The Ex by Freida McFadden(28)

“Well, thank you,” I say, even though it’s not true.

His smile widens. “This is the best day ever. I got to meet a girl who looks just like my favorite actress. And she saved me six dollars on a hot dog and bottle of water.”

“Yes, but then you blew two of those dollars on a bottle of water for that girl.”

“Worth it.” He raises his eyebrows. “But you know what would really make this the best day ever?”

I’m afraid to hear.

“If that girl would let me have her phone number,” he says.

I swallow hard. Dean isn’t really my type, but even if he was, I can’t consider giving my number to a guy who’s friends with Joel. I don’t even know why I’m talking to him.

Dean takes a bite of his hot dog, waiting for me to say something. He’s watching me, and I can’t help but notice he’s got long eyelashes for a man. It makes his eyes look even darker than they are. Smoldering.

“I can’t,” I finally manage.

At first, I think he’s going to argue with me, but he doesn’t. “Okay,” he says. “I understand. But how about just your name?”

I shake my head.

He clutches his chest with the hand partially holding the water bottle. “Ouch.”

“I’m sorry,” I mumble. “Nothing personal, but…”

“You’ve got a boyfriend.”

“No,” I say. I don’t know why I was truthful about that. I should have told him I had a six-foot-four Navy SEAL boyfriend. That would have gotten rid of him quick. “It’s not that.”

“Then…” He smiles again, popping that dimple. “You’re saying I’m too ugly. Is that it?”

“No.” I can’t suppress the tiniest smile. “It’s not that. At all.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“It’s complicated,” I mumble. “Trust me.”

He sighs and shakes his head. “Not even a name? A first name?”

I shake my head again.

“An initial? How about a syllable? I’ll take one syllable. It doesn’t even have to be the first syllable.”

He’s cute. I must be crazy to be turning him away. “I’m sorry.”

He sighs, his smile slipping slightly. “Okay, fine. I’ll have to be satisfied with knowing I got to see Sophia Loren’s doppelganger in the flesh today.”

“I don’t look like Sophia Loren,” I say, but I don’t think he hears me.

He takes one last bite of his hot dog and gives me a funny little wave. I watch him jog off to join his friends, but I duck out of sight before Joel knows it’s me.





Chapter 15: The New Girl


It’s been two weeks since Lydia compared Cassie unfavorably to Joel’s ex-girlfriend, and it’s easy for her to forget it ever happened. Especially when Cassie and Joel are sitting together at a cozy round table in a dimly lit comedy club downtown, sipping on cold beers, his left arm encircling her shoulders. She feels safe with his arm around her shoulders. He’s big and warm and she loves the muscles in his chest.

Cassie thinks she might be falling in love. Just a little bit.

But then she thinks about Grandma Bea and Grandpa Marv. The sweet and romantic story about their chance meeting on the subway platform. The way they loved each other for nearly fifty years—so much that Bea was convinced Marv had come back as a ghost to keep her company in the bookstore. Nobody could tell her otherwise.

She doesn’t feel that way about Joel. If he were to die, she wouldn’t ask that he comes back as a ghost. Just the opposite—the last thing she needs right now is to be haunted by some guy. She knows it’s early in their relationship, but she wonders if she’ll ever feel that way about him. If someday their grandchildren will say that Grandpa Joel and Grandma Cassie had the greatest love story of all time.

Right now, it’s hard to imagine.

She needs to get to know Joel better. They need to take their relationship to the next level. And there’s one very good way Cassie can think of to do that.

Cassie never told Joel how long it’s been since she’s had sex, but she hinted at the fact that it’s been a while. He’s been really respectful about it, but she knows he’s waiting for her to say the word. If she waits another few weeks, he may start pushing. And honestly, she’s not sure what she’s waiting for anymore.

She’s ready.

Joel laughs at a joke from the standup comedian at the front of the room. The comedian is picking on a couple at the front of the room, joking about how much younger the woman is than the man. The word “sugar daddy” is used, and also some less nice words. She’s glad they’re sitting all the way in the back, so the comedian doesn’t notice how much younger Cassie is than her date. She doesn’t want a comedian to pick apart their deficiencies.

“Hey,” she whispers to him.

“Hey,” he whispers back.

His breath smells like the Corona he’s been drinking. She leans forward and presses her lips against his. He’s surprised for a moment, then relaxes into the kiss. He’s a very good kisser. She’s not sure if she’s a good kisser or not, but he does seem to enjoy kissing her.

“Do you want me to spend the night tonight?” she asks when their lips part for air.