Page 6 of Decidedly Off Limits

A laugh burst free, and I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from cracking up. “I can see how that would be a problem.”

“I love chocolate milk,” Lindsay helpfully pointed out while wobbling on her balance board. “I wouldn’t give it to a dumb boy.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing again. “Good for you, Lindsay.”

Chloe tossed another beanbag at me. “Do you loooove anyone?” she asked me.

“I love my friends, my brother, and my cat.”

She fisted her hands on her hips and flashed me an exasperated look. “No, do you loooove a man and want to marry him?”

Trent’s face immediately popped into my head as I was about to tell her “no.” I must have made some kind of lovesick face because Chloe sing-songed, “Ooooh, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Kelsey with a baby carriage.”

Given that I couldn’t see Trent ever settling down, let alone with me, I attempted to shove his image from my head.

It didn’t budge.

“Does he like bugs?” Chloe loved bugs.

“There is no guy.”

Hence why Erin was trying her darnedest to rectify that. Her mission? To help me find Mr. Right.

Naturally Trent wasn’t at the top of the list.

Or on the bottom.

Or anywhere in between.

“Did you want one?” Chloe asked.

Was I tired of being alone? Yes.

Did I want to waste time dating guys who didn’t set my body on fire with just once glance? Not really. But I wasn’t about to admit that to Chloe.

“You don’t need to be in love with a man to be happy,” I said.

Chloe didn’t look too convinced. Lindsay nodded her approval.

I indicated for the two girls to sit on the oversized balls. They bounced on them, working their core strength, while I retrieved the beanbags scattered across the floor.

“You could find a boyfriend like my Grandma did,” Chloe said. Lindsay just bounced higher.

“How did she do that?” I asked.

“She joined a lawn-bowling club.”

And there you had it. Chloe and Erin were never allowed to meet. Ever.

“But remember,” she added, her tone serious, “you’re not supposed to give him your chocolate milk if you want to sell him your cow.”

I pressed my lips together, fighting back the forming grin. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

While the girls worked through the rest of the session, I did my best not to think about the metaphoric chocolate milk. Just like I had tried not to think about it for the past 463 days.

The only reason I was even contemplating letting Erin set me up was because I was hoping for one night of meaningless sex.

One night to end the record-shattering draught.