“So what are you going to wear on your date?” she asks when I finish talking, and I almost laugh. It’s so April to completely forget that she was mad at Gareth not long ago and be concerned about what I’m going to wear on my date.

“I have no idea.”

“I’ll come over tomorrow morning and help you go through your shit. If we don’t find the perfect outfit for you, we have time to hit the mall before and find something there.”

“Have I told you that I love you?”

“Not lately, but I know you do, so it’s all good,” she says, and I know she’s smiling.

“Well, I do. So thanks for listening to me.”

“I’m here anytime you want to talk. You know that,” she adds, and I do know that; it’s just one of the many things I’m thankful for. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bring coffee,” I say before she can hang up, then add, “And breakfast sandwiches from Marco’s.”

“Got it.” She laughs, saying, “Later.”

I start to drop my cell to my bedside table but stop when it buzzes in my hand with an incoming text. I smile when I see hot jerk do not answer on the screen.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Sleep well.

My fingers hover over the keyboard of my phone before I finally decide exactly what to say in reply.

Me too, good night.

I turn my ringer on silent so I’m not tempted to look at it then drop my cell to the table by the bed and turn out the light. I pull my covers up to my shoulder, and Melbourne jumps up on the bed, curls into the crook of my stomach, and starts to purr. I reach my hand out from under the blanket and run my fingers over the top of his head, listening to the sound grow louder.

“I wish you were this sweet all the time,” I tell him, and he responds by turning to nip my fingers hard enough to sting. “Jerk.” I tuck my hand back under my covers. “You are so getting a furry friend who actually likes my attention.” With a loud meow, he gets up, walks the length of my body, and then presses his face to mine like he’s silently threatening me before he curls up on my shoulder. “I’m not kidding. First chance I get, I’m talking to July about my options,” I warn, and he rubs his head against my jaw. “It’s too late to be sweet now,” I mutter, closing my eyes, and surprisingly, even with my impending date on my mind and my cat who doesn’t really like me lying on my shoulder, I fall asleep quickly.

_______________

“Finally.” April sighs dramatically as I walk out of the dressing room and stop in front of the three-way mirror.

“You think so?” I run my hands down the soft, black material and take in the cut of the sleeveless, tight dress that looks simple from the front, with a high neckline and a hem that hits me midcalf. Then I turn to look over my shoulder at the racer back that shows a good amount of skin.

“It’s perfect. Casual and sexy. It doesn’t matter if he takes you to McDonald’s or Frank’s Steakhouse.” I grin at my sister. “Though, if he takes you to McDonald’s, I don’t think you should give him a second date, or the vagina.”

I laugh and shake my head at her, knowing for sure Gareth isn’t taking me to McDonald’s, even if I don’t know exactly where he’s taking me to dinner. When April came over this morning, she asked if I knew where we were going so she could help me find the perfect outfit, and when I told her no, she handed me my cell. I called him to ask, and he teased me, asking if my nightgown was an option. After I threatened to hang up and listened to him laugh, he told me that I should wear a dress.

“I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t tell me to wear a dress if he planned on taking me through the drive-thru line at Mickey D’s.”

“I don’t know. A dress is easy access, and fast food is… well, fast. Get it, go back to his place, and—”

“You can stop.” I laugh, cutting her off, and she smiles and stands up, coming up behind me.

“Seriously though, this is the dress. You look sexy, and I have no doubt he’s going to be wondering how he got so lucky when he sees you in it.”

I turn to face the mirror once more and examine myself before I meet her gaze. “So now what shoes do I wear?”

“Heels, the ones you have with the thin black heel, the bow on the back, and the ankle strap. Those are perfect.”

“So flats aren’t an option?” I ask half joking, because even thinking about those heels makes my feet hurt.

“You can handle heels for a few hours, Grandma.” She rolls her eyes. “Now, go change, pay for this dress, and let’s hit the food court for some grub and a coffee.”

“Sounds like a plan.” I head into the dressing room and change out of the dress and back into my jeans and tee. Then I take the dress up to the register, where I pick up some cute stack bracelets with multicolored beads and a pair of hoop earrings that April tells me will be perfect with the dress. I pay for my stuff, and after that, we go eat lunch then grab coffee before we leave the mall and go back to my place. April takes off after she talks me through how I should style my hair and do my makeup, and I promise I’ll call her when I get home to tell her how the date went.

With her gone and a few hours to spare before I have to start getting ready, I find my Kindle and make myself comfortable on my couch. I settle in, and just as I start to lose myself in a completely different world, my phone rings. The first call is not surprisingly from my sister May, who lives with April. She informs me that April told her I was going out on a date, and then she tells me I should ignore any advice April might have given me about sleeping with Gareth tonight—something that makes me laugh.

While she and I are still on the phone, June and July three-way call me, saying they talked to April. I tell both of them what they heard is true, and they make plans to meet me for breakfast tomorrow morning. Not even a minute after I get off the phone with them, my phone rings once more, and I sigh when I see my mom’s name. And I swear that if April ever meets someone she’s even a little serious about, I will pay her back tenfold for opening her big mouth.

“Hey, Mom,” I say as I put my cell to my ear.

“I just got off the phone with April,” she tells me, something I already figured out. “I just want to tell you that your dad and I spent a little time with Gareth at Cobi’s wedding, and we were both seriously impressed with him.”

“Mom,” I start, but she cuts me off.

“I know you don’t need our approval, but I want to let you know we approve. He seems like a good guy, and from what Sage and Cobi said, he’s a hard worker and he loves his family.”

“He has two kids,” I insert, thinking that’s a deal breaker, if not for her then definitely for my dad.

“I thought you wanted kids?” she prompts quietly.

My eyes slide closed. “I do, but there is a difference between having kids of my own and dating someone who already has kids,” I say, feeling a little guilty for admitting the truth. If I’m honest, the idea of Gareth having kids his boys’ ages kind of freaks me out. Okay, it really freaks me out. I know Mitch from spending time with him at school, and he’s a great kid, but that doesn’t mean he’d be okay with me dating his dad. And what if his brother hates me? What if things between Gareth and me get serious, and his boys end up resenting me? Or what if—