and topping covered chips into our mouths.
This might be the stuff I missed the most when I was in the dark place—that’s what we’ve started officially calling that time. This is one of the first times we’ve hung out, just the five of us, in more than a year. Which is crazy. But I guess this last year has been pretty crazy too.
“So, what’s new with everyone?” Nick asks as he swallows a giant mouthful.
Vince and Maia both shrug. “Not much,” Vince says, though his eyes tell a different story.
Since she’s leaning against him, Maia doesn’t notice. She bobs her head in agreement with Vince. “Honestly, our lives are pretty boring.” Then an evil smirk creeps onto her face and she glances up at Vince. “Well, mostly.”
He leans down and whispers something in her ear. She looks at him with lusty eyes.God, I wish I didn’t know that.
Clearing my throat before she mounts him at the table, I say, “Nick, Leigh? What about you two?”
“Trying to prepare for the baby as much as we can. Only a month away now.” Nick’s voice is a little high as he says the final words, and there’s some fear in his eyes, but Leigh smooths her hand over his, and he instantly calms.
“It’s crazy! But I’m excited. And nervous.” Leigh tilts her head back and forth. “And still working through my own shit.” She smiles at Nick. “But I am determined to deal with it all.” She sits up straighter. Then she twirls her finger in my direction. “What about you?”
Well…
I guess I could tell them what I’ve been thinking.
They’ll probably act ridiculous about it if I do.
Screw it. Might as well.
“I am actually thinking I’m ready to start dating again.” I pause, looking between them and waiting for their reactions.
Maia is first, clapping her hands. “Yes! It’s about time.”
Then Leigh shoots her hand up and yells, “Finally! I have been waiting for this moment. I have theperfectgirl for you.”
Didn’t see that one coming.
“Who, who?” Maia asks.
“A girl I worked with for a little while. She ended uphatingthe job, but she was hilarious, a little bit of a troublemaker, but mostly a total sweetheart.” She looks at me again. “And every single time I worked with her, all I could think was that the two of you would be perfect together. And I might’ve told her that a bunch of times.” She grabs her phone and starts tapping away.
“What’s her name?”
Leigh keeps typing. “I’m not telling you.”
“Then how—”
She holds up one finger as she looks back at her phone, reading something. She smiles and types something more. Then she holds her hand up again, waiting for a response. When she gets one, she smiles, types a quick reply and looks at me.
“She’s open to talking with you.”
“Again I ask, what’s her name?”
“Not telling you. She doesn’t know yours either. I’m sending you into this blind so you can actually get to know each other. Not stalk each other’s socials. Whatever you do after that is up to you. But you’ve never had a chance to just get to know someone. It wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
She looks back at her phone and types out something else. A second later my phone goes off.
Leigh: Blind date girl- 607 555 3740
“Blind date girl?” I ask. But internally, my stomach is whooshing like I’m going down a hill on a rollercoaster. But it’s not with fear. It’s excitement. Like I want to text that girl right this second. “I guess getting to know someone without any other influences might be nice.”
