Page 12 of If You Were Mine (After We Fall 3)
“He is, actually,” I answered, crossing my legs, “although he looks nothing like the profile picture he used. It’s not even him. And his name isn’t Fred.”
They both stared at me.
“Claire, this sounds weird,” Margot said. “Did he tell you his real name?”
“Yes, it’s Theo.”
“Theo what?”
I tilted my head. “You know what? He didn’t give me a last name.”
My friends glanced at each other. “What does he look like?” Jaime asked.
“Tall. Muscular. Brown hair, light brown eyes. Scruff. Big hands.” Nice ass.
She laughed. “You noticed his hands?”
My cheeks warmed. “I’m an artist. I notice people’s hands a lot.”
“But what’s he like?” Margot pressed. “Does he seem decent? Is he a gentleman?”
“He’s nice enough. A little arrogant, like you can tell he thinks he’s God’s gift to women, but also seems like he could be fun on a date. And he’s what I got, so…” I shrugged. “He’ll have to do.”
“Maybe it will be fun.” Margot tried hard to sound hopeful. I could tell she wasn’t sold on the whole idea, but she probably felt too sorry for me to say so.
“And at least you know you won’t have to worry about him pawing you all night, since he’s not allowed to touch you,” Jaime added.
“Right,” I said with relief, although secretly I thought it might be nice to have a guy like Theo want to paw me. “I hate those dates. But he doesn’t seem like that type of guy anyway. He led me to believe he’s usually on the end of the potential pawing.”
Jaime groaned. “Ugh, he’s one of those.”
“Just make sure you meet in a public place and don’t get into a car with him,” Margot warned. “You have to be careful.”
I picked up my Cosmo and took a much-needed drink. “I’m always careful.”
“Yes, but you’re also very trusting,” she said. “Too trusting sometimes.”
I sighed. “That’s what he said.”
“Theo said that?” Margot asked. “How would he know?”
“Was he judging you for hiring him?” Jaime demanded.
I shook my head. “No, it wasn’t that. And he might have just been teasing me. Because he also said he knows why I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“What the fuck?” Jaime sat up taller in her chair. “I’d have punched him.”
“What on earth did he say?” Margot asked.
“Oh, something about my being scared to meet the perfect person because I don’t think I’ll measure up,” I said, trying to play it off like it was nonsense. “He said I was afraid of rejection, so I don’t really give anyone a chance.” I rolled my eyes. “Ridiculous, right?”
Neither of them answered quickly enough.
“Isn’t it?” I asked, panic invading my tone.
They looked at each other and then at me. “Well, it’s ridiculous that he said that to you,” Margot began, “but I’m not sure he’s completely off.”
“What?” I looked at Jaime. “What do you think?”
