Chapter 8: Brooke Has a Date
1055 Words
Brooke looked in the bathroom mirror at Paige. “Am I doing the right thing?"
“You will kiss a lot of frogs before your prince comes along."
Brooke rolled her eyes. “Thanks. I don't want to kiss frogs."
“Well, your soul mate won't knock on the front door," Paige said.
Brooke wasn't sure she believed in soul mates except in the books she wrote. She wasn't completely cynical about the opposite s*x, but she hadn't had any luck. Her thoughts went to Penn, but he was odd. There were too many questions about him and what he did for a living for her to be comfortable with him. Besides, he hadn't asked her out despite hanging out at her library for a few hours.
“Where are you meeting him?" Paige asked.
“In the parking lot." Brooke spun as much as she could in the tiny bathroom to look at Paige. “Was that wrong?"
“At least he won't know which is your apartment."
On a whim, Brooke had created the profile on the app without Paige knowing it. Some part of her didn't want to admit that maybe Paige had been right about finding someone. That it no longer happened organically as it did for their parents. “I should have met him at the restaurant, so I have a ride home."
“You are well-versed in public transportation," Paige said. “Make sure you have tokens for the bus. And call me if he isn't bringing you home."
“I have tokens, thanks."
“You look beautiful, Brooke. You'll knock his socks off. And if you don't there are others out there."
“Says the woman who has a third date with the man she's been mooning over for months."
Paige hugged her. “You'll be fine and yes, I finally caught his eye. You don't work with many men."
Which reminded her of Josh, but she pushed away those thoughts. This was her night, and thinking about his murder wasn't going to bring him back to life. Instead, she pasted on a smile as she left the apartment.
A man stood by a sports car, looking around as if waiting for someone. “Mark?"
“Brooke?"
She put out her hand. “Nice to meet you."
He shook it while his gaze looked over her. He must have liked what he saw because a smile erupted on his face. “Nice to meet you, too."
He held open the car door for her. Paige would ask, but Brooke had no idea what brand the car was. It was red. That's all she could discern. Hopefully, the guy wouldn't talk about it too much.
“I picked a seafood restaurant, but we can go somewhere else if that doesn't work for you," Mark said.
“Seafood is great."
Something made Brook glance back at the building. Penn stood in the window. She couldn't tell if he was looking at her or not. She could have waved, but she doubted he would wave back. Why was he staring at her? She was just going on a date.
Was there more to him?
She shook herself. She was going to be in the moment and enjoy this date.
***
The restaurant was on a river, and they were able to get a table outside.
They ordered, having chatted about light topics up until now. She knew he was a stockbroker and that he'd never been married. No children as far as he knew, and he reiterated what he'd written on his profile. He was ready to settle down.
“I hope that isn't forward of me to say," Mark said.
“No. It's nice to meet someone who knows what they want. No games," Brooke said.
Where she was in the process was another story. She wanted someone in her life, but was a marriage in the cards? She didn't know, and maybe she should have been sure of that before making her profile.
“Where do you stand on the topic? Do you want to get married?"
“Someday, I guess."
“That doesn't sound so sure."
“Well, I'm not convinced that I'll meet someone. Though present company has a lot of possibilities."
Mark smiled. Brooke had to admit he had a nice smile. He wasn't bad to look at for sure. “I'm glad, Brooke. I'm having a good time."
The waitress brought their drinks and she flirted with Mark. To his credit, he didn't flirt back. He was polite, but nothing else. That was a check in the favorable column.
“Have you dated much?" Mark asked.
“Not really. I work two jobs and haven't had time, but if I don't put myself out there, I'll still be working those two jobs and be lonely. The clock isn't ticking, but I'd hate to find myself forty and alone. Not that I'm anywhere near forty."
Mark smiled again. He did that easily. Brooke had to smile back.
“I'm not anywhere near forty either."
“Good to know."
The waitress brought their dinners but didn't flirt this time.
“It said on your profile that you're a librarian," Mark said.
“I was hesitant to put that on my profile since society thinks we're boring and uptight. Some men have this fantasy that I'll have a severe bun and glasses they want to let me loose."
At least that's what Paige had warned her about.
Mark laughed. “You aren't uptight. No bun either or glasses."
“Why did you click on my profile if it wasn't the librarian fantasy?"
Mark put down his fork. “I liked how you looked. And now that I see you in person, you look exactly like your photo. I'm glad. Too many people on these sites try to make themselves look different."
“False advertising."
“Exactly. You didn't do that, and I'm impressed."
“You look like your picture also," Brooke said.
“I try."
Mark's gaze went out to the parking lot. His eyebrows creased. “Do you know that person?"
Brooke looked in the direction he was looking. “Who?"
“He walked away when I made eye contact. He looked as if he was staring at us." Mark shrugged. “Maybe it was my imagination."
- Writer
