Page 21 of The Disasters of Dating (Love Connections #6)
I sigh, wishing I hadn’t brought it up. “Yeah, he died when I was nine.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He doesn’t look at me with pity, like a lot of people do when they learn my dad died. Instead, it’s more of an understanding look. “Losing a parent is hard. Especially when you’re so young.”
I tip my head. “You speak as if you have experience.”
He nods. “Yeah, my mom passed away five years ago. I was a lot older than you were, but it was still so hard.”
I reach over and put my hand over his and squeeze.
It’s weird to bond over something so depressing.
But I feel like we have something linking us that we didn’t have before.
“Yeah, it sucks.” My brow furrows. “Man, and losing a mom has to be tough. It’s like they’re the glue that holds the family together.
” I sigh. “I’m not sure what I’d do if I lost my mom. ”
“Yeah, my dad didn’t know how to handle it.
So he threw himself into his work. Which is okay, except when you have kids who are trying to process everything, too.
My little brother was still in high school when it happened.
He needed my dad. But my dad wasn’t there.
Things are better now.” He gives his head a little shake and drops it to the side.
“It sounds like you were close to your dad, though. I’m sure that was hard. ”
I nod. Losing my dad was hard. But I think the way we lost him made it ten times harder.
Although I guess it doesn’t really matter how they die—they still aren’t there with you when you need them.
It’s not like if he had died in a car accident or of some disease that he would still walk me down the aisle when I get married.
I perk up and smile at him because I don’t like these icky feelings.
I know people would tell me I’m pushing them down in an unhealthy manner.
But whatever. They aren’t me, so they should keep their judgments to themselves.
“So tell me about your family.” It feels like a first-date question.
Even though this isn’t a date. Why do I feel the need to keep emphasizing that? Who am I trying to convince?
His lips quirk up, and I can tell I’ve hit a subject he likes talking about. And it feels like a mostly safe topic. He already knows about my dad, so he likely won’t ask any more questions about him.
“There isn’t much to tell. I have an older brother and an older sister who are both married. And then a younger brother who tends to be a punk. But I still like him.” He grins and sits back in his chair. “What about you?”
So there are four of them. Interesting. I wonder if the brother was a punk before his mom died or if that contributed to him becoming one.
“There are three of us kids. My older brother is married and about to have his second kid—which is crazy to me. I never pictured Brody married, let alone as a dad. It’s so weird.
But he’s a great dad. And then there is my older sister, Sadie.
I’m pretty sure she’ll be married by the end of the year. ”
He raises his brows. “Wow. A new baby and a wedding in one year? That’s a lot. Great, but a lot!”
“Yeah, my mom is on cloud nine.” I smile but then it drops slightly as I think about how weird she’s been lately. Could it be because of all the changes coming? I hadn’t thought of that as a cause before now .
I look back at him. “So, you know what I do…probably in more detail than you wanted to know.” I look down at my plate in embarrassment. I can’t believe I thought he was shoplifting. I glance back up at him as my cheeks burn. “What do you do that brings you to Utah so much?”
Our server delivers Keaton’s Dr. Pepper and my Sprite. I take a sip before settling back into my chair.
Keaton’s brow creases. “I’m the president of a new tech company that’s based in Lehi.
The whole company is moving here, but the CEO and founder still live back East. Plus, that’s where I’m from.
So until the first of next year, I’m commuting.
I spend most of my work week here, but I still have to be in Boston for weekly Friday board meetings. ”
My brows raise. “You’re the president of a company? But you’re so young. I mean, you can’t be much older than twenty-six or twenty-seven.”
He chuckles, but it’s a little forced. “You’re good. I’ll be twenty-seven on my birthday.”
I nod, as if I hadn’t totally guessed that. “I bet I can guess your sign.”
He leans back and folds his arms across his chest. “Oh, yeah? Lay it on me.”
I squint at him. I don’t have to analyze him much. I pretty much knew his sign from the first moment I accused him of shoplifting. “I’m pretty confident you’re a Sagittarius.”
His brows flick up in challenge. “Oh?”
I nod. What a Sagittarius thing to do. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
He shrugs. “I have no idea. I’m not even sure what my sign is.”
I suck in a breath in disbelief. “You don’t even know? I thought even those people who don’t believe in it still know their signs. Your birthday is?—”
He holds up his finger. “Just a minute,” as he taps his phone screen. His brow furrows for a moment before a huge grin covers his face. “Sagittarius, you said?”
I nod. “Yep. You’re totally an archer.”
“Nope,” he says with a tilt of his head. “Not a Sagittarius.”
I frown. Is he teasing me? I would have almost bet money on that sign for him. I stare at him. “Scorpio?”
He shakes his head.
“Gemini,” I say with less confidence.
Again, he shakes his head.
“You’re kidding me.” I bite my lip. “Oh, please don’t tell me you’re an Aries.” I don’t know why I care. It’s not like this will go anywhere. It can’t. It’s just an apology dinner.
“Nope.” He twists his head to the side, looking at me from the corners of his eyes. “Are you sure you’re into this stuff? Because you’re not even close.”
I scowl at him. “Oh, yeah? When’s your birthday?”
He puts his elbows on the table and drops his chin into his palms. “January 12th.”
My mouth drops open. No way. “You’re a Capricorn? I don’t see it.”
He nods. “Yep. That’s me. A Capricorn.” He looks back at his phone. “And while I’d never believe it, the description is, like, dead on for me.”
I blink several times. What is the universe telling me? I thought it was saying Keaton was not destined to be part of my life. But if that’s true, why is he the perfect match for my Pisces?