Page 22 of The Bad Husband

I got a few new dresses. They’re nice, but hardly what Damon West would have in mind for me if I were to work at his place.

I won’t be working for him, though. I got a job at a donut shop.

It doesn’t pay much, but it’s fun.

“So, are you in a hurry?” Keira asks at around seven.

“Uh… no. Although I do need to get home before ten.”

She arches an eyebrow at me, eyes glinting with a smile.

“Are you grounded or something?” she jokes.

“I might soon be,” I say before shaking my head. “No. It’s about some stupid gate code that changes daily. Don’t ask.”

She flicks a strand of long red hair over her shoulder.

“How are things at the house?”

“Things are great,” I say in a breath. “Why did you ask me if I was in a rush?”

She flicks her chin toward a cute little restaurant.

“They have some of the best cheeseburgers in town. And ice cream,” she adds with a playful smile.

“Cheeseburgers and ice cream? My two reasons to live,” I say with humor.

“So, it’s a yes?”

Laughing, she loops an arm around my shoulders. She’s about my height, only more muscular than I am.

She used to play soccer in high school.

She says those days are behind her, yet she still very much loves sports.

That’s hardly me.

I can’t even watch sports on TV.

I have a hard time staying committed to exercising regularly, which is one of the few things I’m not disciplined about, let alone being competitive about.

Competitions have never been my jam.

That explains perhaps why I’m naturally attracted to the shy good guy when I attempt to date someone.

There’s hardly any competition.

“About guys,” Keira says a few moments later as we claim our seats at a table inside the restaurant, and I welcome the ice-cold air blowing from the AC. “It’s nice, isn’t it?” she says, noticing how much I enjoy it.

“I love it.’

A waitress interrupts our conversation.

We place our food order, and soon after we get our drinks and then our burgers.

Before long, we’re diving into food and forget about the guys.

As we’re munching on the fries a little later, she resumes our previous conversation.