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

Oliver blinked at her. “We swapped cards.”

“You swapped cards so you didn’t have to speed date anymore!” She pointed her finger at us both angrily. “That’s not how this works.”

“It looks to be working just fine,” I replied as the round ended and two couples split off. “Although you’re running out of people.”

“That’s why I need you two back out there!”

My phone buzzed in my purse. The only reason I could feel it was because it was on my lap and my phone must have fallen to the bottom of the pit. I held up a finger to Holley and dug it out, grinning when I saw Chris’ name.

“No can do,” I said, getting up. “Leo’s calling. Sorry!”

“Oliver?”

I disappeared before I could hear his response to take the call to wish Leo goodnight.

And thank God for that.

***

I woke the next morning with a thankfully minor hangover that was quickly solved by throwing two ibuprofen down my throat, a hot shower, and leftover pizza from my post-night out snack.

After a quick call with Leo where he told me all about his plans for the day, which included pizza for dinner and a hike with his dad, I got in the car and headed for the retirement home.

It’d been one whole week since I’d last visited Grandma, and boy was she making sure I knew it. I was fed up of the texts, so I was getting this out of the way.

I got the home in record time, signed in, and went looking for her. It took me a while, but I eventually found her in the new crafts room, cross-stitching onto a circular frame.

“Hey, Grandma. What are you making?” I kissed her cheek.

“A cross-stitch.” She held it up. “The pattern says, ‘Kindly Fuck Off.’ I’m making it for my bedroom door.”

“Of course you are. Where else would you put it?”

“Exactly.” She returned to her stitching. “Where’s my boy?”

“He’s with his dad,” I reminded her. “I did tell you Christopher was here for the weekend.”

“Mmph. No good son of a bitch.”

“His mom is actually quite nice.”

“Raised a cheater, though, didn’t she?”

She had a point. Kind of. “Not sure you can blame his mom for his inability to keep it in his pants, Grandma.”

“You can always blame the mother. And the father. I’m an equal opportunistic blamer.”

Didn’t I know it?

“When does the scumbag go home?”

I was so glad she didn’t speak about him like this in front of Leo. “He’s here for work, so he’s here this week, he has Leo again next weekend, then he’s going home.”

“Two weekends in a row? I have candy here for Leo. I can’t wait that long.”

“I’ll bring him by one day this week that he doesn’t have practice, okay?”

“You better.”

“I will. I promise.” I pulled up a chair and finally sat down. “So, what’s new here?”

“Agatha wants a goat,” Grandma said, admiring her handiwork. “She was told no, then kicked up a fuss because there are chickens and ducks. She didn’t seem to care that they’re a lot easier to look after than a goat.”

This was getting out of hand. They really were one more animal away from being a hobby farm.

“I would have to agree. Goats are pretty tough to look after, and they’re accomplished escape artists.”

“How would you know? You don’t raise goats.”

“I have access to the internet, Grandma.”

“Oh. They banned it in our rooms. Mabel kept watching videos on how those gentlemen escaped from Alcatraz and I think the staff thought she was getting ideas.”

I’d pay to see that. “You didn’t join in?”

“No. I’ve come to rather like this place, if you ignore the dumb animals. I get hot meals, I have a nice room, everyone has to wait on me hand and foot… it could be worse. I could live with your uncle. Or your mother.”

There it was.

“Mm.” I smiled. “Any chance we can talk about something else?”

“What’s new with you?” Grandma finally put the cross-stitching down. “You mentioned a work project.”

“Yes. I’m working on something pretty big.” I explained what I was doing. “So I’m going to the office this afternoon to clear up some paperwork, then tomorrow I’m spending the day interviewing Seb at the center.” And I’d get to run into Leo at some point because he had basketball practice.

“Amazing. Has Reginald sacked that horrid Ebony yet?”

“Uh, no.”

“He should. You’d be way better at that job than she would.”

“Thanks?”

“You’re welcome.” She paused. “Now, let’s talk about your dating life.”

“Let’s not.”

“I know it’s hard to talk about something that doesn’t exist—”

“Thank you, Grandma.”

“—But Leonard’s grandson visited last week and he’s very handsome. A single dad, too, so there’s no cold feet over Leo, and he owns a travel company.”

I bit the inside of my lip as I listened to Mrs. Matchmaker. As the only single granddaughter remaining, I should have expected that she would get involved sooner rather than later.