Page 28 of Pity Present
“No!” It’s humbling to know my social life is such a disaster it can surprise a trained professional.
I nod my head. “I know, right? I’m thinking I might be better off just working on your gift shop and avoiding these little get-togethers.”
“Don’t give up yet,” she says. “There are a couple of guys here I think might be great matches for you.”
“I’m not sure I can take much more disappointment,” I tell her.
“Give me two more mixers, and if you aren’t feeling it by then, I won’t say another word if you walk away.”
If I have two more experiences like tonight’s, I might move to the woods and become a hermit. But it turns out I’m something of a glutton for punishment because I hear myself tell her, “Fine. I’ll give you two more events.”
Leaving the room, I wonder if I should go back into town and see if someone isn’t selling a full suit of body armor. I have a feeling I might need it.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
BLAKE
I had to stop myself from following Molly when she left the mixer. I love how funny and engaging she is. Seriously, when she tried to cover her stumble by claiming she was going to start break dancing, I nearly proposed. While she’s clearly not the most graceful woman, she’s more entertaining than any I’ve ever met.
For a moment, I’m almost disappointed that I’m here on false pretenses. Not that I’d ever willingly sign up for something like this, but if I did, I’d certainly have thought I’d struck gold when I met Molly. She’s the kind of woman you’d expect to have a line of men beating down her door.
I spend the next two hours introducing myself to women and men alike. I think I might have given a couple of guys the wrong impression by the way they hurried away from me, but so what? I’m here to do a job and I figure I need to talk to everyone that will talk to me.
Walking up to the guy that Molly pointed out as someone she might be interested in, I ask, “Having any luck?”
He shakes his head. “Not yet. It turns out I might not excel at this sort of thing.”
“It does kind of feel like attending your own execution, doesn’t it?”
He laughs. “Like you’re the star of a show that everyone knows is about to be cancelled.”
“Why is it that we’re not viewing this as a show that’s about to be renewed? I think the goal is for us to be filled with optimism.”
Continuing the simile, he says, “It might have something to do with our co-stars.” He points to Olivia. “That one is particularly scary.”
“I didn’t last five minutes,” I tell him. “It’s not that I have anything against pet psychics, but Olivia is truly out there.”
“What about the gorgeous brunette you were dancing with earlier?” Ah, so he noticed Molly. I’m not surprised.
I know it’s wrong, but I find myself feeling protective, so I tell him, “I think she might still be pining for her ex.”
“Really?” He sounds disappointed. Hopefully it will keep him from making a play for her.
“I’m Blake, by the way,” I tell him.
“Thor,” he answers.
It’s clear I have no acting ability because as much as I try to school my expression, I can feel my facial muscles as they contract in horror. “Really?”
He chuckles. “My parents are Swedish. They came to the US after they got married.” He adds, “I think they gave their kids intimidating names hoping it would cement our success in America.”
“What are your siblings named?”
“My older brother is Odin and my sister is Freya.”
“Wow.” There’s nothing else to say but, “Have you been as successful as they’d hoped?”
“I’m a producer onChicago Flame,” he says. “So, I’m not doing too bad. All I need now is a wife and they’ll be over the moon.”
