Chapter 1
I hate blind dates. Becca, who I work with, set me up with one of her brother's friends. She has shown me his photo and swears he's seen mine.
This guy is good looking don't get me wrong, but as a curvy girl, I think I carry more anxiety than most over blind dates. It's one thing for a guy to see you in person and ask you out, but it's another for them to just show up without seeing me beforehand.
On the last blind date, I had the guy take one look at me, and then turned around and walked out. Curvy girls aren't for everyone, and I'm okay with that. In fact, I think it weeds out some of the assholes.
I love my body and don't have any plans to change for anyone. It just means dating is a bit harder for me than many of my friends.
"Girl, that dress looks hot!" Becca says.
She’s on a video call with me, as I get ready. As much as I hate this blind date, I’m happy to have an excuse to wear this dress I picked up on sale last month. Though I didn't have any place to wear it, I had to have it. I learned a long time ago when I find something that’s flattering on my body, to pick it up right then and there.
It's a blue floral print with a tight bodice, making my boobs look amazing and perky, and then, it’s loose from the waist down, hugging my hips perfectly.
"He’s going to swallow his tongue with you in that dress, girl. If I wasn't straight, I'd do you in that dress!"
"Becca!" We both burst into giggles.
She's one of those friends who tells it to you like it is and doesn't have a filter. So, I know when she says something, it's the truth. Though, it can backfire sometimes, like when it comes to setting me up on dates.
"Okay, now. Go put some curls in your hair, and you will be the hottest girl in the room tonight, no matter where he takes you."
"I doubt that but thank you. Just remember, if this date is a dud, you’ll be buying me lunch at work for a month!"
"I promise. Now go!"
We hang up, and I head into the bathroom to put some curls in my long, dark brown hair. My hair has always held curls very well, so it's my favorite way to wear it. Even if most days, I just let it air dry because I don't want to put the energy into it.
I'm just finishing up with the curls when Garrett calls.
We have been best friends, since elementary school. We did everything together, and I do mean everything. We even lost our virginities together. When I went to school in Jasper, he stayed behind to work his parents’ ranch and take online business classes.
Since then, he's taken over his parents’ ranch, while I've gotten a job working in human resources for a family owned company in Jasper. We see each other a few times a month and talk several times a week.
Back home in Whiskey Run, he has a reputation as The King of No Commitment. The girls complain, but he's been nothing but nice to me, so I ignore the rumors.
"Hey," I answer the phone
"What are you doing?" He asks.
There’s some slight noise in the background, and I know that sound well. He’s in his truck driving somewhere and wants to kill some time.
"Getting ready for a blind date."
"No way. Not tonight. I'm in town."
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming to town? I'd have cleared my schedule.”
"It was more of a last-minute thing and just for the day. Cancel your date and let me take you to dinner."
Even though I don't want to disappoint Becca, there’s no way I'm passing up dinner with Garrett. I know I will have a good time, and he’s pretty easy on the eyes. There’s something about a cowboy in wranglers and boots that just does it for me.
Plus, I always get a kick out of watching the girls flirt or try to hit on him when we are together. He ignores them and won't flirt back. When I asked him about it once, he said it's out of respect for me. I told him if he wanted to pick up a girl he could, but he didn't like that idea at all. So now, I just enjoy the show.
"Okay, how long, before you get here?" I ask.
"Fifteen minutes."