Page 64 of The Singles Club

Knowing that Vivian cared more about Penny’s feelings than how it would affect her project touched me in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“I’ll do everything I can to help make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Thank you.”

After we finished our appetizers, I started on the email to Leonard.

Dear Leonard,

If you don’t want to do this, I understand. There is no pressure here. All I ask is that you at least tell Penny. She is so sweet and kind, and it would only break her heart if she went to that reunion party and waited for someone who didn’t show. If you cancel now, it may sting, but it would hurt a lot less than getting stood up.

So please, if you can’t or won’t… let her know, or at least let me know so I can gently break the news.

If you still want to do this, I’ll help in any way I can.

Let me know what you decide.

All the best,

Vivian

I handed the phone back to her. “What do you think of that?”

She read over the email and leaned back in her chair. “I love it… but do you think I should put a time limit?”

“Not yet, no pressure now. See if Leonard bites, and if you don’t hear from him by Sunday, then give him a deadline to respond.”

“And what happens if he doesn’t?”

“I’ll take her.”

The phone stilled in Vivian’s hand as she looked at me in surprise. “You’d do that for her?”

“Of course. She doesn’t deserve to have a sad story written about her in the public eye because some jerk stood her up.”

She smiled, but there was more warmth than before. “You really are a Jimmy Stewart.”

14

Love Is a Ride

Vivian

The drilling from Crystal and Isabella was exactly what I had expected.

Isabella’s eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. “Youagreed to relationship coaching?”

“He would have stopped trying with dating if I didn’t do it.”

Crystal popped the cherry from her drink into her mouth. “And why do you care if he dates or not?”

“It’s a challenge I accepted, and you know I don’t like losing.”

And I wanted him to be happy.

“Maybe the date he’s on right now isthe one.” Crystal shot up her brow, and I had a feeling she was testing me.

“I hope it is.” I gulped my wine, wishing I had ordered a Moscow mule instead.