Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“How is he doing?” Mom asks.
“Fine.” I look down at my plate. “The same. The usual.”
Just dandy. Kind of a dick, to be honest, but dandy.
“Is he still with Gretchen?”
“Yup.”
Gretchen is Colton’s girlfriend. They’ve been together for about a year, and from what Wyatt tells me, they talk every so often about moving in together.
Which is his business—unless it affects our daughter.
“How did they meet?” Dad wants to know, though we’ve been over this before. “I forgot.”
“Dating app.”
“Ahh.” He leans back in his seat, satisfied with that answer. “Shouldn’t be too difficult for you then, hey?”
I pretend to ponder the question for a moment, tapping my chin thoughtfully. “If you don’t count the guy who tried to impress me with the number of vintage boxed action figures he has in his spare bedroom.”
My father smiles. “Nothing wrong with having hobbies.”
He’s referring to his collection of sports memorabilia, of course—the collection that costs thousands and thousands of dollars.
“That’s true.” I nod solemnly. “Where would I be without all my holiday decorations?”
I have dozens of totes of ornaments, baubles, lights, garlands—anything and everything to make the house festive in winter, spring, and fall.
Glancing around, I see no sign of Wyatt reemerging from the direction in which she went. I crane my neck to look for her.
“How long has Wy been gone?” I ask my parents, taking the napkin off my lap, ready to rise.
“She’s fine, Margot. What trouble could she possibly get into? The exit is on the opposite side of the room.” Dad gives me a patronizing grin.
True.
But there is such a thing as stranger danger; the world is full of creeps, and therefore, “I’m going to check on her.”
I need an escape from this conversation.
My parents nod when I stand, and resume eating as I excuse myself to see about my daughter.
I stop short when I round the corner and find her chatting it up with a glamorous couple several tables away from the powder rooms, bantering and tossing her head back, giggling as if she’s known the man all her life. As if he’s said the funniest thing ever.
“Wyatt Hazel St. John!” I gasp, horrified. “I was about to send out a search party for you!” I chastise, heart racing like a bullet train, about to thump right out of my chest.
I put my hands on my daughter’s shoulders.
“I am so sorry.”
Stop speaking.
Stare at the man who just two seconds ago was giggling with my kid.
I don’t recognize the voice, but I definitely recognize the face.
The hair at the back of my neck rises as I study him.
The man turns his head in my direction, catching my gaze.
“No. Way.” Is there sound coming out of my mouth? “It can’t be.”
There is no way.
But it is him. Has to be, there is no mistaking it.
The guy from the dating app—the one I got into an argument with because I implied he was a catfish.
Idiot.
Asshole.
Narrowing my eyes, I direct my glare at his face and give him my haughtiest tone.
“You. What are you doing with my daughter?”
Chapter 5
Dex
What are you doing with my daughter?
I don’t recognize the voice, but I sure do recognize the face. When I tell you I’m about to be in a world of trouble, I’m not exaggerating.
Actually.
Pause.
Let me rewind and tell you how I got into this mess in the first place.
Bear with me, would ya? It’s a long ride.
Remember Madisson? The young woman on the dating app with two s’s in her name that I said was annoying? Yeah, that one.
Well. I swiped on her.
I know, I know. I shouldn’t have done it, but I felt bored and she’s smokin’ hot, and sure, maybe it isn’t the smartest thing I’ve done this week—especially coming off that bad date with Claire. All I wanted was a little redemption in the dating department, something to fill my time—maybe get a decent meal and a good drink—and Madisson felt like the easy, fun solution.
So I created a new profile.
Harlow said that’s what I needed to do since, technically, you’re not able to update or change pertinent information on Kissmet once you create your account.
Hence, a new bio was born. Even added some photos of myself from college and none with my current team or of myself in a football uniform. Nothing about my career, nothing about my famous friends.
I was all business this time around.
Instant match.
Instant fun.
Except . . .
This date isn’t going as smoothly as I was expecting it to, not by a long shot. In fact, it’s taking the same kind of turn the date with Claire did but in a completely different way, and I’m about to get to that.
Be patient.
Catering primarily to older couples, groups of pompous gentlemen, and golfers at the bar for happy hour, Dickson’s is posh—the kind of restaurant with outdated velvet wallpaper and cherrywood paneling. The kind of restaurant with an attendant in the bathroom who gives you a warm towelette once you’ve finished washing your hands. I’d bet money that they have a cigar-smoking lounge too.