“Well, we just hired this new reporter and he’s hot.” Cassie fanned her hand in front of her face.
“Oh, Kendall? What do you think? Are you up for a blind
date?” Lexie asked, nudging her with her arm.
“You have to get back in the saddle sometime,” Kade said, ever-not-so-helpfully.
Typical man.
“Not right now,” Kendall said. “But I’ll be sure to let you know when I’m ready.”
“Okay,” Maxie said, sounding disappointed.
“Is it good to get way from the little one?” Derek asked Maxie and Lucas, changing the subject. “Or are you dying to get home?”
“She’s only checked her phone every two seconds for a text from my mother,” Lucas said lovingly.
“Like you’re any different? You keep asking me if I’ve heard anything!” Maxie said with a laugh.
And from there, they were on to conversation about babies. Kendall shifted in her seat.
As far as she was concerned, tomorrow couldn’t get here fast enough, something the people at this table would be horrified to find out about.
* * *
Kendall overdressed for the dog park, all the while annoyed with herself for caring what she looked like to meet Julian. But the last two times she’d seen him, she’d been at her grungy worst, and pride demanded she pull herself together today and make a good impression.
She sifted through her closet, changing more than once. Ultimately she chose a pair of tight jeans that accentuated her curves, a light pink top with open shoulders, and a pair of black slip-on ballet flats. She brushed her hair, keeping it down and flowing over her shoulders, and dusted on a light amount of makeup.
She and her therapist had talked in preparation for today’s date. True to form, the doctor hadn’t offered an opinion either way on what to do about Julian and his reappearance in her life. She had, however, thrown questions at Kendall for her to think about. Things like, did she trust her instincts lately? Yes, yes she did. More and more, in fact.
Did she think people could change? A loaded question, since Kendall obviously knew she had. But she was on medication, she’d reminded her doctor. But all that did was stabilize what was already inside Kendall.
What did Kendall think was inside Julian? A good man? A bad one? And did she want to find out?
By the time her appointment had ended, all Kendall knew was that she had a dog date with Julian, which would provide time for Kendall to watch him, get to know him again, and lean on her instincts.
No time like the present, she thought, glancing at her prancing dog, who knew from the leash in her hand they were going out.
“You ready to make a friend?” she asked Waffles, holding out her harness.
The dog began to circle around, and Kendall hooked her up, clasped the leash, grabbed her messenger bag, put on her sunglasses, and was ready to go.
She headed out, more excited for this morning than she’d been for her dinner last night.
She still felt guilty for not mentioning today’s plans to her sister. She didn’t like lying, even by omission, but there was no way she could have explained the situation to anyone at the table.
Besides, it was just one friend doing another friend a favor, showing him where to hang out with his dog.
Liar.
She frowned at her inner voice. Because the fact remained that Julian wanted more from Kendall than friendship—and a part of Kendall desired more, too. Something she’d have to take one step at a time, if at all.
There was so much they didn’t know about each other. So many things that had changed about her since they’d been together last.
She glanced up as she walked. White clouds dotted the sky, and the temperature was in the mid-seventies. In the sun, she didn’t need a jacket, but she’d tied a sweatshirt around her waist, just in case.
Nerves dancing in her stomach, she arrived at the park early and settled in to wait, releasing Waffles into the gated area so she could play. On such a beautiful day, the park was crowded with different dogs and their owners, and Kendall recognized a few people from her prior trips here. She said hello and waited for Julian.