Page 67 of Somehow You Knew

I stare at the recliner that just got delivered, wondering what the hell I was thinking.

“Hello?” Laney answers after the second ring.

“I bought a chair.”

“Okay, that’s one way to start a conversation.”

I kick the dark gray recliner like it personally offended me and scowl as it rocks back and forth mockingly. “I bought a recliner for my husband and now I’m really regretting that choice.”

“I feel like you need to bring me up to speed before launching into discussions about random furniture purchases.”

Sighing, I sit down in the recliner and instantly feel relaxed. “Some things have happened, Laney, and I don’t know what to think.”

“Did his dick fall into your vagina already?”“What? No!” Her laughter fills the line. “This isn’t funny.”

“It kind of is, but I can tell by your tone that you’re not interested in my comedic genius right now, so I’ll reel it in.”

“Yes, please.”

“Fine. What’s going on?”

I exhale, rocking gently. “My husband and I went on a date two weeks ago. It was…confusing.”

“Confusing how?”

Blueberry jumps onto my lap as I continue to rock. “Well, we started getting letters.”

I relay the story, explaining the letters from Diane, the stipulations and the unexpected push toward something neither of us saw coming.

Laney whistles. “Damn. This woman was hell-bent on setting the two of you up, wasn’t she?”

“Apparently so. And our date was…”

“Where did you go?”

“Well, first, he insisted we ride on his motorcycle.”

“Is that code for his dick?”

“No, Laney! He actually drives a motorcycle. Now focus, please.”

“Noted. Continue.”

I let out a sigh. “The ride was exhilarating, and then he held my hand—because the letter said to—we shared a meal, and we went to the thrift store to complete the photo shoot. But while we were there, he got a phone call.”

“Okay…”

“From someone named Miranda.”

“Sounds like a woman’s name.”

“Right?”

“You said he hasn’t made a move on you yet, right?”

“Well, not exactly...” I think back to our kiss last week, contemplating if I would classify that as something Gage wanted to do, or something he felt compelled to.

“Then he either has a girl back in Florida, or he’s gay.”