by B. N. Hale
“Honestly, Brit,” Ember said, “if you cooked like this for a guy, he’d never leave.”
“I don’t want him to love my cooking,” she replied. “I want him to love my body.”
She slapped her stomach and laughed. Although it was said in amusement, there was a touch of regret to her words, and Kate exchanged a look with Ember. Brittney never complained about her weight, but she took a noticeably smaller portion of the dinner, suggesting she was trying to lose weight again.
As they ate and talked, Kate’s thoughts remained on Reed. Why hadn’t he called? For the first time she considered the possibility that he wasn’t really attracted to her, and it was still just a game to him.
After she’d issued her dating challenge, she’d half-expected him to call the next day. She knew him well enough to know he hadn’t forgotten, and a part of her imagined him agonizing over what to do on their next date. But she didn’t like the waiting, and it rankled to feel like he’d forgotten.
As they were finishing dinner the doorbell rang. Sitting closest to the door, Marta took a final bite and stood. “I’ll get it!” she said, the exclamation muffled by the food in her mouth.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Brittney said, and then took a bite and added. “Unless you can do it without anyone noticing.”
Kate joined in the laughter but glanced to the door, hoping and wondering if it would be Reed. Marta opened the door but the door blocked the view. She didn’t speak, and instead she stepped back into the room and looked to Kate.
“I think it’s for you,” she said.
“Who is it?” Kate asked.
Marta’s expression lit with delight. “Let’s just say he doesn’t need to call anymore . . .”
###
To continue to Volume 3, you can find 27 Dates: The St. Patrick’s Date on Amazon here.
Author Bio
Originally from Utah, Ben has grown up with a passion for learning. While still young, he practiced various sports, became an Eagle Scout, and taught himself to play the piano. As a teenager he began creative dating and continued the practice into college, where he took a break to do volunteer work in Brazil. After school, he launched his first series, The Chronicles of Lumineia, and has since published over 20 titles across multiple genres. He loves to snowboard, build treehouses, and play board games, especially with his family. His greatest support and inspiration comes from his wonderful wife and six beautiful children. Currently he resides in Missouri while working on his Masters in Professional Writing.
To contact the author, discover more about 27 Dates, or find out about the upcoming sequels, check out his website at 27Dates.com. You can also follow the author on twitter @27Dates or Facebook.
