I'm Not Charlotte Lucas(32)

“Paper calendars,” he quipped.

I handed Mr. Henrie off to Marissa at the teller window and squeezed his shoulder. “Glad to see you, as always, Mr. Henrie.”

“Tell me,” he said, stopping me before I made a clean escape, “any young men in your life?”

I wanted to shout that yes, I did have a boyfriend now, thank you very much. But he didn’t give me a chance.

“Because I have a grandson about your age, and I’m telling you, Miss Lucas, he is a looker.”

What was with my elderly friends wanting to set me up with their grandsons? Did I just scream hopeless? Maybe I carried a warning that made people over seventy want to fix my life.

“I actually just started dating someone,” I said apologetically. Though why I felt the need to apologize for getting a boyfriend was twisted in itself.

Mr. Henrie’s eyes dipped in disappointment, and I motioned to Marissa to take over. She smiled brightly, flipping her mass of blonde curls to the side. “What can I do for you today, Mr. Henrie?”

I crossed the rough carpet and dropped into my chair, grateful I faced the tellers so I would be able to see when Mr. Henrie’s business was complete, and I could wave farewell. I was fairly certain the only reason I was promoted to assistant branch manager was my relationship with the customers. A lot of older people came into the branch, and they seemed to adore me.

Mr. Henrie completed his business, tucking the five-dollar bill safely into his wallet before shooting me a warm smile and turning for the door. I offered him a wave and then relaxed against my chair, using my foot to swivel back and forth.

My phone buzzed, and I slid it from my pocket. There were two texts.

Liam: Does this mean the date went really well?

Andy: Dinner tonight?

I opened the thread from Liam and responded.

Me: Well enough that I’m no longer on the market. I think that’s a good thing.

Then I replied to Andy.

Me: Can’t do dinner. I have to help my aunt tonight. Maybe Thursday?

Yes, it was only Monday today, but I was booked for the next few days. Maybe not being totally available all the time would help make me seem less eager to Andy. Kind of like playing hard to get, except there was no playing involved. I just had other things that required my time and attention.

Liam: I hope you realize how unenthusiastic you sound. I’m now very interested in meeting this guy.

Me: Maybe we should double.

Liam: Not that interested.

Liam: On second thought, a double date isn’t such a bad idea.

I disagreed. The moment my finger had hit send on my last text, panic raced through my veins. I didn’t want my brand-new—well, somewhat new—boyfriend and Liam in the same room at the same time. I was just barely figuring out where Andy and I stood.

Me: Fantastic. How about the fifteenth of never?

Liam: You’re not getting off that easy. This was your idea.

Me: Joke. It was my joke.

Liam: The more you protest this date, the more I want it to happen. You really must’ve picked a winner.

Me: What makes you think this has anything to do with Andy? Maybe it’s you I want to avoid.

Liam: That makes it even sweeter. How about bowling? That’s an easy group activity.

I was about to put him off again when I paused, my fingers hovering over the phone screen. If we went on a double date, I could meet Liam’s secret girlfriend and maybe find out why he didn’t just take her to the charity ball, and why he wasn’t telling his grandma about her. If we made it a triple date, Beth could bring face-shave guy from her salon, and it would give her a chance to get her claws closer to Rhett Myers without any favor requests on my part.

I still thought that was a pointless avenue, but if Beth wanted to traverse it, that was her business.

Me: Bowling it is.

Liam: Great. Got a friend I can borrow? I’m still new around here.

Well, that wasn’t what I expected.

Me: Won’t your girlfriend mind?

Liam: Not even a little bit.

Thousands of questions swam around in my head, but the door opened, and Todd stepped into the branch. I smoothly dropped my phone onto my lap and gave him a tentative smile that he ignored as he made his way across the floor to his own desk.

Rude, self-righteous, bigoted bosses put a damper on one’s day really, really fast. I glanced at the clock. Only four hours to go.

Todd buried his face behind his computer, and I pulled open my text thread with Beth.

Me: Liam wants to double. Bowling Friday night?

Beth: A thousand times yes!

Me: Face-shave guy? Or you could go with Liam. Haha.

Beth: Face-shave guy is history. I can go with Liam.

Great. I sat back in my seat and swiveled softly from side to side. Why was I not pleased about this? In this situation, everyone got what they wanted. But if everyone had what they wanted, why was I not satisfied?





Chapter Fourteen


Andy opted for dinner Thursday evening at a burger place in Santa Rosa and approved bowling on Friday. I presented it as a double date with Beth and a friend of ours, and he wasn’t wild about it, but I could hear through his tone that he was willing to sacrifice on my behalf.

I didn’t understand why Beth and Andy didn’t get along, but it didn’t matter. Beth would support me as long as I was happy. I knew that much.