14. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Jessica

I twirl in front of the mirror, my heart beating wildly as I admire my reflection. I've never worn a dress as pretty as this. It's scary and exciting. The dress has a halter top with an empire waist. The bottom half is loose and stops at my knees. As I twirl the skirt lifts and I giggle. I feel so unlike myself and a bit giddy. It's a pink color with a small, subtle floral pattern. The pink is the same exact color that Elle Woods would wear. In fact, this whole ensemble seems very Elle Woods-ish from head to toe. It's not something I would've ever chosen for myself, but I must admit that it makes me feel soft and feminine. I stare at myself, not quite recognizing the person staring back at me. I can't help but smile at my reflection. Sean has a very good eye; I will give him that.

As if on cue, there's a knock on the door, and I freeze. That's Sean, and a glance at the clock tells me he's right on time. Seven o'clock. It's the night of the speed dating social event that's taking place in Evelyn's bakery, and Sean is driving me there. I've been expecting him for a few minutes now, but suddenly, I feel shy and self-conscious. Of course, I tried on this dress at the shop yesterday, but it was brief since we were in a hurry. Now, I feel exposed.

The knock sounds again, and I walk toward the door, rubbing my palms down my dress to try to keep my nerves at bay.

"Jessica!" Sean yells, causing me to purse my lips. "We're going to be late if you—"

I pull open the door annoyed at his nagging. Sean's eyes widen as he pauses mid-sentence. His gaze travels slowly from my head to my feet, and I can feel a tingle every place his gaze touches. Finally he looks back into my eyes. I can't help but notice the appreciation in them, and I almost melt to the ground in a puddle of bashfulness as my annoyance slips away. This is all foreign to me.

"Jessica," Sean chokes out. "You look beautiful."

I feel a blush creep up my cheeks at his compliment. "Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself," I add to diffuse the tension building up.

"Ready?"

"Let me grab my bag." I return to the living room and grab the tiny black purse on the couch. My phone and other essentials are in it. I follow Sean outside, and like a gentleman, he helps me into the passenger seat before entering the driver's side.

"Are you nervous?" He asks, breaking the silence.

I mull over his question. I am nervous, but not for the reason he thinks. I don't care about the men I'm about to meet at the event; they don't make me anxious. I don't care what they think. The cause of my anxiety is the man beside me. The air he exudes threatens to intoxicate and drown me until I'm unable to come up for air. He's the reason I'm sitting stiffly in my seat instead of relaxing and anticipating the night ahead. How am I supposed to enjoy tonight when he'll be right there?

"No," I answer. "Not nervous, just indifferent."

"Indifferent? I thought you promised to keep an open mind?" Sean asks, glancing at me.

"And, I will." I nod, stiffly.

"Promise," he stresses.

"Sean," I say with annoyance. "I promise."

He turns his attention back to the road.

"Do you also promise to keep an open mind?" I ask him.

Sean chuckles. "It's not my day, Jess. Today is all about you, but I promise to keep an open mind. Who knows? Maybe I can find the perfect match before the night ends."

"Good." I force a smile. I hope he finds the perfect match so that I can get him off of my mind for good.

We arrive at Bake My Day. Evelyn's bakery is never empty, but tonight, it's full of people laughing and looking excited about the upcoming speed dating event. Sean parks the car on the street and then switches off the engine.

"So, how does this work?" I ask, starting to feel uncomfortable and awkward with my bright outfit. I am so used to blending in, and this outfit is meant to stand out.

"Evelyn is the host; she'll walk you through exactly what you need to do." He looks at me. "You've never been to a speed dating event, have you?"

I try to relax my face but I can't seem to get rid of the frown as I shake my head. "No. I haven't. But it can't be that hard, can it?"

"Not even a bit. You got this. Just be yourself. No wait. I take that back, don't be your normal self. Be the Jessica that I got to spend time with yesterday. The one who had fun shopping and picking out new clothes."

"Sean, you're such a jerk." I growl at him and reach to get out of the car.

"Hold on, I'll help you out." He walks to my side of the car and opens the door.

"Wait. Aren't you coming in too?" I ask, feeling frustrated since he said he was going to participate too.

"Not yet," he says. "I don't want us to go in there together."

"Why not?"

"So it won't affect your chances." He smiles. "We don't want your prospects thinking we're together."

"Okay." I nod while narrowing my eyes at him. He better not be lying. I make my way into Bake My Day. As I step through the entryway, I rub my palms down my dress, feeling like everyone is staring at me. Evelyn walks up to me, smiling. She's in a cute black dress with a pair of black flats. Before I speak, she winks at me, holding out a card.

"Jessica, you look amazing."

"Are you sure it's not too much?" I ask hesitantly, taking the card and skimming through it. It's a score sheet with lines and boxes you can tick.

"No. Sean really does know what he's doing. That color looks amazing on you. Your eyes look so blue."

