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"You two can decide that for yourselves. We just thought we could get you two started with the game," Andrew answered, smirking at me before looking back to Belle.
I wasn't exactly looking for love at the moment, but I did think that it could be fun to do this with Belle. I'd actually be really interested in seeing who she paired me up with.
Turning, I looked at her fully, trying to gauge her reaction. As usual, the answer was already written on her face.
"You in?" I asked, taking a step closer to her in a challenge.
Ever the competitor, she took another step closer, our chests nearly touching.
"Oh, you're on."
3
Isabella
"Have you picked someone out yet?" Mandy asked me, leaning forward to catch my attention. I was momentarily caught up in doom-scrolling on my phone, but it was for a good cause. Well, sort of. A good cause for me.
"I think I just found her," I responded with a grin, locking my phone before Leslie could peek over my shoulder. I gave her a look, and she backed up with a sly grin.
As usual, the three of us women were on time for our weekly coffee catch-up. The men were always late, even though Landon lived with me, and Cooper lived with Mandy. The six of us had been meeting up for coffee before work every Wednesday for the last two years, and aside from holidays and sickness, nothing kept us from this group date. For the past three months, we'd been coming to Grumpy Coffee since it reopened as a coffee shop. My sister Emma was engaged to the owner of the shop, and they'd combined their stores. Naturally, I suggested moving our regular meet-up spot here, and everyone agreed.
"Are you sure you're okay with this game?" Mandy asked, concern written on her brow. I gave her a blank look, not knowing what she could possibly mean.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know, maybe because you and Landon are super close and live together? Both of you dating will change everything." She picked up her latte, looking at me over the rim as she sipped.
"It'll be fine. We've both dated since moving in together." I waved a hand at her nonsense as I brought my own drink—black coffee, of course—to my lips. And it would be fine. Landon had dated a few girls in the last three years, and I'd dated a few guys. It had been nearly a year since either of us had dated, though.
"Never at the same time," Leslie pointed out, and I shook my head.
"Not true! Remember I dated that one guy Aaron while he was with Trish." I grinned as though I'd won an award for reminding them of that time.
"You went on two dates with Aaron. And they never went past you two meeting at a restaurant. That definitely does not count." Leslie was right, but I just shook my head as if that helped my point.
But why would it be so weird for Landon and me to date at the same time? I couldn't think of a single reason. We lived pretty independently of one another.
"Look, all I'm saying is that you two spend a lot of time together. Like, a lot. You make dinner together, you go shopping together, you watch movies and shows together. If you both start dating, then you won't be spending that amount of time together anymore." Mandy grabbed my hand as though she was already comforting me in my grief over the lessened time. I laughed.
"It's really not that big of a deal, guys. We're both adults, and things change. I'll be just fine."
"Are you sure that you two aren't... secretly in love with each other or something? What if you both go on these dates but just find out that you want to be together instead?" Leslie asked, leaning forward in anticipation of my answer. She and Mandy had this idea in their heads for a while now and bugged me about it too often. It really grated on my nerves. Could we not just be great friends?
Mandy was giving me the same look. I let out a huff. "Look, Landon and I have always just been friends. There has never been anything else between us, and there never will be. We're going to help each other find dates, and that's all."
"That's all what?" Landon said from behind me, scaring the crap out of me. I jumped in my seat and turned around to shoot him a glare. He laughed, earning him a light punch in the gut from me.
"Nothing. Go get your coffee," I told him, rolling my eyes as I turned around. I felt his hand on the top of my head as he ruffled my hair.
"Landon!" I nearly yelled, turning around to punch him again, but he ducked out of the way, heading toward the counter. I watched after him, shaking my head as he walked away, a small smile on my lips. He always did annoying things like that, but I would think something was wrong if he didn't.
Mandy looked over her shoulder at Landon, who was ordering at the counter, then she looked back at me. "Are you sure about that?" Cooper took a seat next to her, draping his arm around her shoulder as he picked up her latte. She swatted him away, making him put her cup down. The entire time, her accusing stare was on me.
I just rolled my eyes at her again, tired of the ridiculous argument.
"We'll just have to wait and see," Leslie commented as Landon came back to the table with his black coffee. He sat down at the empty seat across from me, his wide frame taking up more space than most normal people.
"Week one of the dating game. Are you two ready?" Andrew asked as he sat down with his muffin. He always started at The Pink Bakery before joining us. Coffee wasn't what got him started in the mornings, sugar was.
