Page 9 of Redeem My Heart

“Okay, you’re going to have to spell this out for me. Because you’ve always been Mr.-I’m-Gonna-Die-Alone.”

I grunt in response because she’s not wrong. I’ve never said those words specifically, but I’ve made it known that I don’t make it past the second date. Yeah, I occasionally go on a date, but I don’t date. Nothing extended. Nothing long term. Ever.

“Since you saw her three months ago, you’ve practically turned tail and run every time y’all have been in the same place.”

“What’s your point?”

“But now you want to ask her out?”

“What do you want me to say, Daphne? That she’s adorable and I can’t stop thinking about her?”

“Well, yeah, that would be a nice start.”

“Look, I know she’s not for me. I know she doesn’t need a guy like me. But I hate the idea that those women were treating her like a laughing stock for defending me, and I’m not going to sit by and allow them to be that cruel. They insinuated she couldn’t land me.” She’d looked brave in that moment, I’d seen her shoulders slightly round and her chin tilt up in defiance. But her eyes had told a different story. All sadness and vulnerability.

I’d never been one for jumping on the white horse and going in for a rescue, but it had been my knee-jerk reaction in that moment.

“If me taking her out on a few dates convinces them that she could get any single man she wanted, then I’m willing to do it.”

My sister hums on the other end of the phone. “Well, then I guess you better take her out on some dates.”

“Well, that’s what I suggested. But she thinks I’m doing this just out of pity?”

“Are you?”

“Fuck no. She’s gorgeous. She could get any man she wants.”

I ignore the kick to my gut at the thought of another man touching her.

“Well, then I guess you need to convince her that you guys need to fake date.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” I ask.

“Maybe you need to convince her that you’re not doing it to help her, but rather that she’s doing it to help you. Maybe you need to come up with a reason why people thinking you’re dating her would help you. You could start with the fact that women are trying to corner you every time you come into town.”

“Seriously, it’s like some of them are in heat. I am not interested in that,” I say.

“So tell her that. Be honest with her.”

“Could you text me her number?”

“Yeah, I can do that.”

But even after I get her number, I sit in my car and stare at it for a long time before sending her a message.

I just sit there, thinking about that Jaws t-shirt she had on today and how my first thought when I saw it was … okay, my first thought was that her tits looked amazing in it. My second thought was that she was made for me.

Part of me wishes that I’d been made for her

chapter

six

Shelby

UNKNOWN: What’s your work schedule this week?

I stare at my phone, frowning.