Lily had her hands on her hips doing her best impression of a tiny drill sergeant. And Jake had to bite back a smile because she looked exactly like her mother used to when she was being stubborn about something.
I know I promised Pumpkin, but this really isn’t a good idea. Jake adjusted his tie for the fifth time, the only tie he owned because he literally never wore ties and it felt like it was strangling him.
Emma’s voice came through the phone speaker. Jake, you haven’t been on a date in 4 years. Lily wants you to be happy. And I already told this woman you were coming, so you’re going.
Lily bounced up and down. And I helped Aunt Emma pick her. She’s really pretty and she likes fashion just like me. Jake’s head snapped toward the phone. Wait, you let a six-year-old help pick my date?
Emma had the decency to look slightly guilty. She saw the profile and said you’d like her, and honestly, Lily’s got better instincts than you do. Jake sighed because arguing with both of them was like arguing with a brick wall.
Grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. Fine, one date, but when this is a disaster, I’m blaming both of you. 20 minutes later, Sophia’s car made a sound that no car should ever make.
Kind of like a dying cat mixed with a garbage disposal and then just completely gave up on life right there on a dark road 3 miles from the cafe. She sat there in her heels and designer coat watching snow start to fall and thought about how this was
clearly the universe telling her to go home except her phone showed 7:05 and she was already late and Mia would literally never let her hear the end of it if she bailed now.
She called Dub Yahweh and got the wonderful news that they had a 2-hour wait because apparently everyone’s car decided to break down on Christmas Eve. texted Mia that this was a sign from God and got back an all caps message that said, « No, call an Uber.
Don’t you dare bail. » Sophia was about to do exactly that when headlights appeared behind her and an older pickup truck pulled up and her first thought was, « This is how horror movies start.
