Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
There. That’s better than his subtle and not so subtle brags.
For a second Monroe blanches, like he didn’t expect me to steer the ship. But he adjusts quickly. “What’s not to like? I get to wheel and deal all day long.”
“And that’s your passion?” I ask, trying to have some meaningful get-to-know-you time.
He leans back, smirking. “I have a lot of passions, Juliet.”
Then he winks.
He fucking winks.
I slap a palm on the table. “Juma—” slips past my lips, but then I slam my mouth shut. Nope. I’m sticking to the date plan. I’m not backing down. I’m here to practice.
I strap in and play the game as the liquor arrives. We drink and he brags about the size of his properties, the quality of the liquor, and the frequency of his CrossFit workouts.
It’s not awful.
About thirty minutes in, I’ve managed to endure more deal talk than I’d like. But I’m a trooper. “So you’ve been into the slow-dating thing lately?”
Proudly, he nods. “Definitely. It works for me since there isn’t a lot of free time between the gym and my work.”
The logic doesn’t entirely add up, but I still think his slow-dating penchant has to be a good sign. “It’s nice to get to know someone. Just like this. Out and about in real life. Not texting. Not on the app.”
“Absolutely. There’s nothing like meeting right away for the slow-dating lifestyle.”
Something definitely doesn’t add up there. “Right away?”
He flashes a cocky grin. “Well, I do like closing deals. I’d like to close some more now.”
I hold up my hands like What gives? “Jumanji! Jared said he likes slow dating!”
Monroe drops his facade, his expression turning serious. “Jared said in his bio that lately, he’s really into slow dating.”
Now I’m even more confused. “Right. That’s the same thing!”
Monroe shakes his head, sadly. “No. Because what he meant is he’s trying a new tactic to get laid.”
I jerk my gaze away from him, frustrated, and a little hurt. “Why would you say that?” I mutter.
“Lately and really are the key words. He’s overselling his dating approach in his bio, and since this new tactic is something he only started recently, that translates into it’s his new tactic to get you to sleep with him.”
My stomach churns. I feel so stupid. “Are you sure? What about the things Jared and I have in common? I love my job. He loves his job. We both like to exercise.”
Monroe is quiet for a moment or two. “Juliet,” he says gently. “He’s in love with power. He goes to CrossFit to look good naked. He’s trying to impress you with the size of his wallet. And he’s only into so-called slow dating as a code for getting you naked.”
When Monroe says that, his gaze travels up and down me, lingering on my corset for longer than I’m used to from him. Like he wants to get me naked. I’m not sure if it’s a Jared stare or a Monroe gaze, or why I like it so much, especially when I feel so foolish.
Because Monroe isn’t wrong. They all add up, those red flags I didn’t see.
“I thought Jared would be a good one,” I say, horrified and dismayed. “How did I miss everything, and how did you see it all?”
He tucks his fingers under my chin, then lifts my face so I’m forced to look at him. His eyes are kind, caring as he says with sincerity, “I recognize all the bad boys because I’ve studied them. I can see them coming. And you have a big heart. You want everyone to have the benefit of the doubt. It’s one of the best things about you.”
My heart warms from the compliment. “I do. I don’t want to become cynical. I wanted to believe he had promise,” I say. But I still wish I’d done a better job at picking. This dating practice is suddenly much more overwhelming than I’d expected. “I feel like I have to learn a whole new language. Maybe I’ve been doing everything wrong all along.”
I sigh heavily, then turn my glass in an aimless circle.
“We all do,” he says, reassuring. “I bet I do lots of things wrong on dates. Feel free to tell me,” he says, and it sounds like he just wants me to feel better.
Which I appreciate. But since he’s been honest with me, I ought to be with him. “You role-played a little too hard,” I say.
He nods crisply. “Noted.” That’s all. He doesn’t protest. He doesn’t deny. He simply adds, “I’ll do better next time.”
Next time.
My hopeful heart reappears. There will be a next time. I’ll try again. I’ll learn from this. Hell, I’ll learn more from tonight than I ever would from a dating podcast. This is in-the-trenches education.
“Thanks,” I say, then fidget with the napkin and glance toward the door. Vikas and Bowen are seated in a booth, cuddled up together. Vikas has an arm slung around his fiancé, and they look happy. Vikas glances my way and gives me a furtive thumbs-up in question.