The Love Wager (Mr. Wrong Number, #2)(30)

Ruthie didn’t look mad, or even sad. She looked . . . confused, maybe? She was wearing a long black dress, paired with a captain’s hat and red glasses—glasses through which she peered at Hallie.

Hallie tried to come up with good words. “Ruthie, I wanted to talk to you before you saw—”

“That all of your stuff is gone? Too late, bruh. I can’t believe you moved out.”

“Okay, here’s the thing—” Hallie started.

“It’s because of my allergies, isn’t it?”

“What?”

Ruthie said, “I know that you want a cat, Hallie.”

Hallie’s mouth snapped shut. She’d wanted a cat for a hot minute after splitting with Ben, but she’d literally never given it a thought since. “Oh, Ruthie, I don’t—”

“I get it, but can I at least go with you to pick it out?”

Hallie didn’t even know what to say. Except, “What?”

“Because I’ve always wanted a cat, too. If I were you, I would absolutely move out, too, if it meant that I could have one. But since I can’t, can I at least take a shit ton of allergy meds and tag along?”

“Um—”

“Oh, God.” Ruthie’s eyes got huge. “Was it something else? Was there some other reason that you’re moving out?”

“No, um, it’s just the, uh, the cat thing.”



* * *



? ? ?

“So you’re seriously going to the shelter with her tomorrow?”

Hallie grinned and raised her glass. “To cowardice.”

Alex raised his, as well, and said, “To cowardice. And cats.”

Hallie giggled; she was having a great time. She and Alex had downed a plate of nachos and were starting on mozzarella sticks, and they were both still having fun. She couldn’t believe it, but things felt kind of promising with him.

“I need to look up good cat names,” Hallie said.

“What about Whiskers?” Alex asked.

“Cliché.”

“Garfield?” he suggested.

“Tired.”

“Ann-Margret?”

Hallie raised her eyebrows and tilted her head. “Now you’re talking.”

They spent the next ten minutes laughing as Alex googled terrible cat names. She excused herself to go to the restroom, and the minute she entered the hallway, she turned and waited for Jack.

Who did not disappoint.

He came around the corner, wearing his usual sarcastic smile. He looked really good in his black sweater vest, white button-down, and black pants, she thought.

He was a very well-dressed dater.

“So . . . ?” he asked, the scent of his expensive-but-subtle cologne finding her nose.

“So I’m actually having a great time.”

“Shut your face.” His eyebrows slammed together and his eyes moved all over her face, like he was searching for the answer. “For real?”

“I cannot believe it myself. Alex is cute, hilarious, and really, really fun. You would like him.”

He rolled his eyes. “Doubt it.”

“How about you? How are things with Kayla?” His date was a stunning PhD candidate who looked like she could be Zendaya’s older sister. Hallie wanted to vomit when she’d seen them together—they looked like a celebrity couple—so she was guessing Jack was pleased. “No ick yet?”

He swallowed and just said, “Not yet.”

Hallie leaned her face in a little closer, and she saw him sniff. She wondered if her perfume was too strong as she said, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, Jack, but I want to scratch the escape plan.”

“I mean,” he said, his face unreadable as he shrugged, “it’s still early. There’s plenty of time—”

“No, I’m serious. I can tell. No need for tacos.” Hallie knew she was beaming like a fool, but she couldn’t help it. She was actually having a good date for once, so she felt like jumping up and down. “Like, I don’t want dinner to end—it’s that good.”

Jack gave her a wink and said, “Someone’s moving in on that vacation.”

“Your lips to Ditka’s ears,” she said, winking back at him before going into the ladies’ room.





Jack


“So then I was stuck in the lab for the entire weekend.”

He smiled at his date as he reached for his water. “Not exactly what you’d planned, eh?”

“Not at all.” Kayla grinned and launched back into the story, but Jack was distracted by the table behind her.

Hallie was laughing and smiling at her date like she wanted to eat him whole. There is no way that guy can be that funny. No way. But every time she laughed, it was like the noise found his ears; he couldn’t not hear it. And the way her red lips turned up when she smiled—didn’t she know the message she was sending? The guy was going to think he had her, for God’s sake, just by the flirty grin she was giving him.

Jack genuinely wanted Hal to find someone, but this guy was not it. His hair had so much product in it he’d probably combust if he walked too close to an open flame, and there was something about the way he looked at Hallie that was creepy.