Page 10 of Imperfect Match (Imperfect Match 1)
She laughs through her nose. “No honey, that’s twenty-plus years of marriage and knowing when to smile and nod. Men like to think they’re important and have a say, when we all know the women are truly in charge.”
“Good advice.”
“I give it to all my clients after their weddings. Just like you can to Reid and his bride once you succeed.”
Right. “Well, on that note. I should get going.” I grab my purse and kiss my mother on the cheek.
“Have fun!” she calls as I walk out.
“Yeah, nothing says fun like the comic store!” I say as the door closes behind me.
On the elevator down, I shoot him a quick text reminding him that we’re going shopping. He has stood me up one too many times for my liking.
Me: Meet me outside the store.
* * *
Reid: What store?
* * *
Oh my God. I knew it.
Me: Reid! We have a shopping date.
* * *
Reid: Who is this? I don’t know this number.
* * *
I’m going to kill him.
Me: Funny. I’ll see you in ten.
* * *
Reid: Seriously, stalking is a punishable crime. I request that you find another man for your attention.
* * *
Me: You realize I know where you live. Also, I feed you, and nothing says revenge like Ex-Lax.
* * *
Reid: Touché, my evil friend.
I huff and put my AirPods in as I stroll down the Chicago streets. It’s so nice out today. It’s beautiful for October, and I couldn’t be happier. I have a cute fall sweater on, and with the sun, it feels at least ten degrees warmer than it probably is.
I think about each female face I pass on the sidewalk in a different way, wondering if she could be the one for him. I catalog their features, whether they smile as I pass, their height, weight, and overall stature. I keep hoping for lightning to strike, to find that girl. The one that will change his mind about marriage, open his eyes and his horizons, like my mother said. She has faith, so why shouldn’t I?
Then Reid can get hitched, and I can get pregnant.
However, with each girl I study, I find something wrong. I start to question myself, and I wonder if I was being too hard on all the women in the database.
Why aren’t they good enough to even show him? Why am I being so damn picky on his behalf? Maybe he’d like the tall girl. Maybe he will date someone who can’t spell. Maybe I’m not giving him enough credit.
Before I can come to any conclusions, I plow into someone and nearly go over backward. “Shit! Sorry.”
