The Introvert's Guide to Speed Dating (The Introvert's Guide 2)

The bell over the door rang. “Holy shit, he tidies, too? Can you talk to Dylan about that?”

I turned to see a grinning, pink-haired Saylor. Her hair was up in what I’d come to learn was her signature look—pigtail buns. “I can try, but we both know he isn’t going to listen.”

She grunted. “You got that right. He woke up in a dreadful mood today. I told him to get out of my bed and go back to his own if he was going to have his man-period.”

“She’s not a morning person,” London whispered, slipping past me with one of the cupcakes in her hand. “Thanks for the store, Say!”

“You got anymore of those cakes?” Saylor peered over at the box on the table.

I pushed the box over toward her. “All yours.”

“Damn. Can I swap Dylan for you? You’re both British. It doesn’t matter to me.” She dove into the box and pulled out a chocolate one. “You pick up the trash, you bring cupcakes… Ugh.”

I laughed and held up the rubbish. “Do you have a bin for this?”

She blinked at me. “Bin. Trash can. Right. Yeah. Just behind the counter.”

“Your translation was quick. I’m impressed.”

“I’m starting to get used to it. I actually called soccer ‘football’ the other day and I think I almost gave Dylan a heart attack.” She paused. “I might need him to move out soon. He’s breaking me.”

I put the rubbish in the bin with a laugh and grabbed my keys and phone from the table. “I’m going back to work. Want me to pass a message onto Dylan?”

“Yes. He needs to learn to clean and bring cupcakes spontaneously.”

“Noted. Anything else?”

“Yes. Are you leaving those cakes?”

“I am.”

“You’re my favorite Brit.” She looked at me. “Favorite with a ‘u’.”

“Damn, Saylor. If you were already taken by one of my closest friends, I’d whisk you away to paradise myself.”

She fanned her face. “It’s fine. We can still go. It’s just a straight swap for me.”

I met her eyes, and we both burst into laughter. “You’re a riot.”

“I try. So when are you going to ask London out?”

I froze. “What do you mean?”

“London. You’ve got a crush on her. When are you going to ask her out?”

“I’m not asking her out.” I shook my head. “Her son is one of my kids. I can’t get involved with her like that.”

“You will.” She smiled knowingly. “Whether you want to or not.”

CHAPTER FIVE – LONDON

RULE FIVE: SPEED DATING WOULD BE MORE FUN IF YOU GOT A SHOT EVERY TIME YOU HAD TO MEET A NEW DATE.

“Christopher,” I said pleasantly, opening the front door.

My ex-fiancé grimaced when he met my eyes. “London. You look well.”

“Thank you. So do you. How was your flight?”

“Far too turbulent to be enjoyable in the slightest.”

“You’re early.”

“I thought I would stop by and get Leo’s things before I picked him up from school instead of getting it later.”

“Oh. Sure. Come in.” I stepped to the side and let him in. “I’m not actually done yet, but I don’t mind if you wait.”

“Thanks.” He followed me into the kitchen. “Nice house you’ve got here.”

“Well, that’s because I’ve spent half my day collecting your son’s socks from various orifices around the house,” I said dryly. “So make sure you check every inch of your rental before you leave so you don’t leave the owners several very stinky presents.”

“Duly noted.” His blue eyes twinkled with laughter. “So… How are you?”

“We don’t have to make small talk, Chris. It’s fine.”

“I haven’t seen you in months, London. Can I not care about how you are?”

I swallowed back a sigh and looked at him, giving him a tight smile. “I’m good, thank you. Busy, but good. How are you?”

“Same here. Leo’s doing well, isn’t he?”

“He is. Coffee?”

“Please.”

I turned to busy myself with the machine. “Leo’s doing really well. Not a big fan of math and it’s almost impossible to get him to learn multiplication unless the sums are on a soccer ball.”

Chris laughed. “Kind of important, I’ve found.”

“Indeed.” I put two sugars in his mug and set it on the table in front of him. “You’re good at math, so if some of your father-son quality time this weekend could include some multiplication practice, I would appreciate it.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” He grinned lopsidedly. “Do you have any plans with your free weekend?”

“Well, I’ve been roped into a speed dating event at Aunt Jasmine’s bar tonight so I’ll probably spend tomorrow morning wanting to bleach my brain,” I answered. “Other than that, no. I have work to do.”

Sadly.

Today’s plan with Sebastian to do the interview had fallen through when he’d had something else come up, so that was now Sunday’s plan. Since I knew Chris was dropping Leo off at school on Monday, it gave me more than enough time to hopefully do everything I needed to do.