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I nodded curtly and handed him a wine cooler. He popped the top and took a sip.
“That was shitty of me—just awful,” he said, embarrassed. “I suppose I’m a little butthurt from being ghosted.”
“So, we’re even then,” I said. Honestly, I couldn’t blame him. I probably would have done something much worse. “So, are those gentlemen actually in your database of potential mates?”
Kurt blushed and winced. “No, they’re mug shots. My brother Kiefer is a cop and I pilfered a few for today.”
“Rude,” I pointed out, trying not to laugh.
“Correct,” he said sheepishly.
“Hideous,” I added.
“Agreed,” Kurt replied, unsuccessfully trying to bite back a tiny grin. “Again, I’m so sorry. That was unprofessional, stupid and uncalled for.”
I stared at him for a long moment and sighed. Even his warped sense of humor was hot. I’d put money down that he’d enjoy ding-dong ditch. However, that ship had sailed. I knew in my heart that I couldn’t just be his friend. My feelings were too strong, but I did wish for him to be happy. It was sad that it wouldn’t be with me.
“You’re forgiven, Voila the Immortal Match Guy,” I said with a smile. “However, I’m done with this. It’s not my bag. I’d rather meet someone organically.”
“Like in the produce section of Whole Foods?” he inquired with a lopsided grin that came very close to undoing me.
I glanced over at the picture on his desk so I had the courage to ignore the flirting even though I didn’t want to. I forced a smile at the man who could have been mine and nodded. “Yes, like in the produce section at Whole Foods. Wish me luck.”
Again, I turned around.
Again, he stopped me.
“Give me another chance,” he begged.
The word yes was on the tip of my tongue. The word no came out of my mouth. It was the most difficult thing I’d ever uttered. My heart felt like it had just shattered in my chest.
Kurt looked at the floor for a beat then back up at me. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He quickly chugged back the rest of the blueberry cooler and found his voice. “I can find better matches than the ones I stupidly showed you today,” he promised. “I’ll find your perfect man.”
My eyes grew huge and I realized that I’d misunderstood what he’d meant. I’d humiliated myself by ghosting him and I’d almost destroyed myself by thinking he’d meant that he wanted a second chance with me.
Getting out of here STAT was in order. There was only so far I could bend before I broke. “Sure,” I said, sprinting for the door. What I’d meant was no fucking way, but I didn’t have time to correct myself before I started to cry.
“Noon tomorrow,” Kurt called out as I got the hell out of Dodge. “I’ll see you then!”
I’d ghosted him and he’d repaid me for the insult. We were even. I wasn’t coming back.
Chapter Nine
“Oh my GOD,” Dwayne shouted. “I’ll kill him!”
“Not if I get to him first,” Zorro ground out.
I’d been Zooming with the boys for over an hour. It was shocking that they’d understood a single word I’d said since I’d been crying through most of it. Poor Helen had been so upset, she’d kicked a hole in my foyer wall then went to the store to buy me ice cream and chocolate. I had such lovely, loyal and violent friends.
“No,” I said, fluttering my hands at the computer screen. “There will be no killing.”
“A little maiming?” Zorro asked.
“No maiming. No killing,” I told both of them.
I was so distraught, I wiped my nose with my caftan. Whatever. I had tons.
“Let me get this straight,” Zorro said, shaking his head. “Kurt and the man you ghosted who shall remain nameless are one in the same?”
