Love at First Date by Susan Hatler Read Free Book Online Page B

excited for him, and nervous for me. I’d given him such optimistic advice when all my life I’ve favored the practical approach. What was happening to me?
    He smacked his palm on the table and nodded. “All right. I’ll do it.”
    “Good for you.” My mouth curved upward even as I realized something had changed inside me.
    We talked for a bit longer before I thanked him for the coffee and headed home. The entire drive, my words echoed through my mind. “Every person is different. You should follow your heart and give this person a chance.”
    Maybe I ought to take my own advice. Maybe things would be different for me than they had been for my mom.
    As with every night since I’d met him, I went to sleep thinking of Henry. This time I didn’t force my thoughts away. Instead, I let my dreams run wild. As I drifted off, a smile spread across my face as I pictured a white dress, two beautiful children, and a life filled with laughter,

 
     
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    I arrived at Rachel’s twenty minutes before obedience class on Thursday, excited to take a chance on Henry and not so enthusiastic to break things off with Craig tonight. I mean, dumping someone ranks about as fun as getting dumped. It would’ve been easier to cancel with an email, but ending things via the internet seemed cold.
    As I walked up the path toward Rachel’s apartment, I found her slumped in the wicker chair on her tiny front porch. Chester was cuddled in her lap, sucking on the head of a stuffed bear like it was a pacifier.
    My pace slowed as I approached. “What’s going on?”
    She set her beloved dog gently on the ground, then lifted her sunglasses to reveal red-rimmed eyes. “I’m done with men.”
    My eyes widened. “I thought you had another date with George’s friend Dillon tonight.”
    “Ha!” She said it as a joke then she started cackling as if the joke were on her. “You were so right about everything, Ellen. I should’ve listened to you.”
    Uh-oh. “What happened?”
    “I took a chance. That’s what happened.” She threw her arms in the air to express just how stupid she’d been. “You said compatibility is the key. You warned me not to go out with someone just because he looks hot with his shirt off.”
    My eyes narrowed. “Did he do something to you?”
    “You mean Mr. Octopus Hands? Yeah, he tried .” She smiled, sweetly. “He came by after work, was all over me, then had the nerve to be annoyed when I slowed things down.”
    My eyes narrowed in disgust. “What a dirtbag.”
    She inhaled deeply. “After our night at The Oasis, it felt like we were connecting, you know? So, I let my guard down.”
    I nodded. It hadn’t been an official date, but I’d felt that way yesterday with Henry as we’d talked before, during, and after class. I’d told him personal details that I rarely shared with anyone and I sensed it had been the same way with him.
    “Tonight, Dillon was a completely different person.” Her face scrunched up. “Why didn’t I listen to you? I should’ve had him fill out a dating application to see if he’d mark the box ‘sleaze-ball temporarily disguised as a nice guy’.”
    “Oh, Rach.” I pulled her stiff body into a hug. “You couldn’t have known. Next time will be different.”
    She leaned against me, sniffled, then drew back. “Exactly. Because there won’t be a next time. If I ever get the absurd notion to date again, I will let you screen him thoroughly before I invest one ounce of feeling into him.”
    I reached out and squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry, sweetie.”
    “Me, too.” She checked her watch. “Do you want me to take Chester to class for you tonight so you can get ready for your second date with Craig? He sounds perfect for you and I shouldn’t have encouraged you to go after that other guy. Nothing came of that, did it?”
    “No.” Only that I’d let myself fall for him, pictured our life together, and felt blissfully happy all day long at the