Page 33 of Just for the Plot

“Naturally.” I sip my coffee as he continues.

“The owners of each team came together and decided to help each other out by hiring a PR team led by a woman named Gretchen, who is trying to bring us out into the public in a positive light.”

“And the zoo is one of those ways.”

“Exactly. Now it’s helped with Graydon because he’s taken it upon himself to do this whole social media thing with his zookeeper.”

“Who he likes, right?”

Bennett nods. “More than likes her. He’s working through his feelings, but from what we can see, he’s totally into her and it’s only a matter of time before he finally figures out that he wants her, at least that’s where I think he’s at. I honestly can’t keep up. Either way, he’s doing well, bringing good PR to the team. OC is a hot mess. I’m unsure how he’s succeeding. And then there’s me. I don’t think the zoo has had an impact at all, and I don’t know, I was thinking about talking to Gretchen about switching things up, and I thought books might be an effective way to do that.”

“Oooo, yes. You could help show that reading romance isn’t just forwomen.” I pause for a second and then say, “But you know what? You might need to actually read a romance first before you use it for PR. Because what if you go all in on a book club and then realize you don’t like romance?”

He nods. “That’s a really good point.”

“I tend to make them.”

Smirking, he says, “Okay, then what book should I start with?”

“I have a baseball series that’s right up your alley. We’ll start there.”

“Sounds good.” He winks, the gesture causing my stomach to lightly flutter.

And I meanlightly.

Which only means…I need to start dating, and I need to start dating now.

“Gabby, why is it so hard to find someone compatible?” I ask as I walk around Adalade’s stunning Victorian house. Her boxes and furniture have been delivered, and the unpackers are currently at work while I direct them and manage.

“Have you tapped into the dating pool of San Francisco?”

“Uh, yeah. I’ve been here for five days, on the app for three of those days, and not a single human that I could see myself matching with. Sure, I might be being picky, but I don’t want any duds. I can’t be wasting my time. I’m twenty-nine, for God’s sake.”

“You’re thirty-two,” she deadpans.

I pause in my pacing. “Can’t you just go with it every once in a while, indulge in my delusion?”

“No.”

“Not helpful. Anyway, the guy is either my type but has nothing in common with me, or there are some things in common, but he still lives with his mother. I’m not going to be fucking mother lovers.”

“Umm, want to think about what you just said?”

Groaning, I head over to the kitchen, where silverware is being polished and placed in a hutch. “You know what I mean. It would be great if he has a good relationship with his parents, but not still living with them.”

“Yeah, I get that. What about Abel? I know you wondered about him before while you were visiting me.”

“Gabby, Abel lives in Almond Bay. I do not live there and I’m not going to have a long-distance relationship. Plus, you and Ryland have both said that he wouldn’t be able to handle me. I need someone who understands me, isn’t scared of my…idiosyncrasies, and who can foster my insanity.”

“Pretty big shoes to fill.”

“Yes, and let’s hope his feet are just as big as the shoes.”

She chuckles. “You have impossible standards. I blame your books.”

“Don’t you dare,” I snarl at her. “My books have shown me exactly what I want and that’s not a terrible thing. Not all of us can just bounce on a monstrous dick and fall in love. We are not all lucky like you.”

“I’m quite lucky.”