The Introvert's Guide to Online Dating - Emma Hart Page 0,31
hissy about his dating life.
At least I could admit I had a problem.
That I was the problem.
That’s it.
It was me.
I was the problem.
COLTON: Fine.
Yep.
He was mad at me.
I sat back in my chair. I was kinda mad at me, too. Now I was going to break this off without even getting one last time with him. Oh, well.
It was for the best.
My Friday night would be spent with London and two guys she’d found yesterday. I’d been talking to Max all day, and he was a nice guy. We had a lot in common, and he was a chef.
This was a bonus.
He liked to cook; I liked to eat.
Bingo.
I was cutting this thing with Colton off at the knees and that was that.
COLTON: I’ll call Cora.
I swallowed. That was a low blow, even if he didn’t mean it.
ME: You do that. I’ll be with Max.
COLTON: Who’s Max?
ME: None of your business, remember?
COLTON: It’s like that again, huh.
ME: Yes, it’s like that.
COLTON: Are you trying to piss me off?
ME: I don’t usually have to work this hard.
COLTON: No, you’re right. You have pissed me off. Thanks, Tori.
ME: Anytime. Don’t show up here on the off chance I’ll let you in. I probably won’t be alone.
COLTON: Then you sure as hell shouldn’t come to my place, because I guarantee I won’t be alone.
ME: Good.
COLTON: Fine.
ME: Fine.
I put the phone down and looked away from it. How childish was I? Why had I even said that?
No, I knew.
It was easier to push him away and let this stop naturally than it was to outright say the words.
I wasn’t even an adult, was I? I was a teenager in an adult’s body. I had no idea who let me do this.
ME: We can’t do this anymore.
There. I’d said it.
I was being an adult.
COLTON: Do what?
ME: Hook up.
COLTON: Right.
ME: You’re dating. I’m dating. It just doesn’t work. It feels dishonest.
COLTON: Ok.
Grr. I hated it when he just said that.
ME: Is that it? Ok?
COLTON: What else do you want me to say to you, Tori? If that’s what you want, then I respect that. It’s over. We won’t hook up anymore.
ME: It is.
ME: What I want.
COLTON: Then there’s nothing more to say, is there?
ME: I suppose not.
COLTON: Ok.
ME: Okay.
I swallowed and looked at the screen.
There.
It was done.
It was over.
There really was nothing more to be said.
This was for the best.
That was probably why it hurt the most.
CHAPTER TEN – COLTON
rule ten: make sure you’re in the right frame of mind to date.
Josh checked his watch. “The date went well, then.”
I held up my hand as I sat down at the table. “Don’t fucking go there,” I said, grabbing the beer bottle that was in front of me. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“What happened? I thought she seemed great.”
“The fuck did I just say?”
“You mistake me for someone who cares.”
“Well, that didn’t go very bloody well, did it?” Dylan joined us and took the chair next to me, while Sebastian took the empty one next to Josh.
“What didn’t go well?” Seb asked.
“His date.” Josh sipped his beer. “Been less than an hour.”
“Ooh. Tap tap squirt?”
“Fuck off.” Despite myself, I laughed. “No. We met for dinner, but it went to shit halfway in. I paid, she left, I came here to drown my sorrows in cheap beer and regret it all tomorrow morning.”
Josh leaned forward. “What went wrong? I thought you liked her.”
“She’s a great person,” I answered.
“Who are you tryna convince there?” Seb raised his eyebrows. “Us, or yourself?”
“Yes.”
Dylan gave me a knowing look.
Shit.
He knew about Tori.
How did he know?
“Go on. May as well say it,” I told him. “I know you want to.”
He rubbed his chin. “I don’t know what you’re on about, mate. I’m just thinking.”
“Mhmm. You know.”
“I do know.”
“Know what?” Josh looked between us. “Why are there so many fuckin’ secrets?”
“There aren’t. Literally everyone but Kinsley knows you’re going to propose,” Seb pointed out. “Although she’s getting suspicious. She called me yesterday and asked me if I’d thought about marrying Holley.” He snorted. “Like I plan on proposing to her until she’s absolutely told me now is the time. You know how she feels about planning.”
He wasn’t wrong there.
“Just fucking say it, Dylan,” I said.
“Say what?” Josh asked. “Do you know what they’re talking about?” he asked Seb.
Seb shook his head. “Not a fucking clue.”
“Cora’s great,” Dylan said, toying with his bottle. “But she’s not Tori, is she?”
I rolled my shoulders. “No. She’s not.”
“Tori?” Seb’s eyebrows shot up. “You want to date