Fools in Love(8)
Author: J. Sterling
Where was April, and what had I done with her brain?
I was back at the office—my safe haven, the place where I could bury all thoughts of that stupidly hot fireman and pretend like he didn’t star in my nightly fantasies. It had been almost a week since the auction, and while I was relieved that Robbie hadn’t reached out, a part of me also couldn’t stop overthinking, Why hasn’t he?
“Has he called you yet?” Meredith asked, appearing out of thin air. Just like she’d asked me every day since I’d “won” the date with him.
“Nope,” I said, hoping to sound completely unfazed and unbothered. Even though neither of those was entirely true.
“Do you want me to storm over to that firehouse and give him a piece of my mind?” She thrust her fists in the air and started punching.
I laughed. “Please don’t. If he never calls, then this can all just go away, and I can focus on matching the couples who actually want my help.”
“You know, April”—she jutted out her hip and smacked her lips together—“you can’t do all the matching and never get matched yourself.”
My smile dropped. I hated when people brought up my love life—or lack thereof—like it was something to be used against me.
I wasn’t in the market for a relationship, and everyone always acted like that was some kind of terrible mindset for me, of all people, to have. Like I was committing some horrific crime against humanity by denying myself love.
The truth was that I didn’t feel like my life was currently lacking in any capacity. Work fulfilled me for the time being, but I wasn’t naive enough to think that it would always be that way. I had enough self-awareness to realize that, at some point, I’d want a partner to share my time with. I just wasn’t there yet.
Work demanded all of my attention, and I gave it willingly, happily, with a grateful and full heart.
My phone pinged out a notification from an unfamiliar number, and I hesitated before clicking on it. I was not in the habit of giving my personal cell to strangers, but I had an idea of who it might be.
Holding my cell in the air so Meredith could see it, I said, “I need to take this.”
“Just think about what I said.” She gave me a soft smile, almost like she felt bad for me.
I hated pity. Especially when it wasn’t warranted.
“I heard you.” I placated her because it really wasn’t anyone’s business what I decided to do with my heart and when.
Pressing on the unread text, I rolled my eyes as I read the message, knowing that it could only be from one person.
Unknown: I’m doing this under duress. I am literally being forced to send you this right now.
Just as quickly as that message arrived, a picture came through. There stood Sheila with a fire hose aimed at Robbie, her hand poised over the lever that would turn it on and probably take his head clean off his shoulders. Those suckers were fierce.
Me: Okay, you did it. You texted me. Tell Sheila to back off.
The three dots danced in the left corner before stopping and then reappearing as I begrudgingly added his phone number to my Contacts. It felt like the smart thing to do, considering there was no way in hell Sheila was going to let this go.
Robbie: You have to do it.
Letting out an annoyed I don’t have time for this groan, I quickly fired off a message to Sheila, telling her that Robbie had made contact and to put the hose down.
Robbie: Thank you. She’s a little intense.
Me: And scary. Don’t get on her bad side.
I warned him even though it wasn’t entirely true. Sheila wasn’t scary; she was just pushy. She refused to give up when she had a thought or an idea. Like whatever it was she had conjured up in her mind about me and the fireman. She’d bought him as my date for a reason. One I couldn’t quite fathom or even remotely understand.
Robbie: Is it okay if I call you later?
Me: Sure.
I stared at the screen of my phone, waiting to see if he’d say anything else but nothing came. The dots never started dancing, so there were no thoughts he wanted to share but quickly took back. He was gone as quickly as he’d appeared. And I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
GET THIS DATE OVER WITH
ROBBIE
Apparently, I’d broken some unspoken rule. Or hell, maybe it had been clearly written down, printed in black and white, and I’d ignored it. Too much time had passed since the night of the auction. At least, that was what Sheila implied when she stopped by the firehouse today, unannounced, looking for me, a stern expression on her face.
I needed to firm down an actual day for the date and inform the auction committee so that they could have everything in place. Including transportation. Limo, I’d been told. The over-the-top planning made me feel like I was back in high school, heading to prom.
Only I wasn’t a seventeen-year-old virgin anymore, going solo with my guy friends, pretending like we were too cool to bring actual dates. I was a grown-ass adult now with a career and my own condo.
“Give me your phone,” Sheila demanded before adding, “And don’t even think about lying and telling me it’s in your locker. I know it’s in your pocket.”
She pointed her finger right at my junk, and I begrudgingly pulled out my cell and gave it to her, wondering what she might do to embarrass me.
I watched as she moved her fingers across the screen before handing it back to me. “Start typing.”
April’s name was at the top of a new text message thread.
“I don’t see your fingers moving.” Sheila tsked at me before looking around the firehouse, like a snake searching for a field mouse. Her mouth twisted into a slight grin for only a split second before she slithered toward the fire truck and reached for the hose, unwinding it slowly.
“Darling,” her voice practically purred.
My captain popped his head out from around the corner. “Yeah, babe?”
“This works, doesn’t it?” she asked.
His eyes roved between the two of us, finally settling back on her. “It works.”
“Great.” Sheila held it between her hands. Her long, manicured nails looked ridiculous against the dirty, mangled material. “Are you texting her, or do I need to give you a bath?”