“Holy shit, how come I never get anyone being that forward with me?”
“Forward? It was weird.”
“Weird, how?”
“It just was.” I don’t tell her how it made me feel at the time. I’m not nearly drunk enough for that.
“He was probably testing your reactions. I bet he threatened Andy like a true alpha and then when he got you on your own, he wanted you to know exactly what you’re in for with him, you lucky girl.”
I shake my head before draining the last of my glass. Maisie immediately pours me out another generous measure while I explain the rest. “I’m not in for anything, even if I did want that kind of thing, which I don’t. He said he’s leaving town and I’ll never see him again once he’s gone.”
“Shit, I don’t get that part. What was the point of saying all that sexy stuff then? Was he definitely leaving? You couldn’t have misinterpreted what he said, somehow?”
“Definitely not.”
“Well, I’ll tell you one thing.”
“What?”
“I’ll vet your dates better in the future. Can’t believe Andy pussied out like that.”
“That’s what you’re taking away from what I just told you?”
“Come on. What kind of man just leaves because someone else tells him to? Give me your phone. Let me find you someone a bit more like Enzo.”
“I don’t want someone like him.”
“Sure you do. Every woman does. Hard, badass, upfront, full-on alpha. Bad boy. Intense. Possessive. It’s what we all want if we’re being honest about it.”
“What I want is to delete Tinder for a while. I’m done with dating. I can’t handle the rejection anymore. It’s too humiliating.”
“Don’t do anything rash, my darling. See how you feel in the morning.”
I dig my phone out and press a few buttons. A message has come through from the sheriff.
“No luck finding your file. Think we’ve got to accept it’s officially MIA. Apologies but it’s probably for the best.”
“I’m not having that,” I say out loud.
“Having what?” Maisie asks.
“Sheriff says my file’s gone missing. Wants me to forget about it.”
“Bullshit. How can it have vanished?”
“Exactly. I’ve got tomorrow off. I’ll go see him in the morning. He can’t just fob me off like that.”
“What were you doing when he messaged you?”
“I told you, deleting Tinder.”
“You’re shitting me. Really?”
I put my phone down. “It’s done. Be honest with me, Maisie. I can take it.”
“Yes, your tits are bigger than mine. Can you stop going on about it? Jeez.”
“I’m going to die alone, aren’t I?