Page 12 of Unhitched

“No?”

“That’s not enough. Please let me help.” I release my intertwined fingers to tap on my chin, trying to think of an idea.

He stares again. Why does he keep doing that?

I wish he would stop. “Oh.” A lightbulb goes off in my head.

“It’s because you don’t want me to stay a whole month, huh?

It’s okay. I understand. I’m a lot . Especially after last night.

” I sigh. “I’m not usually like that. It’s just really freaking hard to make friends as an adult.

” Living with Matt, I spent most of my time with him, and the majority of my friends still live in Eugene, near my sister.

I know that not having a local support system is hurting my ability to process my stressors and live my life fully, and it didn’t feel like Kace wanted to be friends.

So when I locked myself out, the party felt like the perfect opportunity.

“It’s not an issue. As long as I can get my work done, it’s fine.”

Brainstorming a way to convince him, a memory swirls to the front of my mind. “Remember last night when we were eavesdropping on those people at the party?”

He arches an eyebrow again like there’s no possible way there’s a point to this recollection, or he’s surprised I remember it.

“They were bitching about terrible dates they’ve been on,” I prompt.

“I remember.”

Sighing, I admit, “The worst part about breakups is recreating routines and realizing you’re going to have to start dating from the beginning again.”

“Good thing you like experiencing things for the first time.” With one foot firmly planted in the carpet, he swivels the chair back and forth, and I’m starting to wonder if he got his hands on the Limitless pill or something because this man seems to have a whole storage unit for Mya notes.

“There’s always an exception to the rules.” I shift my weight to one hip. “People are crazy, and sorting through them can be hard.”

“You don’t know the whole story,” he defends the gossip girls from the party. “What if they did something equally as annoying?”

I mull over the thought. “Even if they did, I think most people put what they believe is their best foot forward at the beginning.”

“Maybe that’s the problem.” He zones in on the circular motion of the stress balls in his palms. “Maybe if we showed the worst sides of ourselves first, we’d save time. ”

This man is CYN-I-CAL. He’s not wrong though. Sometimes when people feel comfortable enough to be themselves, they become entirely new people. “I’m guessing you’re not excited to start dating again?”

He eyes me like he knows I’m prying for information. “No,” is all he gives.

God, I’d kill for the details of Kace’s last relationship. Okay, not kill for. But I’d definitely help the Pretty Little Liars do some shady shit. “I do think it would be easier if everyone showed all their cards from the start, so you’d know if you wanted to keep them or not.”

“Yeah,” Kace mumbles.

I snap my fingers, an idea forming. “Idea! I’d say it’s safe to assume neither of us is interested in dating right now? I mean, I don’t know your story. Although, if you’d like to tell me, I’m more than happy to listen.”

I pause, giving him a chance to take me up on my offer, but he’s still as stone. He even stops rotating the stainless steel balls in his hand. “I really need to get back to work.” It’s not mean, just serious.

I take that as my assumption being correct. “Wouldn’t it be fun if you could go out with someone and be as you as you wanted without stressing that you’re wasting a real chance?”

“I’m not following.” He leans against the back of his chair, settling in for this conversation.

“You go on a date–you know, because they’re fun if they aren’t being interrupted by grumpy men.” I gauge his reaction, catching a smirk. “Don’t you miss them?”

“I guess,” he admits, and I’m surprised he owned up to that much.

“If there was no pressure for your date to be the one , you could enjoy the fun of dating.”

His brows pinch. “Still not following.”

I need to stop talking in circles and land my plane. Men can’t read between the lines for shit. “How about we make a bet? ”

“A bet?” he clarifies.

“Yeah. Like a competition. If I win, I get to chip in on rent. If you win… You get a cupboard constantly stocked with Cinnamon Toast Crunch.”

He mulls over the idea. “What’s the bet?”

I squeeze my fists, resisting a happy dance. “So what if we have a contest of who can plan the most genuine date–”

He cuts me off. “I’m not going on a date with you.”

“Ouch.” My hands fly to my chest like I’m physically wounded. “Way to kick a girl when she’s down,” I sass, only a little offended.

“You just assured me you weren’t down.”

“Right. Well, it will be a fake date, dummy.”

“I’m not going on a fake date with you,” he reiterates.

“Why are you so grumpy?” I pop my hip, resting my hand on it. “You’re Monday in human form.”

He smirks, and I count it as a win in my column. “Still, no.”

Sheesh. This girl must have done a number on him to make him not even want to go on a fake date. “It’s like friends hanging out.”

He raises a brow. “Are we friends?”

“We will be once we hang out!” I ignore his questioning stare.

“Hear me out.” I pause for him to give a sign that he’s listening.

Holding eye contact without objection is enough permission for me.

“We each plan a date we would love to go on if we weren’t worried about the other person in a new relationship thinking we’re crazy. ”

“How is that a bet?”

“Hmm.” I actually have zero clue what I’m thinking. My idea hasn’t gone much further than that yet. I snap my fingers again. “Whoever has the most fun during the other person’s date wins.”

“How will we do that?”

Yes! I fist pump in my mind. I’ve totally got him on the hook.

Keep the questions coming. “I think we know enough about each other to know if we’re choosing something out of character just to make sure the other person would have fun.

You and I are practically opposites, but surely one of us will surprise the other with something they didn’t realize they’d enjoy. ”

“How about you just live here and focus on your life instead?”

“My life is fine, thank you. Come on,” I beg.

“It will be nice to get out of our heads, just mess around, and not worry about being perfect. We’ll be forced out of the house so we don’t stay inside to wallow over people we are better off without.

” His eyes snap to mine like that last thought got his attention.

He takes a deep breath before exhaling a dramatic sigh. “Alright. What exactly is the deal?”

“Do you have plans this weekend?”

“No.”

“Perfect. We’ll each plan a day. We can come up with whatever ‘date-ish’ activities we want, and at the end of the weekend, whoever’s date was the most enjoyable to the other person wins.”

“You really expect one of us to have a good time when it’s clear you and I like different things?”

“We both love cereal.” I beam, teasing him. “But seriously, it will be fun to plan an uninhibited date.”

He gives me a pointed look.

I shrug. “If you’re scared of losing, just tell me now. I’m betting on winning this. I’m pretty sure you’re incapable of planning something fun, so you could save time by giving in.”

He hides another smirk. “Anything is fair game?”

“Yup.” I consider telling him nothing illegal, but I have a strong feeling that Kace would never go for that anyway.

“Find something that you think would be fun but would be nervous ‘subjecting’ a girlfriend to–for whatever reason. Maybe it’s a weird thing you like or a non-traditional date.

You’re smart enough to plan something.” I grin at him.

I know he’s smart. I mean, I don’t know know, but look at the man!

If there’s anything he oozes along with grumpiness and sex appeal, it’s intelligence.

“Alright.” He rotates the balls a few more times in his palm before twisting his chair back toward his desk. “I do have to get back to work now.”

“Okay, you do you.” I tap my finger against my chin.

“I’ll be planning a date that tricks you into happiness faster than Hallie and Annie got their parents back together.

” With a smile on my face and more determination than I’ve had in a while, I practically skip out of his room.

Closing the door behind me, I wonder if it’s concerning that something I’d be nervous about in any other circumstance is hyping me up more than anything has in a while.