Page 3 of Oblivious

“No one should be that irrepressibly chirpy.”

“I’m perky.”

I frown. “I can cope with you.”

“Aww, you love me.”

“I do.”

He tips forward and hugs me. “I love you too, Addy.” He straightens. “You should go on the date.”

“No. Imightagree to it on a quieter day. Doyouhave a date?”

I’m guessing he doesn’t, since he asked.

“I have an offer.”

“But?”

“Eh…she said she wants to see if I’m gingereverywhere.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

He shrugs. “I barely know her. She comes into the shop a couple of times a week. She’s been flirting with me for a little while and asked me out for Valentine’s today.”

“And you said…?”

“I’d think about it.”

“Ouch, Fitz. You could have just said no.”

“Iamthinking about it. But I probably will say no.”

“Why?”

Fitz looks at me as though I said the most ridiculous thing ever. “I think I explained why. Unless I’m completely misreading her comment, she wants sex on the first date, and I…don’t. Or on the second or the third…” He sighs. “And by then—” He throws his hands up.

“You could just tell her that and see if she’s still interested?”

“Maybe. Or maybe I’d rather spend Valentine’s Day with my best friend. So if you’renotgoing to go on a blind date—which I think you should—I’ll start planning what to cook.”

I nudge his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Me? Yup. A-okay. Oh! You could bring your date here. Then you wouldn’t need to deal with crowds. I’ll make you both a slap-up meal, which you can take all the credit for to wow her.”

I’m not sure I like that idea. “Where would you be?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make myself scarce. I’m not going to play gooseberry or cramp your style.” He climbs over me to grab my phone from where I put it on the coffee table. “Call Vanessa and tell her to hook you up.”

“Fitz…”

“What?”

I smile and shake my head. “Nothing. You’d do that for me?”

“Duh! Of course I would. Call Vanessa.” He puts my phone in my hand.

“It’s late. I’ll call her tomorrow.”