Rate a Date by Monica Murphy Page 0,24
serial killers around anymore? It’s too easy to get caught nowadays. There are cameras everywhere.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Sarah says with a little laugh. “Pretty sure Caroline called Jared a potential serial killer. Or was it Stella?”
We laugh. We order lunch when our server appears. We discuss Caroline’s wedding and how we all have a fitting next week for our bridesmaid gowns. The last fitting before the big day, and how we all need to lay off the carbs and alcohol if we want to look good in our dress. Kelsey’s kind of quiet, and I wonder if it’s because she’s not actually in the wedding, which is a bummer, but she’s the newest addition to our friend group besides Candice, so I get why neither of them are a bridesmaid.
“Are you okay?” I ask Kelsey when there’s a lull in the conversation.
She sends me a look that clearly says no, I’m not, before she starts talking. “Look, I don’t mean to swing the conversation back so it’s all about me, but seriously, guys. I’m done with men. They all suck. I finally had to block Paul on all social media and my phone. He wouldn’t stop trying to call me, text me, the works. All the apologies and the ‘oh, baby, I didn’t mean to make such an ass of myself’ only goes so far, you know?”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, reaching out to rest my hand over my friend’s. “That’s terrible.”
“He’s terrible,” Kelsey says irritably. “I’m glad you at least got to make a friend out of the deal.”
It’s true. Theo and I had a wonderful phone conversation yesterday afternoon, and he spilled every little detail about his relationship with the wretched Jessica. They were high school sweethearts. They’d been together for over ten years before he finally convinced her they should get married. And two weeks before the big day, he caught her naked in their bed, having sex with one of his groomsmen.
That groomsman happened to be Theo’s cousin. Ouch.
Needless to say, the wedding was cancelled, the breakup was messy, and Jessica is still with Theo’s cousin. As a matter of fact, they just announced their engagement.
Double ouch.
“Theo is so nice,” I tell Kelsey. “Maybe he’s the one you should’ve gone out with.”
“No way. He is so not my type.” Kelsey waves a hand, dismissing my suggestion.
“Yeah, same,” I say sadly. “He’s not quite over Jessica anyway, so it’s not like he’s even ready for a relationship yet. He was very upset by how Paul treated you, though. He wanted me to apologize to you on his behalf.”
Kelsey rests her hand against her chest. “Aw. That really is super sweet.”
We talk a little more about Friday night’s disastrous double date, only because it’s fun to rehash the details. Sarah is completely enthralled with our story, and by the time we’re reaching the end, she can’t stop laughing.
“Was this Paul guy really that big of a douche?” she asks for about the tenth time. “It feels like you’re making this stuff up.”
Kelsey and I both nod vigorously. “Yes,” we say in sync before we dissolve into laughter.
Yeah, it still doesn’t seem real to me either, but I lived it, so…
“Let’s swing back to your new guy,” Sarah says at one point, long after our meals have arrived and we’re halfway through with them. “I want more details.”
“Here’s something I didn’t mention.” I set my fork down. I ordered a salad and an iced tea. Trying to take the carbs down a couple of notches. “He’s moving to Las Vegas for his job, and he wants to meet up with me while we’re there.”
They both gape at me for a too-long moment.
“What? Do you think it’s too soon?” I ask.
“Oh, Eleanor.” Kelsey shakes her head. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to meet him in Vegas?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
The worried look on Sarah’s face is undeniable. “What if he’s like…a stripper? I mean, why else would he move to Vegas for his career?” She throws up air quotes around the last word.
“He’s not a stripper,” I say assuredly.
The doubt creeps in the moment the words escape me. God, what if he is a stripper? It would make a lot of sense. His job is in “fitness”. He’s super muscular—I bet he could slather his body in oil, roll those hips on a stage somewhere in the middle of Sin City and women would throw their money and their bodies at him, no questions asked.
Maybe that’s why he’s