Page 13 of Not Just Gal Pals

“What about that guy…was it Jeremy? What happened to him?”

I sighed. Jeremy was a tall, blond artist I’d met at a friend’s party in January. We’d really hit it off. He was passionate about art, funny, and extremely handsome. “After we’d been seeing each other for a few weeks, I asked him if he was looking for anything long term. The answer was a resounding no, so I broke things off. According to Instagram, he’s now engaged.”

Amanda winced. “Oh no! What a dick. And that Sarah woman?”

I huffed out a soft laugh. “The same.”

“Oh, that’s a shame. She sounded really nice.”

“Yeah, she was.” I’d fallen for Sarah immediately on our first date at my favorite local bar. A gorgeous vet with a great sense of humor.

I realized Amanda was looking at me expectantly, so I continued. “Her dating profile said she was only looking for a serious relationship, so I assumed that’s where we were heading. But our relationship never seemed to develop. We’d just go out once or twice a week for drinks and end up in bed afterward. Every time I suggested seeing each other more often, or having brunch on the weekend, or going for a hike, she brushed me off. Eventually, I asked her about it, and she said something like, ‘Look, I’m just really enjoying keeping things casual, and I guess, at this stage, I don’t see a long-term future for us.’ So I broke it off too. I don’t want to waste my time on relationships that aren’t going anywhere. Two weeks ago, I saw her kissing another woman over brunch.” The pain of seeing them together hit me all over again, shooting through my chest. What was it about Sarah’s new girlfriend or Jeremy’s fiancée that made Sarah and Jeremy want to settle down with them but not me?

And those were just two recent examples. Despite my best intentions, I kept finding myself falling into short-term flings.

“It’s hard not to take it personally. I mean, am I just not serious-relationship material?”

In my line of work, I got a lot of people dismissing me as a ditzy blond. Did all my dates see me the same way?

Amanda shook her head. “Of course you are. You’re smart, funny, and a genuinely lovely person. But…” Her voice trailed off.

“What?”

Amanda grimaced. “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but I think you’re maybe just dating the wrong people. As much as I love your tendency to see the best in everyone—well, everyone except Blake—I think it sometimes means that you, um, overlook red flags. Like I remember you telling me when you first met Jeremy that he had a reputation for being a player, but you dated him anyway…”

I sighed. Amanda had a point. I did have a habit of diving headfirst into relationships without stopping to think whether the person was right for me.

“Look, I’m sure you’ll meet someone soon. It’s just a numbers game. I know this is a cliché, but seriously, if I wasn’t straight and about to get married, I’d date you in a second. I think you’re a real catch.”

Amanda said it with such earnestness I couldn't help but smile, even though I didn’t share her confidence. “Thanks. I hope you’re right.”

“As you know, I went on a lot of bad dates before I finally met Peter. It sucks, but you just gotta keep putting yourself out there. Like they say, you have to kiss a few frogs to find your prince...or princess.”

“But what if I’m the frog everyone kisses?” I grimaced.

“Oh my god, you are not a frog, Jenny!” Amanda laughed. “Hey, on a completely unrelated note, how have you and Blake been getting along the last few days? Are you two still mortal enemies, or did working on my bachelorette party bring you together?”

I studied Amanda’s face. Was the “unrelated note” comment genuine, or had she noticed how distracted I was by Blake yesterday?

“Ha ha. Come on, mortal enemies is a bit strong. But don’t worry, your claim as my BFF isn’t under threat,” I responded.

Amanda pinned me with a penetrating stare and I squirmed. “Uh-huh,” she said. To my relief, she left it at that. “So, when are you heading back to LA?”

“I’m actually going to stay until January.” I kept my voice light, hoping Amanda didn’t ask the reason for my extended stay.

“You are?! That’s so exciting. Oh, Jenny, excellent!” Amanda exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. Thankfully, before she could ask me any questions, our coffees arrived. Amanda’s focus shifted to her mug, which she grabbed and took a deep swig out of. She shut her eyes.

“Oh, thank god,” she moaned.

“Okay, now you’ve got coffee, tell me more about the wedding,” I said, eager to change the subject and throw myself into Amanda’s special day.

Given my dating woes, it seemed unlikely I’d ever get to plan my own wedding. But at least I’d be able to help my best friend celebrate hers.

CHAPTER SEVEN

BLAKE

I pushed open the door to Novel Gossip and beelined for the counter. I was a woman on a mission, and that mission was to get caffeine pumping through my veins as soon as possible.