Page 18 of Falling for Keeps

“Lucky.” It’s okay that she doesn’t want to give away anything about their relationship. I know it’s new, so I redirect the conversation. “I’ve been in a man-famine lately.”

“A man-ine?”

I bark a laugh and clarify. “Well, that’s not entirely fair. There’ve been dates. It’s more like a good boyfriend-worthy man famine.”

“This town isn’t lacking in eligible men.” Ari scrunches her nose. “What about Archer? He runs the stables. Or Nate…he runs the hardware store.”

Pretty sure Nate has a girlfriend, and Archer…I haven’t been around him much.

Ari must sense my hesitance. “Have you met the new dentist?” she asks. “My mom said he’s really cute and a total gentleman.”

“He’s also a dad.”

She gestures to the group in front of us. “You’re good with kids.”

“Right. Yeah, I like his daughter. She’s so cute. But I don’t think he’s looking for a lady right now.”

Ari gives me a slow blink, dipping her chin. “You know more than I do, and my mom’s his secretary.”

“Psh, they haven’t even opened yet. I only know anything because they’re my neighbors. He’s living with his mom, and she’s right across the street from me.”

“Sure.” Ari’s smile is wide, showing her straight teeth.

“I’m serious.” My blush is probably giving me away. I should hide under the table until I can no longer roast marshmallows against my cheeks.

She pulls her long, dark hair over her shoulder. “Oh my gosh, do you have a crush on the good doctor?”

“No, of course not.” I totally do. “Enough about me. I want to hear more about this thing you’re doing with Wade.”

“Oh, is that the time?” She pushes off from the table. “I need to round these guys up and get them back to school.”

“Deflection,” I say, but she walks away, wavy dark hair swinging.

Wade looks up, glancing between us, which makes me suppress my laugh and head to the front of the building to find the stickers and library card applications to hand out to the kids.

While I’m searching, a single thought plays on a loop in my mind. It jumps back to my conversation with Seth earlier and the potential I might be overlooking. How do you get rid of a crush?

Date someone else.

Emma

Once the field trip is over, I’m off work, but I hesitate in the back. It would be so easy to find Seth now and take him up on his dinner offer. I can’t bring myself to ask another guy out after crashing and burning so hard the last time I tried. He’s right here, he’s an easy date, and he’s already asked—multiple times.

How pathetic am I?

I tug a second, thicker sweater over my head to fight the autumn chill I know is waiting for me outside and check to make sure I’m all logged out of the work computer.

Maybe I value myself more than going back to a guy who wasn’t totally in it last time, or maybe he really has changed and I’m missing out on an opportunity at love and fulfillment. I’m undecided, which is a plain sign that I need to hold off on making rash decisions.

Ugh. Why is dating more complicated than the Dewey Decimal System?

The hardware store is open for another half hour, so I hurry outside before I can talk myself into something I might regret and speedwalk down the sidewalk. I’m determined to work on my bathroom this weekend, even if my twin siblings are having a birthday and I have to cover in-class middle school visits Friday.

The deep blue sky greets me vibrantly against the pops of red, orange, and yellow on the sugar maples and elms that line Main Street. Cool, damp air smells of changing leaves and burgers from the Maple Bar and Grill.

I pull out my phone and send a message in our sibling group chat. Since our mom died ten years ago, it’s kind of fallen on me to keep everything moving as it always has. Things and traditions that were important to Mom cannot die along with her. Each twin needs their own birthday cake, the house needs to be decorated, Dad needs to be reminded to get them each a gift—probably—and I need to remind them all to meet at Dad’s for dinner so we can maintain family unity.

Emma