I take a deep breath and feel myself relax at Evie's words; she would never lie to me. I look at the card again.

"What is this?"

"It's your scorecard." Evelyn leads me toward a table where other ladies are seated. "When a guy comes to you, you write his name and tick the yes or no box. You can also note the minor details about each person. It will help you to remember what you like or don't like about the men you talk to." She stops by a chair. "This is your seat."

"Thanks, Evie." There's a wine glass in my space, and as Evelyn walks away, I pick it up and take a sip.

The women beside me are chatting, and although I have half a mind to join them, I can't bring myself to do it. My nerves are taut, and since I'll be doing a lot of socializing tonight, there's the need to conserve my social battery. I take another sip from my glass and see Sean enter the room. Evelyn and Jamie immediately approach him. They're too far away, and I can't hear what they're saying, but I watch them talking and laughing with each other, wishing I was with them instead of sitting here. Jamie leads Sean into the back room, and I lose sight of him.

I've almost finished the wine in my glass when a bell rings. It's my first time at such an event, but I presume it signifies the event is about to start. As the thought crosses my mind, a door opens, and I see Jamie leading a line of men into the room. I sit up straighter, fidget with my dress and take a deep breath. I can do this. The men take seats across from each woman, and I smile at the one that sits across from me. His mouth curves into a smile, a dimple peeks out and I see laugh lines around his eyes.

"Hi."

"Hello." I hold out my hand. "My name is Jessica. Jessica Stewart."

He shakes my hand for a bit and then lets go. "Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. My name is Owen."

Owen is a handsome guy with dirty blonde hair and a charming smile. I can tell he finds me attractive, and it reduces my nerves and helps me to relax.

"I've never done this before, so I'm kinda blank." I instantly regret admitting that.

Why did I just tell him that? I should have kept that information to myself. Sean will have my head!

"Don't sweat it," Owen says gently. "Let me take over the conversation; maybe that'll help?"

I take the suggestion gratefully. "Thank you, Owen."

"I don't have much experience myself," he flashes another lovely smile. "But events like this are a fun way to meet people. Especially for an introvert like me."

I nod. "Oh, yes. I agree with that, too. I wouldn't call myself an introvert, per se. But I love to keep to myself, especially in a public setting."

"I guess we're alike in that aspect." He chuckles, and I smile. It's a real one and Owen seems like a genuinely lovely person.

"So Jessica, what do you do?" He asks.

"I'm a writer. I write thrillers, you know, just the nerdy stuff."

"I'm pretty much a nerd myself," Owen laughs. "As a software engineer, my friends call me a computer geek." I laugh with him. It's easy to laugh with him.

"That's hard to believe; you don't look like a geek."

"Oh, yeah?" Owen lowers his lashes. "How so?"

"There's a stereotype for the geeks and nerds," I play along. "You don't fit."

"Well, look who's talking?" He bats his lashes at me playfully, earning a giggle. "You're not the regular brand of nerd either."

"Oh, come on." I want to reach for the wine glass and down the rest of the liquid, but it'd be rude since Owen doesn't have a drink.

"So, tell me," Owen starts. "Are you looking for friendship? A romantic relationship? Which one?"

"Uhh–" The question throws me off balance because it is unexpected, but I want to answer as honestly as possible. "I'm looking for a relationship. I have plenty of friends."

Owen laughs. "I'm also looking for a relationship," he says thoughtfully. "Friendships are also welcome. I sit in front of my computer screen all day; I hardly have time for a social life."

"Trust me. I understand."

He's about to respond when the bell rings, signaling the end of the round. Owen slowly rises to his feet.

"I had a wonderful time, Jessica Stewart," he says. "I hope to see you again?"

He leaves the question open and moves ahead. I pick up my scorecard, eager to rate him. I enjoyed my date with him, however short. Though I'm not quite sure he's what I need right now. He rubs me as someone who can be a good friend to me, but not necessarily a boyfriend.

I look up from my card as someone sits across the table from me, a ready smile on my face. Owen already started me off well, so I'm hopeful I'll enjoy the rest of the night. I meet with two other men after Owen, but by the time the bell rings for a break, I'm almost at the end of my patience. I quickly leave the table and find my way to the counter. I request my favorite snack, along with a strawberry daiquiri mocktail. As I sit on the stool to eat, Evelyn appears beside me, a broad smile on her face.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" She asks, her eyes alight with exhilaration.

"Why do you look more excited than me? I eye her suspiciously, slicing my cupcake and taking a bite.

Evelyn laughs. "It's a success. We're not done yet, but everyone is having fun. This is the first event I've ever hosted, and I'm proud. I'm thinking that I may do something like this more often."

I concentrate on eating. "How long is this break for?"

"Fifteen minutes, so knock yourself out." She climbs onto the stool next to me. "You didn't answer my question. Are you enjoying yourself?" She asks again.

