Page 46 of Bridesmaid By Chance
“It’s not my fault they’ve all been duds. Well, besides one. God, he was good.”
“There is more to relationships than sex, Sloane.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m aware. Just haven’t found anyone I care enough to listen to.”
And isn’t that the truth? I’ve always avoided close relationships. I lost my parents, then my grandma. In some ways, I lost Jude when he found Haisley. I know Stacey will eventually find someone to be with too. Ihaven’t ever opened myself up to the possibility of creating a close relationship because I figure it will hurt less when they leave.
She chuckles. “Well, that’s one way to put it.”
“So are you guys going to go out on a date?”
“I think so,” Stacey says while twirling her hair. “I’m trying to figure out when the appropriate time would be to text her. I don’t want to come off too desperate, but I also want her to know that I’m interested.”
“Uh, just text her. Don’t play games. I bet she’d love to hear from you this morning. And open with something smooth. Something like…I had to get coffee this morning. I didn’t sleep at all because I was thinking about you.”
“That’s lame.”
I scoff. “No, it’s not. I thought that was pretty clever.”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s lame.”
“Oh yeah, watch this.”
I pull my phone out and text Hudson.
Sloane: I had to drink a lot of coffee this morning. I didn’t sleep at all because I was thinking about you.
“Did you just send that to Hudson?” Stacey asks.
“Yes, now watch him eat from my hand. The man is going to fill up with so much pride, he’s going to regale me with his sleepless night as well. Now help me with these bags. I have to bring them to Bart.” But the moment I open the front door, Bart is standing there, waiting for me.
“I’ll take those, Mrs. Hopper,” he says, grabbing the bags from me.
“Oohh,” Stacey coos. “Mrs. Hopperhas a nice ring to it.”
“Funny, because it makes me feel slightly pukey.”
“Really? Why? It’s not like it’s really real.”
“That’s the thing,” I say as I move back into the house. I call out to Bart, “Be right there.” Then I shut the door and grab Stacey by the arms. “He’streating this like it’s real, and I’m trying to play along and act like I’m all cool and nonchalant about the whole thing, but I’m slowly dying inside.”
“What do you mean he’s treating it like it’s real?”
“We’re going out to dinner tonight.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.” She waves me off. “You both need food, makes sense.”
I shake my head. “No, there was something about the tone of his voice, how he saidwe’ll be going to dinner, this was different. And he’s serious about me living with him and spending time with him. He calls mewife. Like he’s really into this.”
Stacey thinks about it for a second. “Maybe he’s, I don’t know, trying to get into the right frame of mind because you have to be married around businesspeople? Maybe this is like…practice so when you’re in the moment and you have to truly pull this off, it’s easier.”
I’m about to answer when my phone beeps with a text message.
Stacey and I stare at each other for a few seconds before she whispers, “I bet that’s him.”
“We know that’s him.”
“Then let’s see how he’s eating out of the palm of your hand as you put it.” She nudges me with her hand.
