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“Okay, who have you dated?”
I think of a convincing lie. “You wouldn’t know him. He went to a different school.”
He rolls his eyes. “You used to use that line in high school. You’re twenty-two. It’s not going to wash anymore. Everyone knows you’ve never had a boyfriend. I wondered why, I got to tell you. I was curious just how badly tonight could go and you’ve exceeded my expectations. Take some advice. Change some things. A lot of things. Change you. It’ll make you happy. Hell, maybe next time I see you, you’ll be someone different. Then I might give you another shot.”
“Gee, thanks a lot. I appreciate the dating lesson.”
“You’re welcome.” The sarcasm bounces straight off him.
“Just for the record, if you’re looking for the reason you’re single, try not turning up stinking of weed and staring at the waitress’s tits when she brings the menus out. Just a suggestion.”
He gets to his feet, brushing dust off his top like he’s wiping himself clean of me. “I’m done here,” he says. “At least I’ve got a new low bar in the scores for everyone else to beat. Enjoy being a mad cat lady and dying alone.”
“I intend to,” I shout as he walks away. “And when I’m dead, I can be sustenance for them so they grow big and strong and take over the world with their bewhiskered vampire zombie feline army of the night.”
“Freak,” he mutters to himself as he heads out the door.
Why did I agree to go on a blind date? Why did I let Maisie set me up with a Tinder account? Why did I let her plan this for me? Why did I think any of the boys in this town could change?
I roll my eyes, letting out a loud groan. I look around. People are staring at me. “Evening,” I say with a nod. “Lovely weather.” They slowly turn away, back to their enjoyable evenings and enjoyable conversations. I got told that women belong in the kitchen and men deserve to sleep around because they work harder.
A few people are still looking at me, whispering to each other.
I know what they’re thinking. She’s that girl who appeared out of nowhere, the one with no parents and no backstory except night terrors where a gun is shoved into my face, and just as it’s about to fire, I wake up.
I don’t want to think about my past. I didn’t need Jeb to remind me. Everyone knew my story then and they still can’t let it go.
The girl who was abandoned by her parents. The weirdo with only one friend, the one who’s walking toward me right now.
Maisie has come out of the kitchen carrying two plates of food, heading toward my table. “Jeb go to the bathroom?” she asks as she sets the food down. “How’s it going?”
“Worse than the last one.”
“That good, huh?”
“He just walked out. Turns out he hasn’t changed. Shocker. None of them have changed. I should just accept spinsterhood and get all the cats.”
She puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes it. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry.”
I nod toward the seat opposite mine, pointing at Jeb’s plate. “It’s going to waste if you don’t join me?”
“I have to pay for what I eat while I’m here.”
“My treat.”
“You’re always paying for our groceries, Chloe. Don’t start paying for your date’s dinner too.”
“He’s not coming back. Come on, sit with me for a minute, please.”
She takes off her apron and grins. “I was due a break, anyway. Might as well spend it with my bestie.” She grabs a fork and digs in, spearing three onion rings at once. “What happened this time?”
“Called me the beast. Told me feminism was code for chopping men’s balls off. Told me if I only change everything about me, he’s willing to give me another shot.”
“Magnanimous of him.” She groans around her food. “I can’t believe they’re still using that bullshit nickname? Fuck, Chloe, all that stuff was fifteen years ago.”
“Try twenty.”
“My point is, it was a long time ago when my dad found you. Why did Jeb even mention it?”
