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“And you think I could be another person who gives him meaning?” I ask as he nods his head. “Why?”
“Because you’re both similar. Care free, gifted with people, kind, and you have a similar sense of humor. You both seem to be hurting from something... and it would be nice to see him... happy again.”
I contemplate my options and have to admit I am intrigued. “Fine. One date. A double date.”
“Double date?” Terry lifts an eyebrow. “You know I’m single, right?”
“My friend will come with us. Also, I find it weird you want me to date your brother, yet you haven’t once hit on me.”
“I just don’t think you’re the girl for me.” He winks.
“Whatever.” I laugh. “Give me a date, and I’ll let you know if I can make it work.”
“Mommy!” My blonde six-year-old comes barreling into the barn, wearing the white sundress I had packed her when she left for my ex-husband’s house, two days ago.
“Hey beautiful!” I hug my daughter. “How was daddy’s?”
This weekend was the first that she was away, and I missed her too much. The second she is in my arms, I am whole again. Charlotte was a big reason why I was so scared to leave Matt. I never want to be without her, and now I am every Tuesday and Wednesday, and every other weekend. Those forty-eight hours without my girl really made me feel lost.
“It was good! We went to the water park, and I got to eat cotton candy! And grandma took me to get my nails done for today! I’m so excited about my photoshoot, too!” Charlotte shows off her pink nails, flashing them at me, then to Terry. “Hi, Terry!”
“Hey, Charlotte! Glad to hear you had such an amazing weekend!” Terry grabs his camera to take some photos of my beautiful girl.
Ashootingpainfrom my ankle to my knee makes me wince as I stand from my brother’s couch. The pain has been worse these days. My body is trying to tell me it can’t keep up with the work.
Terry has been giving me the hard sell about going on a blind date for the past hour. I won’t budge. He’s mentioned it will be a double blind date, and somehow that seems more terrifying. Two strange women sitting across from me? No, thanks.
“Come on, man! Please, just go with me. We will have a couple drinks and if you don’t hit it off, we can leave. No harm done.” Terry is my younger brother by five years, but he towers over me in height and build. Which is amazing because I am six-two and work out multiple times a day. Terry’s never picked up a pair of dumbbells beyond high school football.
“No way. I’m Dominic Black. I don’t need a blind date. I can pick up women just fine.”
My baby brother chuckles. “You’re so afraid of commitment, yet hate being alone. So, you pick up women in bars and cling yourself to them and once you realize they’re shallow, and don’t care about you as a person, you leave. Never met a man who hates sleeping alone, but also hates being in a serious relationship.”
“Says Mr. Monogamous! When was the last time you were serious with a girl?”
His eyes roll at my sarcasm.
I point an accusing finger at Terry, then turn my head when my roommate, who is also one of my shift mates from work, pads down the hallway and makes his presence known.
He was just using the bathroom and catches the tail end of my conversation. Cory Levins is one of my best friends. He nods his head and grabs a beer from the fridge. “Just go bro,” he says. “You’re always dragging me to bars to be your wingman. And for what? Your brother is right. It’s time to get serious about a woman who actually means something. Your biological clock is ticking.”
“Exactly, so help me get her friend. It’ll be good for you, too.” Terry fist bumps Levins.
I run a hand down my face. “What’s her name?”
“Andi.”
I glance at Terry at the sound of her name, and my breathing hitches. My heart speeds up, and my palms sweat. Then I decide there can be more than just one girl named Andi in the county. Besides, my Andi was a lawyer, not a farmer. I free my mind of the pipe dream I have been holding onto. Andi’s married, and she’s not mine anymore. “A couple of drinks and then I get to leave?”
“Yup. And I’ll even pay.”
“Deal. I’m off on Friday.”
“You won’t regret this, brother!”
“I have a feeling, I will.” I laugh and clap my hand on my brother’s shoulder.
He tells me more about the farmer woman. How she has a little girl, and is loaded. She could be a sugar momma, he says. Terry promises me she’s beautiful, and I’m sure she is, but I’ll bet she has nothing on my Andi. None of the women I meet ever do.