"It's nice." I eat the last bite of my cupcake and sip my drink while contemplating getting another one.

"Let me see your scorecard."

"No!" I hold the card to my chest. "I don't know, but that should be against the rules."

Evelyn laughs. "It is, but I'm your friend."

"Where is Sean?" I look around the busy room for Sean but cannot find him. I haven't seen him since he came in earlier. "I am going to tell him."

"Okay, fine!" Evelyn pouts. "Keep it to yourself. For now. I'll be the one to match you anyway."

"Shut up." I slam the empty glass on the counter. "I'm ready to get started again."

Evelyn laughs. "When the bell is rung, you'll go back to your seat to meet the second batch of men. Don't worry, when it's time, I'll explain to everyone how it's going to work."

"When does this end?" I ask. "Can we—?"

"Oh, there's Jamie." Evelyn says, climbing down the stool and moving away from me. "Have fun. See you later."

I spend the rest of my break looking out for Sean until the bell rings again. I still can't find him. Evelyn takes the microphone and explains how this second half will go. I walk back to my seat, wanting this to be over. I don't mind having only Owen as a match; he seems like he'd be fun to get to know, even if it's not as a boyfriend. Getting back into the dating scene is the goal.

The second bell rings, and the men approach our table again. This time, my guest is a darkly handsome man with dark brown hair. This man is totally my type. Tall, attractive, with a kind smile. I remember Sean and Evelyn's advice on how smiling can draw people to me. I try to curve my mouth into a smile but I'm not sure it looks convincingly charming.

"Hi." I hold out my hand. "I'm Jessica."

"Rick." The man holds my hand to his lips and gently kisses it, holding my gaze. I look down feeling shy, but enjoying his attention. "How are you, Jessica? Have you been enjoying yourself?"

"I have. How about you?"

"Now I am," he says smoothly. "I saw you earlier across the room and couldn't wait to get to you."

I feel my smile get a bit bigger as I laugh quietly. "That is so sweet, Rick."

"You are very beautiful, Jessica. Really."

"Thank you." I narrow my eyes. "You seem like a sweet, charming guy. What are you doing at an event like this?"

Rick sighs and relaxes against the back of his chair. "Good question. My friends invited me, and I didn't want to disappoint. Though I'm glad I came, it's been a fun event. Well-planned."

I'm still stuck on the "my friends invited me" part.

"Your friends?" I ask. "What are their names?"

"Jamie and Sean."

Touché.

"Jamie is my brother," I tell him, chuckling when his eyes widen in shock. "Sean is a close family friend."

"What?" He laughs. "That's funny. You and Jamie look nothing alike."

"Fortunately." I say sarcastically.

When Rick bursts into laughter, I nod. He gets my jokes! That's impressive.

"Do you live here in Willow Falls?" Rick asks. "I've never run into you before, I'm sure."

This is proof that I need to get out of the house more but honestly, I just really dislike talking to people since they tend to annoy me. On top of that, my deadlines make it difficult for me to schedule fun. It's high time I do things differently.

"I live here," I tell Rick. "I'm not out much because of my work."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a writer. I write thrillers."

For the second time that night, Rick's eyes widened, surprise evident on his face.

"I read a lot of thrillers," his eyes shine with a new light. "What's your pen name?"

"J.S. Ethan."

"No!" He leans back, looking me up and down. "You wrote Beyond the Wall? The one about a firefighter who went on a rescue mission and got trapped in a burning building?"

"Yes!" It seems Rick is a fan, and I'm always humbled to meet people who love my work.

"Oh my goodness, that's literally my favorite book!" Rick grabs my hands, smiling down at me. I try to laugh but it sounds forced to my ears. In spite of that, I am drawn in by the awe displayed in his eyes. "Can you guess why?"

"Why?"

"Because I'm a firefighter," he answers. "Your book made me feel validated. It gave me a fresh perspective of my job and affirmed that the work I do is necessary."

I feel a bit like the Grinch as my heart grows three times its size. It's amazing to have someone appreciate my work, but even better to have them get so much out of it. "That makes me so happy, Rick."

"Nah, this is amazing. You're a very brilliant woman."

"Thank you."

Rick starts a conversation about thrillers and how he thinks it's one of the most exciting genres in fiction. I agree with him, and it makes the conversation interesting and enlightening. When the bell rings five minutes later, I almost fall to my knees and cry. I feel like I've finally found a partner. But there are about four more guys to meet, so I still have to mingle and weigh my options, which now seems like a lot of work. How am I going to keep this up? It's hard being chipper. I can do it but not for extended periods of time. I clearly didn't think this through.

Rick stands to his feet reluctantly. "I like you a lot," he says. "I really hope I see you again, Jessica."

"Me too." I nod. "Enjoy the rest of your night, Rick." With that, he gives me one last glance as he heads over to the next table.