Page 52 of The Singles Club

She narrowed her eyes. “Fair point.”

“Do we have a deal, or should I start the movie?”

Vivian tapped her nails against the glass. “Start the movie. I’ll think about it.”

I picked up the remote and pressed play, but I couldn’t concentrate or focus on it like I normally would.

A relationship coach? Did I really want to venture down this path? I looked over at Vivian, and I could tell she was deep in thought.

If I went through with this, I had to be careful not to fall in love. This would be for her, not me.

* * *

Vivian

My mind wandered as the movie played, which was so unlike me, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Justin’s offer.

Is that what I wanted? A successful relationship? I could have parties and Paris and lovers’ trysts.

Although I had tried to go back to dating after Lucas, nothing felt the same. I’d been in limbo since our breakup, focused on everyone else but me.

I looked over at Justin, smiling up at the TV. He was one of the good ones. Even if I was beyond help, he deserved to find his mate and have that life and family he wanted. If I didn’t do this, he’d give up because of one lousy date when I had convinced him to get back into it again.

That can’t be the way his story ends.

Dammit.

I grabbed the remote and hit pause. “If I let you coach me, do you promise to let me keep coaching you? No backing out, even if another date goes bad?”

He reached for his soda and finished it off. “I can do that if you agree not to back out of mine.”

I tugged at my necklace, my belly in knots. “Okay,” I finally said. “I’ll do it if you will.”

Justin swallowed. “I guess we have a deal, then.”

“We still have to work out the terms and a time limit.”

“Well, it obviously has to end before your move to Paris.”

Which was now less than three weeks, and I still hadn’t made it final with an apartment.

“What did you have in mind for my coaching sessions?”

“I’m not sure yet, but I’ll give you an answer tomorrow, and we can go from there, is that alright?”

“As long as you keep searching and plan another date… but try to give yourself a little time to prepare for this one,” I teased.

He grinned, and I nearly sank through the cushions.

“Deal,” he said. “Now, can we watch the movie?”

I picked up the remote and pressed play, this time completely ready to immerse myself in it.

12

Penny for Your Thoughts

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