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Bridget was about to object when Jerica lifted her hand and curled it around Bridget’s cheek, bringing their mouths together in a sweet and quick kiss. Stunned, Bridget wasn’t sure what to do or say, and Jerica backed away, sheepishly.

They looked at each other awkwardly for a few tense seconds before Bridget broke the silence. “Dinner should be ready soon.”

“Good.” Jerica wouldn’t look her in the eye, and Bridget knew she’d ruined whatever moment Jerica had been going for.

Chastising herself, she picked up the cards and shuffled them, not sure what to do or say.

“I would like a second date, maybe a redo if you don’t think this was a good one.”

Surprised, Bridget cocked her head to the side. “Why? I mean, everything about this date has gone wrong.”

“Not everything. I got to spend time with you, outside of the hospital, and see some of where you live, even if this isn’t your house. I got to know you better, and isn’t that the entire purpose of dating?”

“I guess,” Bridget mumbled. “The only person I really dated I knew from childhood so there wasn’t a whole lot to get to know.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Eli.” Bridget moved her thumb over her shoulder. “She’s the only other person I’ve dated.”

“Oh.” Jerica pursed her lips. “Just to be clear, you’re not…”

“No. She’s getting married to Sarah. We broke up almost five years ago now. It’s taken time for us to be able to talk again, but I think we’ve made a lot of steps in that direction lately.”

“Good, I suppose. It’s hard to be without our best friends.”

“Harder still when you’re the asshole who screwed it up.”

Jerica laced their fingers together. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes.”

“I suppose.”

She leaned her head against Bridget’s shoulder, and they stayed there, mostly in quiet, until Eli came back in with a mission. “Dinner will be ready in five!”

Bridget smiled.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you smile.” Jerica echoed the smile. “I like it.”

Bridget was racked with guilt. This time when she took the stairs out of the den, she let Jerica help her so she didn’t fall flat on her face again. She’d had enough embarrassment for one day. Maybe they would survive dinner unscathed.

CHAPTER9

As soon asJerica had left the night before, Bridget’s stomach had plummeted. The date had been a disaster, and it wasn’t either of their faults—well, some of it was Bridget’s. She’d made an absolute fool of herself, trying to do things she couldn’t. Her cheeks still burned at the thought of it.

Eli had tried to convince her everything was fine, that Jerica hadn’t seemed perturbed by what happened—except maybe with Buddy—but that hadn’t done anything to sway Bridget in another direction. The date had been awful from the start, and there had been no recovering from it. Even the kiss on the couch had felt awkward and out of place, and Jerica hadn’t seemed to want to try again after that.

It must have been pity.

Groaning, Bridget brushed her hands over her face and stared at the ceiling in her bedroom, something she was becoming quite familiar with. The knock on the door surprised her. Furrowing her brow, Bridget stared at the time on her phone, which told her it was mid-morning. Her new wake up time.

The knock again.

“Bridget?”

“What?” Bridget pinched her nose and shifted to try and sit up a little better, but it was harder than she’d anticipated so she gave up.

The door to her bedroom opened, and Eli popped her bright and cheery face in. “You awake?”

“I am now.”